Getting Your Caffeine Fix At Home

Getting your daily fix of caffeine can be an expensive habit when buying these tasty beverages daily, that is why I have invested in tools and recipes that have saved me money and disappointment in the long run. Below I have shared some of my recent recipe finds, which I have tweaked and refined with practice and taste. They may seem extravagant and timely, but hopefully, with my addition of visual tutorials, these recipes will seem more approachable and rewarding.

CHAMINADE 

This is one of my most recent creations, or what I thought to be my creation until, to my amusement, I found out it already exists. Nevertheless, it is a unique combination of some of my favorite energizing drinks: lemonade, chai, and matcha. The base for this drink is the Chai which I have provided the recipe for below, however, the drink can be made as basic lemonade by replacing the Chai with water, or it can be upgraded with extra caffeine with the addition of matcha. 

What You Will Need

• 1-2 cinnamon sticks
• 8-12 cardamom pods
• 2 stars of anise
• Cracked black pepper to your taste
• Fresh or candied ginger to your taste. I prefer fresh ginger and I like to do 2-3 inches. The candied ginger will add extra sweetness and I recommend a ½ cup.
• Water
• Honey
• 1 Lemon

What To Do With It All

• Smash and crack the spices on a chopping board.
• Put the spices in a saucer and toast until you can smell a toasted aroma. Be careful not to burn. 
• Add 5 cups water and 5 tsp black tea to the saucer. Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add 1/3 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar or honey. I like using honey or coconut sugar for a subtle, naturally sweet taste.
• Take off heat and steep for 15 minutes in the saucer.
• Strain and transfer to a container. Let cool before sealing and placing in the fridge.

Constructing the Drink

• Grab a mason jar or a 16 fl oz cup and fill with ice
• Squeeze a whole lemon (approx. 2 tbs) into a glass
• Add equal parts honey, or sweeten to your taste. I like to mix 1-2 tbs of raw honey with equal parts hot water so that it mixes better with the cold beverage. 
• Then fill the glass the rest of the way with chilled Chai.
• For extra caffeine and a different flavor, refer to the Honey Matcha recipe on how much matcha to add to this drink. 
• Stir and enjoy!

HONEY MATCHA 

This is my go-to morning beverage as Matcha is clean caffeine that is slow-releasing, so I won’t get the morning jitters from drinking it. You will notice that honey is my favorite natural sweetener, but if the taste is not for you I have been satisfied with maple syrup, vanilla syrup, and monk sugar as a substitute.

What You Will Need

• 2 tsp ceremonial grade matcha powder. My favorite brands, which can be found on amazon are Chamberlain Coffee Matcha, and MatchaBar.
• 21 g of Honey or sweetener of choice.
• A dash of Cinnamon 
• 2 oz hot water
• 4 oz almond milk, my favorite brand is Califia.
• 2 oz oat milk, my favorite brand is Oatly.
• Matcha whisk or an electric whisk. I have also been successful with using a fork or regular whisk, the results may vary though.
• Matcha bowl or any regular small bowl will do.

What To Do With It All

• Fill the bowl with approx. 2 oz of hot water. You can get exact with this and measure the temperature at 175 degrees Fahrenheit, but it isn’t necessary. 
• Add 21 grams of honey to the bowl. More or less depending on your taste.
• Strain about 2 tsp of your matcha powder into the bowl. This measurement is for a strong cup. If you are unsure about the flavor and effects of matcha start with 1 tsp.
• Whisk until frothy and matcha powder is dissolved.
• You can add cinnamon to the matcha directly or you can sprinkle it into your cup before transferring the matcha.
• Fill a cup with ice and pour about 4 oz of almond milk
• Pour matcha over milk.
• Top off your cup with about 2 oz of oat milk. 
• Stir and enjoy!

SPICED HONEY MOCHA 

I am usually not a fan of mochas, but I gave this recipe a try and really enjoyed the unique take on the typical drink. Even without the spice, I enjoy the drink as the cacao, honey, and espresso balance each other out. 

What You Will Need

• Espresso or cold brew
• 1-2 tbs Honey
• 2 tsp Cacao
• Dash of Cayenne Pepper
• A jar or a shaker
• 6-8 oz of milk of choice. I like to use coconut milk for this drink.

What To Do With It All

• Put cacao, honey, and cayenne in a jar together.
• Pull your shot of espresso, approx. 2 oz into the jar. Or measure out 4 oz of cold brew and mix in the jar.
• Shake ingredients together in the jar
• Pour over ice.
• Top off with milk of your choice.

SALTED MAPLE COLD BREW

When I am in the mood for caffeine and something sweet, I turn to this recipe. It is creamy and sweet, with a hint of salt. Cold-brew typically hits me with a jolt of energy, so I like this as an afternoon pick me up. You can adjust the amount of coffee grounds and water to your desired amount but stick with the ratio of 8 oz of water to 1.5 oz of grounds. 

What You Will Need

• About 9 oz of coarsely ground coffee
• 48 oz of room temp to cold water
• Cold brew coffee maker, I use one by Bodum. You can find them cheap on amazon or you can use a large mason jar.
• 2 tbs Pure Maple Syrup
• Dash of Sea Salt
• 6-8 oz of milk of choice, I like using oat milk.

How to Make Cold Brew

• Fill cold brew maker or mason jar with coffee grounds and water. Seal and let sit in the fridge for 12-24 hours depending on how strong you want the cold brew to be. I usually go for 18 hours.
• Once my cold brew is done brewing I filter/strain it.

Constructing the Drink

• Mix 2 tbs of maple syrup and a dash of sea salt with 4-6 oz of cold brew concentrate.
• Add ice and pour the desired amount of milk over. I like to do a 4:6 ratio of cold brew to milk.