Those special coffee drinks in coffee shops sound so good– and sometimes they are. Try this healthy coffee recipe at home to save money and stick to your health goals! You can have big, cozy flavor with quality ingredients, a low cost, and hardly any extra time or effort!
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Remember flavored coffee?
My coffee drinking years slightly overlapped with the flavored coffee trend. They tasted off to me, although some of them smelled really good. Then, after the first sip, there was a weird taste.
I wanted to like them.
Even though I wasn’t especially focused on clean eating or natural health then, I just didn’t like those coffees. Except hazelnut. I almost, kind-of liked that one.
For a number of years, I dabbled in flavored creamers from the grocery store. I did enjoy those, until I nixed them for health reasons. You know, the sugar, corn syrup, unidentifiable ingredients, highly processed fats… Now they taste bad to me as well– processed food has lost its luster.
Also, coffee shops have gotten into marketing interesting, flavored coffee drinks. Some of them taste pretty good. Most of them are loaded with sugar, and sometimes other junk I don’t really want.
They are also super expensive! A splurge in cost and a splurge in health.
There is a delicious solution! It is easy, it is inexpensive, and it is good for you! Provided you don’t add too much junk to it. I will offer suggestions for avoiding the junk while still enjoying a delicious drink!
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What Makes a Healthy Coffee Recipe… Healthy?
Coffee
Well, it is mainly about ingredients. Start with a good quality coffee. The one you usually enjoy will work just fine. I like to stick with organic coffee, and grind the beans just before using them.
Is coffee good for you?
Well, you can find every opinion from coffee-is-death to coffee-solves-everything! Some supported by research, others less so. There is a study supporting just about any position on coffee, and they will contradict each other.
I don’t worry about drinking moderate amounts of quality coffee without junky ingredients. It’s probably best not to overdo coffee.
You may also want to avoid it, either for a time while healing from something or because it doesn’t agree with you in some way. Pay attention to how you feel and consider that symptoms are telling you something important.
If you want to delve into the is-coffee-good-for-us rabbit hole, here are a couple of articles to check out:
substitutes for coffee— some of these mimic coffee, and others are more like tea– but if you can’t do coffee and miss it, one of these might do the trick!
Cardamom
Most spices seem to have an array of health benefits. Cardamom is no exception; from oral health to blood pressure to blood sugar to digestion and more, cardamom gets the green light. Read more about it here.
We aren’t using a ton of it, so don’t expect all your problems to go away! Still, regularly using a variety of herbs and spices that each have multiple benefits could be a wise (and delicious) habit.
Nutmeg
Cinnamon, ginger, and cloves get a lot of attention in the health world, and for good reason. The milder nutmeg deserves some attention, though. Not only is nutmeg soothing and fragrant, it also can help relieve pain and inflammation and support the brain, heart, sleep, and digestion. Read more about nutmeg here.
When should I make this healthy coffee recipe?
- any holiday– especially in the winter, but it is delicious year round
- for company
- whenever you need a pick-me-up– check the add-in suggestions below
- on any ordinary day– it will make the day just a little more special
How to Make this Healthy Coffee Recipe
You hardly need a recipe! You can make your coffee however you usually do. I have done this in a coffee machine. It works well as pour-over. Mostly, I use a French press.
The one way not to do this: instant coffee. It won’t work.
Grind your coffee and measure out the amount you normally use. The recipe is for 2-3 servings, so you can scale up or down as you wish.
Add 1/2 teaspoon each cardamom and nutmeg to the coffee grounds. You don’t need to mix them together.
Make the coffee as you normally do. I poured almost-boiling water into the coffee and spices in my French press, let it sit a few minutes, then pressed it. That’s all you do!
(I switched to the French press several years ago to limit toxins. While I don’t strictly avoid plastic, it is nice to minimize it, especially if it will be exposed to heat. My coffee maker was mostly plastic. Also, I kept finding mold in the machine, even though I left if open to dry and cleaned it now and then. Not ideal. The French press costs a bit, but it has been several years since I bought coffee filters– another potential toxin source– and I don’t anticipate needing to replace my insulated, stainless steel French press any year soon. I have this one.)
Healthy Spiced Coffee
Equipment
- 1 French press or other coffee maker
- milk frother, whisk, or immersion blender optional, but nice if adding cream or sweetener
Ingredients
- 1/4 C ground coffee or amount you normally use for 2-3 people
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- almost-boiling water
Instructions
- Add spices to the coffee grounds. There is no need to mix them in.
- Make coffee as you normally do! For French press, pour in the hot water. Let it brew for a few minutes (however long you typically do). Press the plunger down.
- OR add the coffee and spices to your coffee machine or coffee filter. Run the coffee machine like usual, or pour the hot water over the coffee in the filter as you otherwise would.
- Serve black, or with added cream and/or sweetening options. See below.
Add-ins to your spiced coffee
You can certainly enjoy this coffee black! If you want to add something to it for extra taste, nutrition, or both, consider these options:
Cream (or not-cream)
You have options with the creamer portion. It is nice to froth, blend, or whisk it, though the results will differ based on what you use. Have the coffee black if you prefer, or try:
- regular milk– raw is great!
- cream
- half and half
- any alternative milk you usually like in coffee– coconut, oat, almond, etc.
- a commercial creamer you like that fits your diet
- cultured cream– this is a GAPS friendly alternative that will require enthusiastic mixing– I used an immersion blender and added honey because it was, understandably, rather sour
- an egg yolk blended vigorously into the coffee– I whiz one egg yolk into hot coffee with an immersion blender or milk frother for a creamy, slightly foamy not-latte– nourishing, GAPS friendly, and dairy free
- collagen peptides– for extra protein
- MCT oil
- a combination of 2 or more of these options– I like a pastured egg yolk plus some half and half!
Sweetener
You don’t have to add any sweetener at all! I hardly ever use any, and I really like it that way. The exception is with cultured cream; in my opinion, it is sour enough to warrant a bit of honey! If you would like to sweeten your coffee, consult your goals and consider:
- honey (the only GAPS option I have tried, though date syrup might work)
- maple syrup
- sugar of choice
- any sugar substitute you typically enjoy in coffee
Now you can enjoy special, healthy coffee at home anytime! Try other spices for totally different results– cinnamon is great! Or try one of my similar recipes:
Happy, healthy sipping!
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