Most flavored syrups are based around the appropriately named simple syrup. This is just equal parts water and granulated sugar heated up until the sugar dissolves. This makes the sugar easily mixable for both hot and iced drinks (but especially iced). With that base recipe, you can add almost any flavor you want to make vanilla, hazelnut and even ginger syrups!

*We'll start with the most basic recipe and then an alternative one if you want to be a little more fancy.

• 1 Cup Water
• 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix together water, sugar and vanilla.
2. Mix until sugar is completely dissolved.
3. Allow to cool and store in a covered glass jar in the fridge.  

Alternative Recipe:

• 1 3/4 Cups Water
• 1 1/2 Cups Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar
• 1 Vanilla Bean, split in half
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix together water, sugars and vanilla bean.
2. Bring to a boil and reduce heat.
3. Simmer until sugar is dissolved, turn off heat and add the vanilla extract.
4. Once it has cooled, remove the vanilla bean and pour into a glass jar. Store in the fridge.

*This one is a little more involved with the instructions, but is more or less the same and simple!

• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 1 1/2 Cups Water (divided)
• 1 tsp Caramel Flavored Extract

Instructions:

1. Combine sugar and 3/4 cup of water in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Reduce heat to medium once the mixture comes to a boil. Do not stir.
3. Let the syrup continue to boil until it turns a light golden color. This will take approximately 10 minutes. Be careful to keep an eye on the syrup the entire time since it can burn quickly after turning light golden.
4. While waiting for syrup to carmelize to the light golden color, heat up remaining 3/4 cup of water and set aside.
5. Immediately remove the syrup from heat as soon as it turns light golden color.
6. Quickly stir in remaining 3/4 cup of water and caramel flavor. Be careful as hot syrup may splatter when water is added. If any of the syrup hardens, return the saucepan to the stove over low heat, stirring until harden syrup turns back to liquid.
7. Let the caramel syrup cool and then pour into a container.

To wrap things up on flavored syrups, they're quite simple to make and are useful to have on hand! You can alter and perfect these recipes however you want. Want ginger syrup? Use some shredded ginger! Want a raspberry syrup? Add a cup of fresh raspberries and strain! There's so much you can do to step up your at home creations whether you're making coffee, cocktails or soda!

Cheers!

So where in the world should you start? It seems obvious, but start by experiencing the finished product! Go to cafes and try their coffee and espresso, maybe even a pour over. Try the coffees black or with a very little bit of cream, just for now so you can differentiate the natural flavors of the coffee (We'll be coming out with a blog on making your own flavored syrups at home soon!). After this, Figure out which brewing method might be best for you. This will depend on how much time you want to dedicate to your morning cup, but also see which method you like best from different cafes. Try Aeropress, a Chemex pour-over and french press (Espresso can get really expensive to start out with). Now, see what you would need to start brewing this way at home! Our brewtorials are a wonderful place to learn about materials needed and the process of brewing.  

You've started brewing at home, you can make some great tasting coffee, but you want to learn even more. Where do you go now? Keep exploring! Start by looking into tasting notes in coffee, then in grind size and what kind of grinders are the best. Ask your local barista about anything you might want to learn about brewing or roasting as well! Most of us are always wanting to share and educate and we have quite a bit of knowledge.

I could go on and on about coffee. It's a complicated and deep subject! Ultimately, don't try to learn everything at once, you might get overwhelmed and give up! Learn a little at a time and discover new ways to enjoy this wonderful beverage (you might even end up saving money from brewing at home!). Brewing coffee can be a lovely morning ritual, and the more you learn the better your ritual will be. Don't forget, we have all the brewing equipment you need to begin on our website! Enjoy the process my friends,

Cheers!

1. In a mixing bowl, add flour, cocoa powder, ground coffee, salt and baking soda. Mix all these ingredients and keep aside.
2. In another mixing bowl, add butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg white and vanilla extract (add peppermint here if desired). Mix everything until you have a rough and chunky mixture.
3. Add the sifted flour mixture into the wet ingredients.
4. Mix everything until you have a crumbly mixture.
5. At this point, stop the mixer and knead the mixture with your hands into a ball of dough. If the dough is still a little dry and crumbly, add some milk or water (1 tsp at a time) to the dough and knead again.
6. Take portions of the dough and make little balls.
7. Roll them in a plate full of granulated sugar.
8. Place the cookie balls on a cookie tray lined with parchment paper and bake at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes or until the sides are slightly crispy.
9. Let these cookies cool down on a cookie tray. Enjoy!