Peppermint Mocha Recipe
I love trying out different coffee flavors during different periods of the year. When Starbucks came out with their peppermint mocha blend a couple of years back, I just fell in love with it. I have always wanted to try making my own cup at home but I just never found the time and patience to find the right mix of ingredients.
This year, I decided that unless I wanted to spend a lot of money on Starbucks’s cup, I had to try and find my own peppermint mocha recipe. Below is the result of an adaptation of various recipes from the Web (including the original recipe from Starbucks) and my own dash of ingenuity. 
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons mocha powder
2 tablespoons peppermint syrup
A shot of espresso
12 ounces of heated milk
Whipped cream
Sugar sprinklesProcedure:
Melt the mocha powder in a small amount of hot water – just enough to make a thick syrup. Pour this mixture into your cup – at least 12 ounces – and then add the espresso and peppermint syrup. Then pour the heated milk – steamed milk would be great, too. Top this off with whipped cream and the sugar sprinkles.
You can opt to use more mocha powder or espresso, depending on your taste. You can also do without the sugar sprinkles if you don’t particularly like them but personally, I prefer a lot of whipped cream and sprinkles. Not good for the weight, I know, but it sure does taste good!
Unique Gifts for Coffee Lovers
There’s nothing like getting a gift that you would really love, is there? I know I recently posted something about gifts for coffee lovers but I thought that you can never have too many gift ideas – it is Christmas after all! Here is a list that I ran across the other day. I think you’ll all love it.
Barista Action Figure
This is perfect for people who love action figures – combine their two passions together and you will surely have a hit in your hands! You can get this action figure here.
Java Logs
Do you have coffee lover friends who are environmentally conscious as well? Here’s the perfect gift for them – logs for the fireplace that are made out of coffee grounds (mostly made up of grounds, I should say). Check them out here.
Just Coffee Art
For friends who appreciate art – paintings, in particular – will love you for giving them paintings made out of coffee. Don’t believe it? Visit their web site here.
A Coffee Tree
Alright, not everyone may have a green thumb, but for those who do, a coffee plant will be a unique gift. You can ask around your local garden supply store or look online.
Coffee Jewelry
Beads are always in – yet have you heard of coffee beads? Well they are simply coffee beans turned accessories. This web site sells cool and fashionable stuff.
I don’t know about you but I sure would love to receive any - or all - of these gifts for Christmas!
Everyday Gourmet Coffee
I was talking about Starbucks the other day and I realized how much people spend on their coffee. I am sure that many of you would agree with me. Yet how can I resist that aroma and taste that I need to jumpstart my day?
A cheaper – yet just as good – alternative would be to brew my own coffee at home. I’ve always thought that this would be too much of a hassle and it could be quite expensive as well, especially since you would have to buy all that equipment. The more I thought about it though, it would still save you money in the long run.
The biggest expense would probably be the equipment. Lucky for us coffee lovers, there are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to coffee makers. Though they do cost a considerable sum, there are models which are meant for home use which are more affordable.
Single cup coffee makers would be our best bet, I think. Compared to the equipment they use in cafes such as Starbucks, these single cup coffee makers are way cheaper. Even better, the cleaning up is not at all that difficult. When it comes to the coffee itself, it is quite easy to get hold of coffee pods or K-cups, which are small packets of coffee grounds which you merely insert into the coffee maker. This is what makes clean up a breeze. Also, the coffee remains fresh – that is how these pods are designed.
I really like this idea and I am sure some of you already have your own method of brewing gourmet coffee at home. Care to share?
Spiced Christmas Coffee
Once you’ve tasted a cup of coffee, you’ve tasted them all – NOT! Though for some people, this may hold true, it certainly is not true for me. I am sure that coffee lovers out there would agree with me as well.
There are so many kinds of coffee out there and even with just one kind, you can make so many things out of it and you will get a different concoction each time. As Christmas is fast approaching, I have been on the look out for a different recipe that I could use. My family certainly loves coffee – no matter what kind - and I thought that it would be a treat to serve something different after Christmas dinner.
Here is an interesting recipe I found at Recipezaar:
Ingredients
3/4 cup chilled whipping cream
1 cup freshly ground coffee (preferrable a mild roast)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar
5 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon brandy
1 tablespoon sugar
7 cups waterPreparation
1. Using electric mixer, beat whipping cream in a large bowl to soft peaks.
2. Add powdered sugar and brandy; beat to peaks.
3. Place ground coffee, cardamom, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in coffee filter.
4. Using spoon, mix gently.
5. Add water to the coffee maker and brew according to manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Divide coffee among 8 cups.
7. Garnish each with a dollop of whipped cream and serve immediately.
I have not tried it yet but it looks simple enough and I am sure that the mix of spices will tickle everyone’s fancy.
The Starbucks Christmas Planner
I don’t know if this promo is being offered in other parts of the world but in the Philippines, Starbucks is currently giving away a Christmas planner – and a nice one, too. The idea is for customers to fill out a special card with stickers – 24 in all. Once the card is full, you can exchange it for the Christmas planner.
So how many cups of coffee do you need to buy to get all 24 stickers? Twelve regular flavors and 12 Christmas blends (of course the latter costs more). On first thought, one might think that this is just a scheme to get more money due to increased sales. This might very well be true. You should see the long lines in all Starbucks branches! Yet if you look at it deeper, you’d realise that more than just a sales ploy, Starbucks is actually giving money to charity from the sales during this period.
They have partnered up with UNICEF and with every planner that you get, a certain amount will be donated to Spark of Hope, a charity that helps out the less privileged children in the Philippines. Not bad, huh?
This activity has actually become a tradition for Starbucks Philippines and its countless customers. It has been going on for several years and though the planner changes every year (or maybe because of that fact), more and more people are getting into it.
So if you are in the area or you know someone from the Philippines, ask them to buy more cups of coffee to get that planner for you.
Tea & Coffee World Cup Americas
You may not know about it, but there are always events being held in different parts of the world to highlight this common drink that we all love. This January, the Tea & Coffee World Americas will be held in Miami, Florida.
Admittedly, it seems to be for those who are involved in the industry. The web site states the following reasons to join the exhibit:
• The only complete Tea & Coffee exhibition will feature all segments of the industry from green coffee growers, industrial roasters and tea packers to specialty distribution and retail segments of the industry.
• Functioning machinery will be featured on the show floor from packaging equipment to tea baggers and roasters.
• Hands on roasting classes will be available.
• The exhibition will feature: suppliers of equipment, machinery, supplies, and services; manufacturers of coffee and tea products; and international importers, exporters of raw product, industrial and specialty roasting as well as restaurant, hotel and coffee bar chains.
It does seem to me that it might not be appropriate for average people (like me) to be part of the exhibit but boy, would I like to go! Imagine seeing all those industry standard equipment and supplies – that would be like heaven. Of course, if you are a barista, I think that this exhibit will do you a lot of good.
In any case, for those interested out there, visit their site here. In the meantime, I will be on the lookout for other events that may be more open to non-industry participants.
What is Your Favorite Coffee Shop Like?
Part of loving coffee is having a favorite coffee shop wherein you can go anytime you wish to and enjoy your favorite cup while lounging around and doing whatever you wish to – at least that is how I see it. One thing that I have been looking for for quite some time now is a coffee shop that I can truly call my favorite. To be honest, my community does not have many choices when it comes to that.
I remember going on a vacation to an Asian beach and there was only ONE coffee shop in the whole place – but we loved it. It was this little hole in the wall shop where you can just go right after you wake up and try to clear the cobwebs in your head.
Now back in the city, I am still looking for something – something homey, something that induces me to stay for hours. So what is my favorite coffee shop like (in spite of the fact that I haven’t found it yet)?
My ideal coffee house would have cozy corners where individuals and groups can stay without bothering one another. Comfy couches would be in order, with a coffee table, of course. Or maybe they can provide lap tables for those who want to use their laptops. There should be music, of course, but I find this tricky as different people have different tastes in music and maybe bringing your own should be the case. The caveat would be a good selection of books and magazines which you can peruse while waiting for time to pass by. Oh, did I forget to mention good coffee?
Alternative Uses for Coffee
Did you know that coffee is not only for drinking but can also be used for a variety of other purposes as well? I am sure that some of you already have an inkling of what I am talking about but humor me and hear what I have to say.
The other day I was at one of my regular hang outs – the smoking lounge in our building. Unfortunately, our office building is a non-smoking one and employees can only smoke in the indoor café on the 11th floor. They serve coffee – which is not so good, to be honest – and some snacks and light meals. What I normally do there, though, is simply sit down and have a smoke.
Anyway, I noticed that their ash trays were filled with a thick layer of damp grainy substance. To my surprise, it was used coffee grains! I asked them about it and they said it makes for a good way to put the cigarettes out and keep the smell down to a minimum. I was not really convinced but I thought it was a neat idea.
I also read about using used coffee grains as a deodorizer. I don’t remember exactly where I read it but the author said to dry the used grains and then place them in small sachets or envelopes. You can then put these in drawers and cabinets and they can add a different character with regards to smell. I tried it and was it wonderful!
Do you have your own alternative ideas?
Coffee Christmas Gifts
Just a few weeks more and Christmas will be upon us all – aren’t you just excited? I know I am a slacker when it comes to getting Christmas gifts for everyone. I don’t even have a real list. I always say that the list in my head is good enough. So as late as now, I am still on the lookout for great gifts that I can give to friends and family.
I got this idea of giving gifts related to coffee to my family members and friends who just can’t live with out their caffeine and I was pleasantly surprised at the number of things I found on the Internet. Actually, some of the gift ideas were so good that I just wanted them for myself as well! (Talk about the spirit of Christmas, huh?)
Here are a few that I think are great choices.
Nightmare Before Christmas Mug
What can I say? I am a sucker for coffee mugs. I told you that in a previous post. Well check out this one and tell who would not love to have one of them. It’s a bit steep for $12 but I think it’s worth it.
Christmas Ornaments
It might be a bit late for some people to put up a tree but coffee ornaments are cool and if your friends keep their tree up till New Year, then this would be a good idea. If all else fails, there is always next Christmas to use it.
Coffee Beans
Of course, this never fails. Grab a bag of really good coffee beans and give them to your coffeeholic friends!
Coffee and Antioxidants
I am sure you’ve heard all about this before. I wouldn’t be surprised if coffee companies start producing TV commercials promoting the health benefits of coffee because of antioxidants – they probably have! In any case, how true is this? Is coffee really good for our health because of the amount of antioxidants it contains?
There have been different studies about this matter but here is one done by Joe A. Vinson, a chemistry professor at the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania. According to his study:
“The average adult consumes 1,299 milligrams of antioxidants daily from coffee. The closest competitor was tea at 294 milligrams. Rounding out the top five sources were bananas, 76 milligrams; dry beans, 72 milligrams; and corn, 48 milligrams. According to the Agriculture Department, the typical adult American drinks 1.64 cups of coffee daily.”
What’s this again – in English, please? Coffee does contain a high amount of antioxidants. The question that remains is whether the antioxidants are enough to offset some of the possible negative effects of coffee.
Don’t get me wrong – I can’t survive without coffee. But I also know that too much coffee (I don’t want to admit that there is something such as too much coffee, really) can induce hyperacidity, among other things. Some people feel jittery. Others (naturally) have a hard time falling asleep. The effects are different with different people.
I am no scientist but at this point, if they say coffee has antioxidants and that it can be good for you, I take it as a good thing. Whether or not it has antioxidants, I still love this drink, don’t you?
