There a lot of ways to brew coffee out there, but where to begin? If you're new to making coffee at home or are looking for a new technique, then we have you covered. We have basic instructions to help you brew a standard pot of coffee with a coffee maker, french press, and more.
We can't help but get excited for festive seasonal beverages; really, what better way to warm up than with a comforting spiced coffee drink? You'd be surprised to find out just how simple the hot beverage is to prepare at home. Watch the video to find out how to make it!
If there's one thing people are serious about, it's their morning brew. Whether you're scouring the web for the best thing to give the java lover in your life or you're the coffee lover looking to add some fresh gift ideas to your wish list, click through these coffee-related gifts. Bonus: almost all of these are under $50.
When the fire is ablaze, your feet are snug in your favorite pair of fuzzy socks, and your stomach is full from a heavy Winter dinner, there's only one thing that's missing from this equation: a little Baileys. The makers of this Irish cream whiskey recently released a new flavor you can enjoy this season: Baileys With a Hint of Hazelnut. The nutty flavor combines effortlessly with the chocolate and tastes like Nutella in liquid form. My absolute favorite method of preparation is quite simple: just pour the syrupy chocolate liquor over large cubes of ice and allow the Irish whiskey to work its warming magic.
When it's even too cold to serve iced beverages, the next best offering is combining Baileys with hot coffee. There's no need to add any milk; the spiked cream rounds out any bitterness from the coffee and offers sweet, chocolatey notes. Keep it this way if you're looking for a more robust after-dinner drink. Otherwise, boost the creamy, chocolate flavor and mask the liquor by adding a few tablespoons of hot cocoa mix. This hot drink, made from the new Baileys flavor and brewed coffee, might be as close to a Nutella latte as we'll ever get.
A few months back, we taste-tested the Starbucks Pumpkin Latte against the Via Ready Brew counterpart and were surprised to discover tasters preferred the Via instant coffee over the store-made latte. When Starbucks sent us its latest instant offering, Via Peppermint Mocha ($8 for six cups), we knew what we had to do: a taste-off! Between the Starbucks Peppermint Mocha, which combines espresso, milk, bittersweet chocolate, and peppermint flavor, and the Via package, find out which one our taste-testers preferred.
If you're heading into the closest Starbucks for a caffeinated pick-me-up, you'll notice some tasty holiday specials. These fun beverages not only bring you extra holiday cheer, but they also bring you extra calories (and lots of them). Check out the stats on these 16-ounce Grandes.
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Keep reading to find out which Starbucks drinks are better for your waistline.
It's hard to resist the Fall-friendly drinks from Starbucks. While steering clear of its pumpkin spice latte is essential for someone trying to cut back on sugar, there are plenty of other delicious drinks that toast the season. Check out which picks are best to skip and which you should have in your next order.
| Instead of | 16 oz. White Chocolate Mocha: Espresso with white-chocolate-flavored sauce and steamed milk, topped with sweetened whipped cream: 470 calories |
| Go For | 16 oz. Skinny Vanilla Latte: Rich, full-bodied espresso blended with creamy steamed milk and vanilla syrup: 120 calories |
| Calories Saved | 350 |
| Instead of | 16 oz. Caramel Apple Spice: Steamed, freshly pressed apple juice and cinnamon syrup. Topped with sweetened whipped cream and caramel drizzle: 360 calories |
| Go For | 16 oz. Steamed Apple Juice: Freshly steamed 100-percent pressed apple juice (not from concentrate): 220 calories |
| Calories Saved | 140 |
Keep reading for the Cinnamon Dolce and Pumpkin Spice Latte swaps.
Earlier this season, I was sent a curious-looking bottle of pumpkin pie cream liqueur from Fulton's Harvest, a label I'd never heard of. With a bottle of something so distinctive (and with the potential to taste either phenomenal or terrible), I was at a loss for what to do — so I took to the Twitterverse for some answers.
I soon found out more about Fulton's Harvest, including the fact that it's made by well-reputed Kentucky Bourbon maker Heaven Hill Distilleries and tastes delicious on the rocks or served chilled. But by that point, I'd gotten back so many enticing-sounding cooking and cocktail suggestions — everything from pumpkin whipped cream to spiked pumpkin pie — that I had to try one out.
Ultimately, it was @Tora_NYC's Irish cream suggestion that left me with a brilliant Fall twist on a favorite, Irish coffee. As with any Irish coffee, don't let the whipped cream and coffee fool you — this cocktail packs a punch! I served it in a giant glass mug, topped with a very generous topping of whipped cream. For the recipe, keep reading.
It's no secret that we're big fans of pumpkin and chai tea lattes during chillier months, so when we interviewed Padma Lakshmi, we were excited to try her recipe for a warming, spicy beverage with her signature Indian twist.
Padma, who's teamed up with Nespresso, recommends making this cup to your liking, from using the milk of your choice to adding as much spice as necessary. "The cardamom has a fantastic aroma, and it really makes you feel cozy," Padma said. "Something about the aroma of nutmeg and cardamom really smacks of Fall. It makes you want to stay in, build a fire, and just get together and entertain at home. I think it's the perfect coffee drink, either for morning or after dinner."
The dark roasted coffee; warming cardamom and nutmeg; foamy layer of milk; and crunchy, nutty bits of almonds all chime Autumn. It's rare to find a flavorful, spiced coffee that isn't syrupy sweet, yet this particular beverage doesn't rely on sugar for its flavor. I tried the beverage using almond milk and raw sugar and was surprised by how well cardamom complements coffee. Adding just a smidgeon of sugar rounds out the bitterness from the coffee, and the almond garnish gives it a nice crunch that reminds me of a peanut garnish I recently used in another coffee drink.
While Padma uses an Indriya from India Nespresso pod to make this beverage, non-Nespresso U machine ($199) owners can still get a similar feel from their own brew of a dark-roasted cup of coffee with spicy flavor notes. I'm a huge fan of the Nespresso Aeroccino ($99) and use mine all the time, but if you don't have a milk frother, then simply heat the milk before adding it to the coffee. You could also top the beverage with whipped cream to achieve a makeshift frothy top.
Keep reading to learn how to brew your own cardamom cappuccino.
This presidential election season, it's important to know where the candidates stand on the issues — but International Coffee Day today, we're wondering: where do they stand on coffee? Historically, presidential candidates, their wives, and other US politicians are for it. Coffee seems to be an integral part of both campaigning and being in office, whether you're schmoozing with voters in local coffee shops, discussing the issues over a cup o' Joe at the White House, or sipping on an exotic blend while meeting with foreign ambassadors.
Of course, not all of our politicians feel the same way about the caffeinated beverage. While Mitt Romney's VP pick, Paul Ryan, was spotted enjoying a cup of Cuban coffee last week, caffeine is a no-go for devout Mormon Mitt. And even Barack Obama is more of a hot tea guy, having told Ann Curry on the Today show in 2008 that he picks leaves over beans. Bill Clinton, however, takes the cake for coffee king; the former president doesn't seem to make an appearance without a cup in hand (wife Hillary and daughter Chelsea are also fans). So see the American politicians, presidential hopefuls, and first wives drinking coffee now!
