5 ways to "JAZZ UP" DRIP COFFEE

There is nothing more luxurious to me than a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning. Usually I use my Nespresso or my French Press. Saturdays though are usually spent cleaning, and they call for a more utilitarian cup of coffee. I need that thing to get me going and I need several refills. On those mornings I make a traditional pot of coffee with my drip coffee maker. I also do this if I'm having a large group of people over. Obviously you can buy a more expensive and high quality bean, but what if it's last minute and you're brewing a pot. How can you jazz it up a little and get some of that slow Sunday coffee indulgence? I have a few quick tricks to take your Folgers or Maxwell House up a level. If you have some tricks to add, please let me know in the comments. I'm always looking to try new things! ​

This post may contain affiliate links. These links serve to help you conveniently locate products mentioned in the post and also to offset the cost of running this blog. 

1. Use Quality Water

 If you have a water filtration system at home than you're probably all set, but if not, I do see a difference in my coffee depending on the water I use. I'm not suggesting you need to use only fancy bottled water, just consider the water a core ingredient in coffee and use quality water. That may be your tap water depending on where you live, it may not.  Just like beer, the type of water you use can alter the taste of the coffee. It's something to consider! This is especially true in drip coffee. ​

2. Add cinnamon 

I know not everyone likes it, but it can cut the bitterness and adds a rich flavor to the coffee. Not to mention the aroma is awesome. Your whole house will smell great! You can add other spices too depending on your preference. Cinnamon can be expensive so I like to order it in bulk on Amazon. If I'm using cinnamon sticks I always check multiple aisles at the grocery store. While they are very expensive in the "spice" aisle, if you have an international food aisle, check there first. You can usually get a very large jar of cinnamon sticks for around $5! 

3. Add Extract 

 I love to add vanilla extract, but almond and peppermint are great (and more economical) depending on what your flavor preferences are. As with the cinnamon, I add a little bit to the basket and mix it with the grounds to ensure even flavor. If you really want to take it over the top, add a scoop of vanilla iced cream and pour some extract over it! Holy decadence! 

4. Add a pinch of instant espresso

I love strong coffee and espresso. I typically make my coffee in with my Nespresso but when I'm making a large pot of drip coffee to get through household chores on a Saturday or for a group of people I like to add a pinch of instant espresso to the basket. I keep instant coffee on hand to add to chocolate batters to bring out the flavor. I feel like it gives drip coffee a little kick and makes it a bit stronger. You can also add espresso powder to any chocolate flavored dishes you make to take the chocolate over the top, so it has multiple uses! ​

5. do all of the above! At once! 

Do all of the above! I love playing around with combinations. I add vanilla extract and cinnamon together to give a great brewed in flavor. Sometimes I add coconut flakes or chocolate flakes. You can play around with the spices that you use and the flavors that you add. The nice thing is that you aren't adding a lot of calories the way you would be with a flavored syrup.
​

These are just a few quick tricks to jazz up your drip coffee. What tricks do you have?