A steaming hot cup of joe in the morning and the scent of that fresh coffee is like no other for coffee drinkers worldwide. Coffee is part of many morning routines, whether that includes grinding it fresh at home or grabbing a cup from a local coffee shop near work. However you take your coffee, if you're a fan of the wonderful, caffeinated drink, these 12 hacks are a must-know!
1. Butter Instead of Milk
Many of us have tried to cut back on the cream and sugar we're adding to our coffee, to get rid of the extra fat and calories. If you can't quite stomach drinking it black, try using a little unsalted, grass-fed butter! It will give your coffee flavor without having to add cream or milk.2. Cinnamon Instead of Sugar
Flavored coffees from restaurants and drive-thrus are often full of sugar, and of course, extra calories. Instead of asking for a mocha cookie crumble, get a plain coffee and throw in a little cinnamon. It'll sweeten up your coffee without turning it into a caloric nightmare!3. DIY Latte
If you're a coffee shop regular, you probably know by now how much it adds up. Instead of paying boucoup bucks for a latte, try making one at home! You'll need to make a one-time purchase of a milk frother, which you can find for under $20. Pour your choice of milk or sugar (or healthier substitutes) into a mug and microwave it for a bit, then use your frother to make the mix a little foamy. Add it to your coffee and enjoy your DIY latte.4. DIY Iced Coffee
If you like your coffee iced and want to stop spending so much at Starbucks, there's a hack for that! To cold brew your own coffee, soak ground coffee beans in water for 12 hours (overnight), then strain the grounds. Simply pour the coffee over ice and add your choice of extra ingredients to flavor it up!5. Make Your Own Creamer
All you need is your choice of milk, and a few drops of vanilla or almond extract to create a perfectly good coffee creamer. It will last longer in your refrigerator than store-bought creamers, and you know exactly what ingredients you're consuming. Win, win!
6. Coffee Ice Cubes
Personally, I love this one. If you're making coffee at home, chances are there's usually a little extra left in the pot at the end of the day. Instead of dumping it down the sink, pour it into an ice cube tray! You'll end up with coffee ice cubes to use in your iced coffee or iced latte, and it won't water down your drink!7. Make Your Own Coffee Syrup
Most coffee syrups from the store are full of sugar, as are those delicious-sounding flavored coffees from Dunkin Donuts. To make your own, stir 2 cups of sugar into 2 cups of water over low heat until it dissolves. Add in your choice of flavoring — vanilla extract, caramel, mashed berries — and stir until combined. If you're going with a berry flavoring, make sure to strain out the berry chunks. Other than that, enjoy your homemade coffee flavoring!8. Reuse Your Grounds
There are a bunch of uses for old coffee grounds that get dumped in the trash on a daily basis. They can be used in a garden as a fertilizer and pest repellent, you can use them in your home to help absorb food odors, and you can even use them as a natural exfoliant for your skin.9. Add Salt to Bitter Coffee
If you're really needing coffee at work and the office only uses that generic, bitter-tasting brand, add a pinch of salt to your cup. The salt will counteract the bitter taste and leave you with a smoother, not-so-bitter drink that's much easier to sip.
