Warm Spiced Coffee

Baby, it's cold outside!

I don't know about where you are but the new year brought with it some strong cold fronts.  I find myself each morning considering which of my comfy fleece/sweat pants I can where and exactly how late I can leave and still make it to the bus stop on time.

This time of year has me thinking about curling up with a good book and a hot beverage so today I share with you how to get some warm spice flavor in your home-brewed coffee.  Who needs to brave the elements and pay $5 for a cup of coffee deliciousness when you can use your spice cabinet and make the same thing?

The process is quite simple, start with the coffee of your choice and then add a selection of warm spices.  I have a fantastic mulling spices blend (allspice, orange peel, clove, cinnamon, and ginger) and I add along with part of a cinnamon stick.  Brew as normal, pour and enjoy. 

A couple of tips:
- if you use a French press (like pictured above) just add in your spices and steep and press down as normal.
- if you are brewing in a drip coffee maker, it is helpful to put the spices in the filter first and then add the coffee on top, especially if they are ground.  This will help ensure they don't float away and get maximum contact time with the hot water.  Also, when using my drip coffee maker, I always add a second coffee filter on top of the grounds to help prevent any floaters from making their way into the pot.
- experiment with what flavors you like and add more or less to taste.  You can also add the spices directly to your finished coffee though I find they don't have time to "bloom" and can leave a gritty residue.