Early morning Kopi O’s and mid-day cappuccino runs are just some of the things us coffee lovers miss after nine months of working from home. But with the right set up at home, you won’t have to sacrifice on quality coffees.
If you’re looking for a little novelty to jazz up your mornings, try these creative coffee recipes to take your regular cup of joe up a notch.
P.S. Use a coffee machine like the new Nespresso Vertuo to extract espresso shots and long black coffees for these recipes.
Think cotton candy and you’ll probably be reminded of some childhood fun at carnivals and theme parks – and this Cotton Candy Latte recipe brings this excitement back right into your daily cuppa. The cotton candy dissolves into the milk when you pour a hot espresso over it, sweetening the latte like sugar.
Apart from being a tasty treat for those with a sweet tooth, it is the perfect recipe for some exciting Instagram and Tik Tok shots.
Prep time: 1 minute
Ingredients:
Steps:
Sweet and tangy, the Orange Bianco latte is a Korean cafe inspired recipe that not only scores high on aesthetics, but also gives you a healthy dose of Vitamin C. The preserved oranges give your usual latte added texture of pulp and rejuvenating citrusy notes.
Prep time: 6.5 hours in total
Ingredients:
Steps:
Iced Americanos are perfect for an afternoon caffeine boost, but you can add some fizz in the form of soda pop to mix things up. Apart from being doubly refreshing, coffee soda can be a substitute for soft drinks that cuts down on calories while giving you a much-needed midday pick-me-up.
You can customise the drink to suit your preference – such as substituting soda water with fizzy lemonade for a citrusy punch or adding elderflower syrup for floral notes.
Prep time: 1 minute
Ingredients:
Steps:
A movie without popcorn is like pancakes without maple syrup. While we’d usually get a box of popcorn with soda at the cinema, give movie nights at home an adventurous twist by making an aromatic cup of popcorn latte.
It’s as simple as adding a teaspoon of popcorn syrup to a regular iced latte – but substitutes like butterscotch or toasted marshmallows work just as well to give the drink a buttery aroma. Top it off with a dollop of whipped cream and a handful of popcorn and your creation will be fit for the ‘gram.
Prep time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
Steps:
Usher in jolly Christmas vibes with a warm, spicy cup of ginger basil coffee. It’s reminiscent of a short gingerbread cookie, and is best served with a plate of chocolate chip cookies for a hearty afternoon treat.
It’s quick and simple to make, and adds a ton of health benefits to your usual black coffee. For instance, both ginger and basil leaves contain strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which help support your immune system and ward off illnesses.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
Steps:
While coffee gives you energy, alcohol is said to enhance creativity for some people. Irish coffee then gives you the best of both worlds as it’s essentially a warm cup of boozy brew that combines black coffee and whiskey.
It makes for a decadent night cap, but will also be your best companion when you pull an all-nighter to chiong last-minute assignments.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
Steps:
Waffle cones don’t just have to be for ice creams – pair it with coffee and you’d realise they’re a match made in heaven. The best way to enjoy coffee in a cone is to pour sugarless joe into a cone filled with hardened chocolate for a good balance between bitter and sweet.
Image credit: Coffeesphere
Plus, the cone preparation process makes for a fun, wholesome family activity. While the kids can use it to enjoy ice cream or milk, adults can use them as cup replacements for coffee.
Prep time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
Steps:
The German Eiskaffe doubles up as a dessert, combining coffee with vanilla ice cream. Unlike affogatos which use hot espresso, the coffee used in this recipe is chilled, and has a special ingredient: evaporated milk.
On a warm, humid day – which is practically every day on our tropical island – this caffeinated icy treat is sure to help beat the heat. Besides, ice cream never fails to brighten up a dull day.
Preparation time: 1 hour in total
Ingredients:
Steps:
A fresh brew is key to bringing out the best of these DIY recipes, or any other forms of coffee. For those who might find it hard to digest complex coffee-making techniques, a solid coffee machine is a godsend. Nespresso’s new Vertuo machine (from $368) will do just that, automatically setting the right temperature and brewing time according to different coffee blends.
Whether you function on standalone espresso shots or are all about fancy full tumbler-sized lattes, the Vertuo range has capsules for espressos (40ml), mugs (230ml) and even Alto coffees (414ml).
What’s more, there are 27 different flavours available, ranging from strong, intense ones like Diavolitto and Fortado to milder ones like Arondio and Solelio. Find the ones that suit your palate, or mix and match them for different recipes. For instance, we used Vanilla Custard Pie capsules for the Coffee Soda recipe to give it an additional layer of creamy flavour.
Your coffee addiction doesn’t have to take a backseat when you hustle away in the comforts of home. For a quick and fuss-free way to get freshly brewed coffee to keep your engines running throughout the day, the Nespresso Vertuo machine is a worthy investment.
This post was brought to you by Nespresso.
Photography by Clement Sim.
Cover image adapted from: @parkjjugu & Delish
If you want to turn your post-CB hair into something more refined, now’s the best…
This Singaporean guy decided to take love into his own hands and signed up for…
#6, #7 and #9 have rates starting from just $10/design.
Take our money.
A basket full of snacks and drinks also entitles you to spin and win prizes…
The newest attraction in Tokyo!