8 Creative Ways For WFH Warriors To Level Up Their Daily Coffee Other Than Adding Milk

Creative coffee recipes

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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.

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1. Cotton Candy Latte – more Instagrammable than Dalgona

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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:

• 1 Diavolitto Nespresso Vertuo capsule (40ml espresso shot)
• 1 Cotton Candy
• ½ cup of Milk
• Ice Cubes

Steps:

1. Add milk and ice cubes into a cup
2. Place cotton candy over a cup
3. Pour the espresso over it
4. Let the cotton candy dissolve and mix well before drinking

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2. Orange Bianco Latte – refreshing, citrusy punch

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Pour in each ingredient slowly to achieve three layers of colour

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:

• 1 Bianco Leggero Nespresso Vertuo capsule (80ml double espresso shot)
• 1 Orange
• 50g Sugar
• 1 cup of Milk
• Ice Cubes

Steps:

1. Skin the orange and cut it into half
2. Chop the rest into slices
3. Add the orange slices and sugar into a jar
4. Keep at room temperature for 5-6 hours and refrigerate until chilled (around 55 minutes)
5. After it’s chilled, add the preserved orange into a cup
6. Add ice cubes, milk and the double espresso coffee shot

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3. Coffee Soda – healthier substitute for soft drinks

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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:

• 1 Vanilla Custard Pie Nespresso Vertuo capsule (230ml black coffee)
• 300ml of Soda Water
• Ice Cubes
• Elderflower Syrup (optional)
• Whipped Cream (optional)

Steps:

1. Add soda water and ice into a glass cup
2. Mix in black coffee

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4. Popcorn Latte – for your Netflix marathons

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Image adapted from: @parkjjugu

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:

• 1 Decaffeinato Intenso Nespresso Vertuo capsule (40ml espresso shot)
• 1 cup of Milk
• 1 teaspoon of Monin Popcorn Syrup
• Popcorn
• Ice Cubes
• Whipped Cream (optional)

Steps:

1. Mix 1 teaspoon (or any desired amount) of popcorn syrup with milk
2. Pour the mixture into a cup with ice
3. Add the espresso shot
4. Top it off with whipped cream and popcorn for decoration

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5. Ginger Basil Coffee – pair it with cookies as a Christmas treat

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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:

• 1 Intenso Nespresso Vertuo capsule (230ml black coffee)
• 1 teaspoon of Dry Ginger Powder
• 2-3 sprigs of Basil Leaves
• 1 tablespoon of Honey (optional)

Steps:

1. Mix 1 teaspoon of dry ginger powder into the black coffee
2. Add 1 tablespoon of honey or any sweetener of choice
3. Garnish with basil leaves

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6. Irish Coffee – with a shot of whiskey for a boozy pick me up

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Image credit: Downshiftology

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

• 1 Fortado Nespresso Vertuo capsule (150ml black coffee)
• 1 tablespoon of Brown Sugar (optional)
• 3 tablespoons of Whiskey (any choice)
• Whipped Cream

Steps:

1. Warm a glass by pouring hot water in and emptying it
2. Fill ¾ of the glass with hot black coffee
3. Add in brown sugar and stir until it’s completely dissolved
4. Stir in 3 tablespoons of whiskey
5. Top it off with whipped cream

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7. Coffee in a Cone – bittersweet dessert with a crunch

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Image credit: Delish

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.

Do up a bunch of cones at one go and refrigerate them – you can keep them for up to a week!
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:

• 1 Altissio Nespresso Vertuo capsule (40ml espresso shot)
• Ice Cream Cone
• Chocolate Chips
• Rainbow Sprinkles
• 100ml of Milk

Steps:

1. Melt chocolate chips by placing them over a pot of boiling water, or use a double boiler
2. Pour the melted chocolate into the cone, twist it around to evenly coat the inside of the cone
3. Dip the rim of the cone in the melted chocolate
4. Dip it again in rainbow sprinkles
5. Let the cone rest on parchment paper for 10 minutes
6. Pour the espresso into the cone
7. Add steamed milk

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8. German Eiskaffee – add ice cream to beat the heat

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Image credit: The Spruce Eats

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:

• 1 Bianco Leggero Nespresso Vertuo capsule (80ml double espresso shot)
• ¼ cup Evaporated Milk
• 2-3 teaspoons of Sugar (optional)
• ½ cup Vanilla Ice Cream
• Whipped Cream (optional)

Steps:

1. Mix the coffee, evaporated milk and sugar in a glass
2. Refrigerate the mixture until completely chilled (about 55 minutes)
3. Place ½ cup vanilla ice cream into a separate glass
4. Pour the coffee mixture into the glass
5. Top it off with whipped cream

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Enjoy coffee effortlessly with Nespresso’s new Vertuo machine

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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). 

The Vertuo machine is equipped with the new Centrifusion technology that allows it to make large cups of coffee without compromising on flavour, topped with a generous layer of crema. 

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. 

With just a touch of a button and less than a minute, your morning cuppa is ready to drink. 

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. 

Get the Nespresso Vertuo machine

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This post was brought to you by Nespresso.
Photography by Clement Sim.
Cover image adapted from: @parkjjugu & Delish