Last year during the first MCO, plenty of new hacks and trends emerged and one such craze was the Dalgona Coffee. With the current situation, everyone is back working from home again and making their own coffee.
However, homemade coffee just does not taste like the artisanal coffee you get from cafes like Starbucks. But not to worry, here are some tips and tricks that could help you elevate your homemade coffee game besides Dalgona;
1. Forget ice cubes, try Coffee Cubes
Rather than using regular ice cubes that will only water down your coffee’s taste after melting, why not freeze some espresso instead? Brew some fresh coffee (as STRONG as you like) and pour it into an ice cube tray. Add the cubes to your coffee or throw them into a blender with some milk to make your own frappuccino!
2. Milk/sweetener cubes
If you’re not into espresso cubes, perhaps you can freeze milk or sweeteners instead. Enjoy your coffee with a combo of cubes!
3. Frothing milk with a microwave like a PRO!
You don’t need any fancy equipment to make foamed milk at home! All you need is a small or medium-sized mason jar. Fill up half the mason jar (make sure you don’t fill it up too much) with milk and secure the lid of the jar tightly and shake it for 20-30 seconds. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE LID OFF (do not forget this step) and place the jar in the microwave for 30 seconds. Use a spoon to transfer the foam onto your coffee and voila!
4. Homemade cold brew
Cold-brew is a non-heat brewing method that you can easily master at home. All you need is a large mason jar, water, and coarse ground beans. Cold brew is less acidic hence it’s less likely to cause your stomach to go haywire as compared to your regular coffee. Here’s a recipe by Cookie and Kate you can follow!
5. Homemade coffee syrup
Syrup is just that extra something to add to your coffee. You can make your own coffee syrup by just using instant coffee! Whisk black instant coffee and sugar in cold water, then microwave it on high heat for one minute. Repeat the process in 30 seconds round till the sugar is fully melted. Skim the top of your syrup with a spoon and then pour it into a clean jar. It is best to refrigerate your syrup to increase its shelf life. Here’s a simple recipe by Mom Foodie for more guidance!
6. Making coffee liquor
If you’re a fan of both coffee and alcohol, you should try this out! Measure out equal parts of water, sugar, and vodka then mix it into your instant coffee with a dash of vanilla extract. There you go! Your very own homemade White Russian cocktail. Just make sure you don’t drink and drive or drink and work for that matter.
Hopefully, these coffee tips and tricks will ease your MCO 2.0 and fulfil your hidden barista skills! Got any more tips to share? Let us know in the comments section.
Also read: Get Your Drip Bag Coffee Delivered To You With These 5 Online Shops Based In KL!