Nearly every morning my day begins with a stop at Starbucks to fuel my java addiction. Sometimes I just don’t have time to brew my own coffee. More often though, I crave a more flavorful cup of joe than what drips out of my Mr. Coffee.
But the price of those grande vanilla lattes is starting to add up – and I’m feeling the pinch. With a little extra time I can create my own aromatic, flavorful coffee brew to get my morning fix. Check out these tips on how to make your own coffee.
Photo By tonx/Courtesy Flickr
How to Roast your Own Coffee
All you need to roast your own coffee is green coffee beans and an oven. Purchase green coffee beans here.
Yields 1/2 cup roasted beans
• 1/2 cup green coffee beans
1. Spread coffee beans evenly in one layer in a cake pan. Roast for 15 minutes
2. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
3. Store cooled roasted beans in an airtight container for up to a week, or longer in the freezer. Or grind beans with a coffee grinder and brew some coffee immediately!
How to Steam your Own Milk
If you’re craving a latte, follow these steps to steam your own milk. Add a couple of tablespoons of flavored syrup for a special treat.
• 1 cup milk
1. Heat milk in a saucepan on the stove or microwave it in a glass container until hot, but not simmering or boiling. (Microwave time is about 20 seconds.)
2. Pour hot milk into a blender and hold the lid on tightly with a kitchen towel. Blend on high for 45 seconds.
3. Pour into a mug or to-go tumbler.
How to Herbal-ize your Coffee
In her weekly calendar, All About Thyme, Susan Wittig Albert gives some tips on how to kick up your coffee.
• For a mint-flavored mocha, add 1 teaspoon dried mint leaves (powdered) and 2/3 cup non-dairy creamer to a cup of coffee.
• For an orange-mocha treat, add 1 1/4 teaspoon crushed dried crushed orange peel, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of cloves to a cup of coffee.
Not into coffee? Try these herbal coffee alternatives.
Do you have any tips for first time coffee roasters? How about other ways to herbal-ize coffee? Tell me about them in the comments section.
References:
The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook (Viva Editions, 2009) by Lara Starr and Lynette Shirk
