Take Your Home Coffee Station To The Next Level With A Simple Spice Rack
Ah, coffee — the most important drink of the day. Who needs costly frequent Starbucks runs when you can create your own coffee station at home? However, those baristas at your local coffee shops do more than just brew coffee and mix it with creamer and sugar. Making coffee is an art form. If you find your homebrew cup of joe doesn't taste as good, consider adding a bit of spice to the mixture.
Spices like cinnamon or ginger can completely transform the taste profile of your coffee. The easiest and best way to introduce spice to your coffee is by adding a spice rack to your coffee station. Not only will it give further character to your breakfast nook, but it is also convenient with your spices readily available when you need them. The great thing about spice racks is that they are customizable, so find a look that matches your kitchen's aesthetic. Go with varnished wood and stained metal for a rustic look that conjures images of drinking coffee by the fire.
Alternatively, you can go for something a bit more minimalistic and modern by incorporating a rotating spice tower instead. Thus, you can quickly find any spice you need. If you're a wine aficionado and want your spices to follow suit, you can even get a spice rack that's shaped like a wine cellar storage rack. Ultimately, let your personality reign supreme, but keep it tidy to keep it aesthetic.
How to organize your coffee station
While you should feel creatively liberated to show off your personality with your coffee station, keep in mind that you will want to keep your coffee station organized. You don't want house guests struggling to find the sugar. When it comes to spices, you will want to label them to avoid any confusion or potential mistakes. Having clear labels on all of the lids will make it easy to decide if you want allspice or nutmeg. Likewise, you may also want to consider alphabetizing your spices for quick use. Alternatively, you can also group your spices according to flavor profiles. Keep savory spices apart from sweet baking spices, for instance.
When deciding where to put your spices in relation to your coffee station, you will want to avoid putting them in direct heat. Sunlight can ruin the quality of your spices, muting their flavor. So if your coffee station is in a well-lit area of the house, you may want to consider moving it or putting your spices in a nearby drawer for ease of use. As for the coffee station itself, the perfect spot is near the kitchen but not in the thick of things. You would never want to put your coffee pot directly next to the stove as that would impact how much room you have for cooking. When organizing your coffee mugs, consider which ones you use more frequently and also sizes — and arrange accordingly.
The best spices to add to coffee
Now that you have your coffee station up and running, you need to decide what spices you want to stock in your rack. To avoid clutter, you probably want to avoid including every spice under the sun, but various seasonings will transform your cup of joe. Warmer spices go well with the bitterness of coffee, enhancing its flavor and conjuring those memories of snuggling under a blanket on a cold winter night. If you add a sprinkle of spices like cloves, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, or cardamom, then you can't go wrong.
Don't be afraid to go bolder with your spices. For a drink that screams the winter season, mix in a little apple pie or pumpkin pie spice for flavorful results. Adding ground cacao nibs to your coffee blend will create the crossover between coffee and hot chocolate that you never knew you needed. You can also give your coffee a little bit of a kick by adding chili powder to the mix. It will give your drink a low dose of heat that will help wake you up in the morning. Just don't overdo it, and consider pairing it with some cocoa powder for a take on a Mexican mocha. To ensure your spices are thoroughly mixed, add the spices to your coffee grinds while it's brewing.