The Strangest Coffee Additives Yet

Coffee purists beware. We’re about to disturb you. There’s a new trend out there for foodies and coffee-enthusiasts combined. We think it’s just a fad, so don’t be too alarmed. People are putting things in coffee that have never been in coffee before. We’re not just talking about flavored syrups, sweeteners, and some of the newer additives such as coconut oil or things we’re already familiar with like chicory. These folks are trying everything from bacon to cheese and beyond. Not all of it works, oddly enough, but some of it is actually quite tasty according to the brave men and women who’ve attempted these combinations. We’ll ease you in slowly with some that might seem strange but aren’t really too far-fetched. Cardamom Cardamom is a spice. A very expensive spice. It is one of the key ingredients in Indian Masala Chai. It works very well with tea, so perhaps it will work with coffee as well? Add before brewing your coffee and you’ll get undertones of cinnamon and/or ginger-like flavors in your coffee. Brown Sugar Most of us are familiar with the taste of coffee sweetened with process white cane sugar, sugar in the raw etc. Brown sugar added to your coffee adds more depth of flavor than regular white sugar and gives a richer more molasses -ish or caramel flavor to your coffee. Butter Yep! That’s what we said. Plain old unsalted butter is said to reduce the bitterness of your brew and give it a much smoother and (obviously) creamier taste. Like coconut oil, it makes your coffee all of these things but also a little greasier. The jury is still out on this one. Salt This is something that I would never have tried on my own except for that time my prankster brother switched the sugar and salt in the salt shaker. I wasn’t a fan (plus I was mad at the prank). Salt in small amounts in the brewing process is supposed to reduce the bitter taste of your coffee. You can add it afterwards in the cup as well but use it sparingly or your coffee won’t taste less bitter, it will taste more salty. Now on to the really strange stuff! Butterscotch Instant Pudding and Cinnamon This sounds odd but according to the testers is actually pretty good. The pudding is left in its powdered form and cinnamon is added. This powdered combination is then added to hot black coffee. Sounds interesting! Faux Vietnamese Coffee In an attempt to recreate a beverage served in Vietnamese restaurants, cold brewed coffee is added to a mug with about a tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk. Stir and enjoy! The sweet, milky caramel taste only enhances the flavor of the coffee in quite a different way than simply adding lots of cream and sugar. Sounds delicious! Dried Rosebuds Many flowers are edible, and roses were once very popular in side dishes and salads or to decorate fruit punches in the Victorian era. However, adding them to coffee is a new idea. The taste was described as drinking coffee with “just a few drops of perfume added.” I guess it’s an acquired taste. Coca-Cola and Coffee This was treated more like a cold cocktail than a coffee beverage. The ratio was ⅔ cola to ⅓ iced or cold brewed coffee. The opposite was also attempted, but didn’t go over quite as well. The Misses Those that didn’t go over too well included Greek Yogurt and Sea Salt (seems obvious), green tea, and bacon. Hot sauce also was a thumbs down as it overpowered the taste of the coffee (well, duh!). We give kudos to those mad scientists of coffee and culinary fortitude for even attempting to make these crazy combinations. We’ll have ours black,  with cream and/or sugar, thank you very much.   (Source puttingweirdthingsincoffee.com & wholelattelove.com)