Coffee Additives

We are coffee fans - have drip and espresso rigs and grind our own. I have never been a fan of most additives like cinnamon, vanilla etc. but the one thing I do often use is cardamom which is a common addition in the middle east and adds a subtle note.

The common additives are cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, black pepper, vanilla and cloves.

We have, of course also investigated the addition of small amounts of spirits - SWMBO, my test panel, rates brandy at the top followed by Scotch and then rum as a distant third.

I wondered if people here used additives or just drank it straight.

Coffee dissolved in hot water for me.

nothing else.

Coffee dissolved in hot water for me.

nothing else.

Are you an instant coffee guy? (Pretty hard to dissolve non-instant in water).

[Jenise]

Once upon a time I would occasionally include cinnamon bark or cardamom in my grind but no more. And I have been known to sprinkle a little nutmeg into my cappucino. But I haven't done that in a long time either. I'm pretty much a straight black coffee kindof girl. I think most of those additives suit people who also sweeten their coffee, which I never do.

Pretty hard to dissolve non-instant in water).

How else does the water get the taste & smell of coffee and turn black if some coffee from the grounds are not dissolved in it?

Pretty much black all the time. If the coffee is dubious, then some milk or cream will help.

Pretty hard to dissolve non-instant in water).

How else does the water get the taste & smell of coffee and turn black if some coffee from the grounds are not dissolved in it?

True - I had misunderstood you. There is a small fraction of coffee beans that is soluble in hot water and is developed during steeping. Instant is the fraction derived from brewed coffee and then freeze dried.

The common additives are cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, black pepper, vanilla and cloves.

Last time I was in Starbuck I waited a long time behind people having all sorts of additions, including sprinkles and marshmallows.

When I tasted their black coffee*, I could understand why it needed disguising, I couldn't drink the terrible bitter burnt brew.


*Of course, I couldn't be served a 'black coffee' I had to want an 'americano'


(In the last series of Slow Horses a character (English) went to France and asked in French for a 'café au lait'. The programme maker provided subtitles. Instead of 'coffee with milk' or 'white coffee', this was translated as 'latte')

The place is colloquially known as 'Charbucks' for a reason.

Starbucks is over-roasted because they multiple source their beans. Instead of customizing roasting times, they just roast of all them together until they're just about burnt. I drink McD's coffee a couple of times a week with friends, and I have no issue with it. It tastes good and is way cheaper than the burnt stuff.