Leaving the house to complete a few errands can be a luxury for a lot of us these days. Even leaving to get coffee every day may not be ideal for our health, so I had taken up the challenge to make myself better coffees, especially lattes, during quarantine and lockdown. After a month or two, I’ve mastered a few recipes and now I’m practically a wannabe-barista. Making my own coffee now allows me to be more creative and relieves a part of my stress, before and after drinking it. I got a few essential ingredients and tools to make myself the best coffee – here are a few of them that can give you the best results!
My Best Purchase – a Handheld Milk Frother!
I’ve tried out a few of these and my favorite milk frother was the Zulay Double Whisk Milk Frother. I’ve used the Aerolatte Milk Frother before and it was a great tool, but the motor ran out after a couple of weeks. Compared to the Aerolatte frother, the Zulay one was able to be multi-purpose for me and was the easiest to use.
From adding a new, airy touch to simple lattes and cappuccinos, I could froth the milk for my coffee more easily and it would be the perfect cup of coffee. After this, I tried using it for my matcha, whipped coffee and recently hot chocolate. The frother became multi-purpose at this point and I was able to make multiple drinks for my mornings and afternoons.
Try Using Syrups and other Concentrates
Besides using sugar after I’ve finished assembled my coffee, I use syrups like Torani. It’s made me feel better knowing all the sugar I’ve put in has actually dissolved and hasn’t disappeared at the bottom of my cup. There are plenty of other flavors to try out like pumpkin spice, salted caramel and hazelnut so having different seasonal flavors really helps to be in the spirit of fall and the holidays!
I’ve tried out a few concentrates and cold brews that can be added to your regular coffee with store-bought cold brew concentrates. The brand Califia Farms has plenty of cold brew coffee in different flavors and Starbucks has also brought along their popular coffee flavors into pre-made coffees that can be seen in stores. Adding a bit of the concentrate or different flavored coffees into your drink can upgrade your coffee experience and give you different ways to start your day.
Coffee is an Experience
It’s important for our mental health to see that every day can be something more than mundane and has the potential to be different and exciting. Starting off your day or even creating something new in your afternoons is always something to look forward to. Making coffee, for me and for a lot of other people during this pandemic, has helped to creatively challenge ourselves and give us something new to look forward to. Although a lot of coffee isn’t great for you long term, indulging in hot or cold coffee can help your creative and physical processes and get you ready for your day. With these tips in mind, it’s great to look forward to something sweet to start off your day!