Creative Coffee Drinks You Might Not Have Heard Of

Is your coffee game getting a little boring? We know not everyone can simply drink black coffee, let alone every day. If you need a way to spice up your caffeinated lifestyle, we’ve got just the ticket with a cornucopia of coffee drinks that will tickle your taste buds. There’s so much you can do with coffee that you may never have thought of. Let’s start with some more traditional Italian coffee drinks:

ESPRESSO CREMINA

For you espresso lovers, Cremina is a way to augment your daily pour. Using a “small amount” of espresso in a cup, you want to add enough white sugar for a few servings (as much sugar as you would normally put in a few cups of espresso), then you beat the mixture with a spoon or frother until it develops a pale, foamy consistency. Then pour over the top of your espresso.

Photo credit: La Cucina Italiana

 

ESPRESSO ZABAGLIONE 

Here’s another one for espresso lovers, which adds uovo sbattuto (whisked egg). If that sounds strange to you, keep in mind that cocktails with egg such as a Whiskey Sour and Gin Fizz have been enjoyed for decades. Eggs are combined with sugar and whisked, then the espresso is poured over the top to create a custard-like flavor. This version adds a little hazelnut liquor to put it over the top. Salute!

Photo credit: The Food Network

CAFFE SHAKERATO

Start by brewing some fresh Prendo Coffee in a Moka pot, then add it to a bottle with some simple syrup. You store it in the freezer on its side to freeze it, then pour fresh, hot coffee back into the bottle, shake it up, and pour it into a cup with some cream. The consistency is more like a coffee slurpy.

Photo credit: Serious Eats

 

CAFE BOMBON

Chocolate candy indeed! This one hails from Spain, but it’s hard to find a better-looking drink than this! First, layer condensed milk in the bottom of the cup, then pour in a double shot of espresso, and finish with some foamed, steamed milk. The Spanish aren’t playing around with this one!

Photo credit: @yescoffeenodecaf on TikTok

 

And now here are some less traditional, but intriguing drinks:

SPICY DOC

If you’ve got a sweet tooth and love the spiciness of Dr. Pepper, this one might be for you. This drink is served chilled over ice. You combine Dr. Pepper and a double shot of espresso (it’s probably best to let it cool first) in a glass with ice. Then, create the topping with 3 tablespoons of heavy cream, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and two dashes of ground cinnamon. Whip it with a frother and pour it over the top.

Photo credit: @createdtocoffee on TikTok

 

PECAN CAFE

This is a simple, unique way to add a lot of flavor. Simply combine coffee with ½ cup of pecans, 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey or agave to taste, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a blender and blend until smooth. Living in Charlotte, right on the border of South Carolina, pecans are plentiful and easy to pick up at a farm stand. 

Photo credit: Sweet Life Bake

 

COCONUT CLOUD COFFEE

This might not be for everyone, but we love adding a healthy element to our coffee with some coconut water. It’s great for those hot afternoons in the south. Combine a double shot of espresso with one part cream, one part milk, and vanilla syrup. Whisk together until foamy and then pour over a half-filled glass of coconut water and ice to let it float on the top.

Photo credit: @ac_homecafe on TikTok

 

ESPRESSO OLD FASHIONED

Despite the name, there is actually no alcohol in this one. To start, you actually need to make some cold brew first. If you haven’t made cold brew before, definitely do a little research on that first. It uses a lot of coffee, but it’s potent stuff and worth it. You’ll combine 2oz of the good stuff with a half ounce of brown sugar cinnamon syrup, half ounce of vanilla syrup, quarter ounce of orange syrup, and one ounce of fresh espresso – stir and add a big ol’ ice cube.

Photo Credit: Atomic Black Coffee Spirits