The rich taste of espresso and the thick, frothy steamed milk of a luxury drink is somehow more satisfying than a simple cup of coffee. Coffee shops have concocted recipes and flavors that make coffee more appealing than ever. Yet, the higher-quality ingredients and expert roasting techniques come at a price, making it worthwhile to make your own luxury drinks at home.
Why Make Coffee Drinks at Home?
The average cost of a cup of coffee is almost $5. Order something considered “luxury,” like a cafe au lait or a cafe con leche, and you can easily expect to add a few more dollars to the bill. Learning to make your favorite coffee drinks at home can save you time and money while allowing you to enjoy your favorite flavors any time of the day.
6 Luxury Coffee Drinks You Can Make at Home
Here are six of our favorite luxury coffee drinks you can make right at home:
1. Cafe au Lait
A cafe au lait is a delicious French beverage with equal parts hot coffee and steamed milk. The perfect blend of these two ingredients gives off a subtle, energizing flavor. Cafe au lait is typically made with a strong coffee blend, making it an excellent beverage choice in the morning before you head out the door for a busy day.
2. Cafe Con Leche
A cafe con leche is a Cuban coffee with milk. The traditional cafe con leche uses brewed Cuban espresso and steamed whole milk. Then, add a few spoonfuls of sugar based on your taste preferences. The best cafe con leche recipes use scalded milk rather than steamed or slightly heated. You can scald your own whole milk at home by heating it over the stove until it slightly boils.
3. Iced Mocha
You can even make your favorite chocolaty iced coffee drink at home. An iced mocha is simple to make, yet refreshing and delicious. Make an iced mocha at home by starting with an iced latte. Use your favorite iced coffee or cold brew, and pour it over a glass of ice. Then add a mocha sauce and milk, and top with whipped cream. If you want an extra energy boost, consider using espresso instead of coffee.
4. Mocha Frappe
Frappes are an ideal refreshing beverage on a warm summer day. Celebrate warmer weather by making a delicious, creamy mocha frappe right at home. Start by brewing your favorite coffee blend and letting it cool. Otherwise, the heat will melt the ice and make the texture all wrong.
Once cooled, pour coffee, milk, mocha syrup, and ice cubes into a blender and blend well until mixed. Pour the blended beverage into a cup and then top it off with an extra drizzle of mocha sauce and whipped cream if you prefer.
5. Cold Brew Coffee
Cold brew offers coffee drinkers a subtle, low-acidic flavor profile that’s perfect for sipping on your way to work in the morning. Cold brew typically requires a few hours of slow seeping in water to achieve its sweet, smooth taste. However, if the idea of slow brewing your own coffee at home isn’t your thing, you can always purchase a ready-made cold brew.
Otherwise, grind your favorite coffee beans as coarsely as possible. Combine the coffee grounds with water and let it steep for at least 12 hours. A 4:1 ratio is a good starting point; you can adjust it for flavor. Strain out the coffee, and you’re ready to spice it up as you desire. Some people enjoy the strong but sweet flavoring of cold coffee on its own. Others add flavored syrups, like caramel or chocolate, to a cold coffee drink over ice.
6. Red Eye Coffee
When you need an extra boost of caffeine, more than your usual cup of coffee, consider a red eye. Named after a red-eye flight, this coffee drink is meant to power and energize you, even when you feel completely empty of energy.
Red eyes are made using brewed coffee topped off with a shot of espresso. A traditional red eye doesn’t add sugar or milk, but you can. The great thing about making a red eye at home is that it allows you to taste the different flavors of a new coffee brand. Test out different coffee beans to find the one you like best.
Expensive luxury coffee drinks are a trend of the past. You can make your favorite luxury drinks right at home with a few ingredients and a basic understanding of the most popular coffee drinks. Think of all the money and time you’ll save while still getting to sip on a delicious iced mocha or cold brew in the comfort of your own home.