You don’t need to go to a coffee shop for a delicious morning brew. Unlock the secrets of making your perfect cup of coffee at home with these great tips.  

Froth your milk  

Want to make you regular to-go latte order at home? Yes, please! Add some foam to your cuppa by frothing your milk. Not only will it look fancy (perfect for an Insta-worthy photo), it elevates the taste too. To get your foamy drink, use a milk frother. Don’t have one? A simple trick is to warm the milk (not scalding hot), pour it into a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake for about 30 to 60 seconds. Or take a whisk and work it vigorously in your mug for a foamy cup of delight.  

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Add hot chocolate 

Turn your brew into a mocha coffee by mixing it with some hot chocolate. The combination of chocolate (and the added sugar) is a great way to mask the bitter taste of coffee. Added benefit? You can make yours as ‘chocolatey’ as you’d like since you are mixing in the hot chocolate after the coffee is already brewed. Make your mocha even gooey-er by adding in a piece of your favourite milk or dark chocolate.  

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Salt and spice make everything nice  

Sprinkle in salt and mix in some spices to make your coffee taste nicer. It may sound strange, but adding a pinch of salt to black coffee makes the bitterness more mellow by increasing its sweetness. The coffee’s nutty flavours will be more pronounced too. To add more flavour, mix warming spices like powdered cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamon into your coffee grounds before you brew. Think a warm chai latte on a chilly day – yum! 

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Image: Unsplash

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Ah, coffee! The thought of your first cup is often enough motivation to get out of bed to switch on the machine. But that first sip is sometimes too cold, too weak or maybe a bit sludgy to hit the spot. Here are four mistakes you may be making when brewing your java. 

1. Not measuring your coffee 

Need that extra caffeine kick before going to work this morning? It turns out that an extra scoop (or two) to your coffee won’t do the trick. There’s only so much caffeine you can extract from your beans before you ruin the flavour. It will only leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Make sure you are getting the ratio of coffee to water right.   

“People often add too much coffee to make a stronger brew, but if you use too much you run the risk of getting sour flavours,” explains Justin Lacher, a wholesale educator for a craft coffee company. 

2. Storing your coffee in the wrong place  

A pre-brew mistake is often the culprit of funky-tasting coffee. Where are you storing your coffee? Find a cool dry space in your kitchen, like in an airtight container at the back of a shelf for storage. Keeping your coffee in the freezer is also out of the question – it’s too humid. 

 

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Spoil yourself with a brew-tiful cup of coffee and something sweet at one of these local coffee shops with the best treats. 

3. Brewing expired coffee 

Keep an eye out for a ‘sell by’ date when you buy your coffee beans or grounds. According to Kaleena Teoh, co-founder of Coffee Project New York, old coffee will oxidise and lose its aromatic compounds. “It will taste almost like cardboard. You can still drink it, but it won’t taste as good as when it’s fresh,” she explains. How can you use your old coffee grounds? If you’re lucky enough to have your own garden, add it to your soil as a fertiliser and avoid wastage.  

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4. Using a dirty coffee machine 

Your dirty coffee machine may be ruining the taste of your brew. Each time you use your coffee maker, the coffee leaves behind an oily residue that could affect the taste of your cuppa Joe. Clean your machine once a week to clear up the grime that gets stuck in the smallest nooks and crannies.  

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This fresh and creamy coconut and mint iced coffee will give you the morning boost you need! 

Photography: Pexels

The post 4 coffee mistakes that ruin the taste of your brew appeared first on MyKitchen.

What’s tastier than freshly-brewed iced tea? We share our favourite iced tea recipes that will keep you hydrated and refreshed this summer.

Strawberry and basil iced tea 

Makes 1L • Total Time 15 Min [Plus Refrigeration] 

Ingredients

1L boiling water 
2 Tbsp honey 
½ punnet basil, plus to garnish 
125g strawberries, halved, plus to garnish 
2 teabags Hibiscus tea  

Method

1. Add water, honey, strawberries and basil to a pot over medium heat.
2. Bring it to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
3. Pour mixture into a heat-safe jug and add teabags.
4. Set aside to infuse for 5 minutes, then remove teabags and refrigerate until cold.
5. Strain liquid to remove any bits of fruit.
6. Top with water.
7. Serve poured over ice, and garnish with berries and basil. 

Lemon and mint green iced tea 

Makes 1L • Total Time 15 Min [Plus Refrigeration] 

Ingredients

1L boiling water 
2 teabags Green tea 
6 mint leaves, plus to garnish 
2 lemons, sliced 
2 tbsp honey  

Method

1. Combine the boiling water, teabags, mint and lemons in a heat-safe bowl or jug.
2. Add the honey and stir to dissolve.
3. Set aside to infuse for 5 minutes, then remove the teabags and refrigerate until cold.
4. Top up with water to taste.
5. Serve poured over ice, and garnish with lemon and mint. 

Make The Best Brew 

It’s true: there is a correct way to make a pot of tea — even iced tea. Here are some tried-and-tested tricks: 

1. Don’t brew it for ages.
Once the teabag has been in hot water for more than 10 minutes, it starts to release the bitter tannins of the tea leaves. Aim for the sweet spot between 5 and 7 minutes.   

2. Be patient.
When it comes to letting the iced tea cool – don’t rush. It will be worth it. Remember to add a generous amount of the all-important ice when serving!  

3. Do a taste test.
Check the sweetness and add more honey if you like. Be sure to let it dissolve before you take it off the heat. If not, the honey will settle at the bottom.  

Like A Teacup and Saucer 

Some flavour combinations are just simply meant to be. Bring out the best in these four teas:   

Peppermint Tea
Adding lime to this tea will add a zing of freshness.  

Chamomile Tea
Grate a 2cm piece of fresh ginger into this tea for a punchy immunity boost.  

Earl Grey Tea 
Bring out the citrus notes with a few slices of the real deal. Orange and lemon will work well.   

Rooibos Tea 
The classic combo of rooibos tea and fresh peaches is a heavenly match.  

Words by Sjaan Van Der Ploeg
Photography: Fresh Living Magazine

The post Sippin’ Pretty: Cool as Iced Tea appeared first on MyKitchen.

Creamy, fresh and the perfect morning boost, this coconut and mint iced coffee is going to be a wake-up-and-go favourite as the weather heats up.

SERVES 4 // COOKING TIME 10 min

INGREDIENTS
Punnet mint leaves
4 glasses ice cubes
1½ cups coconut milk, whisked until smooth
1½ cups cow’s milk
2 cups strong black coffee, cooled
4 sprigs mint, to serve

METHOD
1. Divide mint leaves between 4 tall glasses and muddle to release the flavour.
2. Fill glasses with ice.
3. Whisk the two types of milk until smooth and pour into glasses.
4. Top with black coffee and stir to combine.
5. Serve chilled with fresh mint.

Tip: Use coffee ice cubes to prevent watering down your drinks. Just freeze some weak black coffee in an ice tray overnight!

Recipe & styling: Kate Turner
Photography: Sean Dollery // HMimages.co.za

Pair your morning brew with these healthy buckwheat breakfast muffins for an easy snack.

The post Wake-up-and-go coconut and mint iced coffee appeared first on MyKitchen.

There’s nothing more pleasurable than a freshly brewed cup of coffee in the mornings. Not to mention after a lovely dinner with your guests. Now we’ve taken it a step further to show you how to change your coffee game, to change that brew in such a way that you and your friends and family will never forget!

By Mikaela Kagan & Jana du Plessis

1. FRESHLY GROUND

The more freshly ground your beans, the better the flavour of your coffee. So, instead of buying bags of pre-ground coffee off the shelf, use whole beans and ground them yourself just before brewing. Measure out about a tablespoon of beans per cup you’d like to make and grind them in your spice or coffee grinder until fine. We’ve also read that you can use a good old pestle and mortar to do the job – if you’re up for the elbow grease, go ahead! But if you are a coffee machine person, don’t worry! Here. are some of our favourites for every personality and every budget.

2. LIFT IT UP

You can brew your coffee plain, but let’s be honest, there’s nothing extraordinary about that. Mix some dried chilli flakes or citrus zest with your grounds to add a whole new flavour dimension. You can also get creative with the add-ins you offer your fellow caffeine-aficionados. Vanilla sugar tastes heavenly, a pinch of salt will smooth it out and a dash of whipped cream will always put a smile on anyone’s face.

3. EXPAND HORIZONS

We love sipping on a good cup of coffee as much as the next person, but what we also appreciate is how versatile coffee can be beyond being poured it into a cup. Who would have thought that it would it add a dark, rich and incredibly decadent flavour to your Sunday roast? Find out by making our coffee-rubbed silverside with chocolate-chilli butter. And if you love peanut butter for breakfast, serve it up in our get-up-and-go smoothie. And for our favourite funky application, we present our ever-popular salted caramel chocolate cake. Adding a hot cuppa to your cake batter will result in a sponge so soft and moist, you will hardly believe it.

The post Change your at home coffee game in 3 easy steps appeared first on MyKitchen.

There is nothing quite like a deliciously exotic cup of home-made chai tea. Originating in India, chai is made with a blend of sweet, aromatic spices. Enjoy it steaming hot on a chilly winter’s evening or pour it over ice for a poolside drink that will transport you to shores of India.

SERVES 2 // COOKING TIME 15 mins

INGREDIENTS
2½ cm ginger, peeled and chopped
4 cardamom pods
4 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
½ tsp peppercorns
2 tea bags / 2 tsp loose-leaf tea (Darjeeling is traditional, but the choice is yours)
1 cup full-cream milk
¼ cup sugar

METHOD
1. Crush the spices with a mortar and pestle, coffee grinder or a rolling pin and plastic bag.
2. Place the spices and 2 cups of water in a pot. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat and add the tea. Cover and steep for 3–5 minutes, to reach your desired strength.
4. Add the milk and sugar and reheat to just below boiling point, stirring (dissolve the sugar, but don’t scald the milk).
5. Strain the chai before serving.

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