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7 DIY Holiday Coffee Drinks

Andrew O.

Saturday, December 23, 2017

— Updated May 07, 2021

It’s that time of the year again! The winter chill is in the air, decorations abound, and the excitement of family and friends coming together for unforgettable celebrations is upon us. What could be more special during such a festive season than a beautiful array of DIY holiday coffee drinks to warm our hands, our hearts, and those we love?

That’s why we’ve compiled our favorite holiday coffee recipes that are perfect for coffee lovers – whether you enjoy an early-morning caffeinated or decaffeinated cup or an after-dinner coffee to finish off the evening. We’ve even thrown in our favorite holiday tea recipe for all of our tea lovers who want to join in on the holiday drink festivities!

Each drink can be made with your favorite specialty coffees (or teas). Many of these recipes do require espresso, so one question you might be asking before we begin is – how do I make espresso?

Of course, if you have an espresso setup at home, that’s great! We also love to use extra-strong coffee from an AeroPress or French press, which presents a good balance between cost, convenience, and quality. They make coffee strong enough to almost (not quite!) be called espresso, but don't cost very much or require technical skill to use.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy these DIY holiday coffee (and tea) drinks. These yummy recipes pack all of the flavor without the unnecessary sugar, fat, and calories that can be found in convenience store-bought or drive-thru coffee drinks. Plus, save money by brewing your favorites at home. Trust us, it’s worth the extra 5 minutes each morning!

Caramel Brulee Latte

#1 Caramel Brûlée Latte

This specialty drink is a great holiday coffee to appease the sugar dragon in all of us! Feel free to make this recipe as light or teeth-achingly sweet as your heart desires. We recommend using our Italian Roast Espresso coffee as a velvety-delicious base or our Organic Black Knight Swiss Water Decaf coffee if you'd like to nix the caffeine altogether.

Ingredients:

  • 2 shots espresso or ⅓ cup strong-brewed coffee
  • 1 tbsp. (½ oz.) caramel syrup
  • 1 tbsp. (½ oz.) vanilla syrup
  • 1 cup (8 oz.) milk (1%, 2%, or your favorite milk substitute)
  • Drizzle caramel sauce

Directions:

  1. Heat milk (or milk substitute) over medium heat in a medium saucepan and whisk warm milk until frothy (about 30 seconds). Or use a Bodum French Press to froth the warm milk once it's heated. This can be achieved by filling the carafe and rapidly plunging the filter until the milk reaches your desired consistency.
  2. Combine caramel syrup, vanilla syrup, and espresso in a mug.
  3. Top with foamed milk, drizzle some caramel sauce (if you prefer some added sweetness).
  4. Serve and enjoy!
Hazelnut Macchiato

#2 Hazelnut Macchiato

A perfect homemade coffee drink for all of the chocolate and hazelnut lovers out there! This beautifully delicious holiday coffee favorite can be enjoyed any time of year and is a delightful way to wake up on a chilly winter morning. We recommend using our Tiger Nebula coffee for an added touch of zesty dark chocolate, or our Organic Peruvian Swiss Water Half Caf coffee or Organic Sumatra Swiss Water Decaf coffee if you prefer a delicious half-caf or decaf option.

Ingredients:

  • 2 shots espresso or ⅓ cup strong-brewed coffee
  • 1 tbsp. hazelnut syrup
  • 1 tbsp. chocolate syrup
  • 1 tbsp. vanilla syrup
  • ¼ cup milk (or any milk substitute)
  • Whipped cream
  • Drizzle chocolate sauce

Directions:

  1. Pour the espresso or strong-brewed coffee into a large mug.
  2. Stir in hazelnut syrup, chocolate syrup, and vanilla syrup.
  3. Froth warm milk (about 30 seconds) over medium heat using a whisk or a Bodum French Press.
  4. Pour frothed milk into the espresso (or coffee) concoction, top with whipped cream and chocolate sauce for an extra touch of sweetness.
  5. Serve and enjoy!
Chai Tea Latte

#3 Chai Tea Latte

A Chai Tea Latte is the perfect cold-weather drink for tea lovers looking for a little extra holiday spice! Feel free to get creative, mix and match ingredients and flavors, and discover your new favorite tea latte. We recommend using our Organic Masala Chai Tea or a strong black tea, like our Organic English Breakfast, to start. Looking for a decaf option? Our Organic Red Christmas Rooibos and Organic Lemon Chamomile Tea are perfect for brewing a relaxing evening Chai Tea Latte.

Ingredients:

  • Positively Tea’s Organic Masala Chai Tea (or a Positively Tea of your choice)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup milk (or milk substitute)
  • 1 tbsp. sweetener (honey, sugar, agave, etc.)
  • ½ tsp. cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. nutmeg
  • Cinnamon or nutmeg to sprinkle on top

Directions:

  1. According to the directions on your tea bag, double the amount of tea you normally use for a cup. This will create a stronger brew that will bring a balance of flavor to your Chai Tea Latte. *Please note tea quantities and brew times will vary depending on the tea type and your preference.*
  2. Bring water to a boil and steep tea for the recommended amount of time or brew a little longer to make your tea latte even stronger.
  3. Once brewed, remove loose tea and set aside.
  4. Warm milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Combine 1 tbsp. of sweetener, ½ tsp. of cinnamon, and ½ tsp. of nutmeg. Feel free to froth your milk using a whisk or Bodum French Press, if you prefer a frothy latte (yum!).
  5. Pour ¼ cup of your strong-brewed tea into a mug (you can refrigerate the rest and save it for later).
  6. Add 1 cup of your desired milk mixture.
  7. Sprinkle nutmeg or cinnamon on top for some added spice.
  8. Serve and enjoy!
Honey Coffee

#4 Honey Coffee

This Spanish-inspired coffee drink is easy to make and an absolutely delicious way to surprise your holiday guests. We recommend using our French Roast coffee for a rich and full-bodied flavor, with added notes of raw honey. Or if you prefer a decaf coffee option, opt for a dark roast decaf to give your holiday Honey Coffee all of the same rich flavor without the caffeine.

*This recipe yields 4 servings*

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups strong-brewed coffee
  • ½ cup milk (or milk substitute)
  • ¼ cup honey (or sweetener of your choice)
  • ⅛ tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp. vanilla extract
  • Dash ground nutmeg

Directions:

  1. In a saucepan, combine strong-brewed coffee, milk, honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  2. Heat thoroughly over medium heat, but do not boil!
  3. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
  4. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Salted Caramel Mocha Latte

#5 Salted Caramel Mocha Latte

This classic is a savory-sweet indulgence that will take your morning to new heights. Try out this recipe with our Blackbeard’s Revenge coffee or a classic single-origin like our Papua New Guinea. Looking for a good decaf for this recipe? We highly recommend our Indian Monsoon Malabar Water Decaf Coffee to add a delicious bold intensity to this holiday coffee recipe.

*Warning: you might not want to share! This holiday coffee drink will keep your guests coming back for more!*

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup strong-brewed coffee or 2 shots espresso
  • 2 tbsp. caramel syrup
  • 1 cup milk (or milk substitute)
  • 2 tbsp. sweetener (sugar, brown sugar, honey, etc.)
  • 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
  • Caramel sauce for drizzling
  • Whipped cream
  • ⅛ tsp. sea salt

Directions:

  1. Brew your 2 shots of espresso, or brew 1 cup of strong-brew coffee with an AeroPress or French Press.
  2. In a saucepan, warm milk over medium heat, and once steamy, froth milk using a whisk or French Press.
  3. Pour espresso (or strong-brewed coffee) into your mug.
  4. Combine cocoa powder, sweetener, and caramel syrup until completely blended.
  5. Top with frothed milk and add whipped cream, carameldrizzle (as much as you like), and a pinch of sea salt.
  6. Serve and enjoy this sweet and savory holiday coffee recipe!

Feel free to add more or less of each ingredient (depending on your taste preferences). This is a fun holiday coffee drink that’s too good to resist!

Irish Coffee

#6 Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee is a historic and tasty holiday coffee cocktail. This internationally acclaimed after-dinner drink is a boozy and warming surprise, sure to be a hit among your adult guests. For this recipe, we recommend using a smooth and creamy medium-roast coffee or coffee pod, like our Donut Shop coffee. This mild-bodied coffee has extra dreamy notes of creamy milk chocolate and orange – a perfect combination for this classic Irish Coffee recipe!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup strong-brewed coffee
  • 1 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1½ oz. Irish whiskey
  • Whipped cream or ¼ cup heavy cream

Directions:

  1. Pour strong-brewed hot coffee into a (warm) mug until the mug is almost ¾ full.
  2. Blend in brown sugar until completely dissolved.
  3. Add in Irish whiskey and mix until well blended.
  4. Top with cold whipped cream or gently pour ¼ cup of cold heavy cream over the back of a spoon. This trick (and the dissolved sugar) ensures the cream floats on the top of the drink.
  5. Serve and enjoy responsibly!
Peppermint Mocha Latte

#7 Peppermint Mocha Latte

Sleighbells ring at the sight and smell of this beautiful holiday coffee concoction. This is the perfect Christmas morning coffee to pair with presents and share with family and friends. Whether or not the weather outside is frightful, this Peppermint Mocha Latte is always delightful.

We recommend brewing this holiday coffee with our Organic Sumatra Coffee or Organic Sumatra Coffee Pods, which are immensely flavorful, highlighted by notes of pepper, and round off to a chocolatey-smooth finish. Prefer a half-caf or decaf coffee option? Our Organic Sumatra Swiss Water Half Caf Coffee and Organic Sumatra Swiss Water Decaf Coffee both have creamy notes of baker’s chocolate and are the perfect pair to this holiday coffee treat!

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups strong-brewed coffee
  • ½ cup milk (or milk substitute)
  • 3 tbsp. sugar
  • 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
  • 1 oz. bittersweet chocolate (finely chopped)
  • 2 drops peppermint oil
  • 2 crushed peppermint sticks

Directions:

  1. Combine strong-brewed coffee and ¼ cup of milk (or milk substitute) in a saucepan over low heat. Do not simmer!
  2. Blend in sugar, cocoa powder, and bittersweet chocolate and cook for 4 minutes (stirring frequently) until ingredients melt and are fully incorporated.
  3. Add in 2 drops of peppermint oil.
  4. Pour hot coffee mixture into 4 - 6 mugs (depending on your ideal serving size).
  5. Warm remaining ¼ cup of milk (or milk substitute) in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
  6. Using a whisk or a French Press, froth milk until foamy as desired.
  7. Top each mug with frothed milk and sprinkle on crushed peppermint sticks for added taste and decor.
  8. Serve and enjoy!

1 Comment

  • M
    Mica

    Can I use on my site Coffeesupremacy.com SALTED CARAMEL MOCHA LATTE recipe? I will add credits and link to this page

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