How to level up your coffee, add benefits, flavor, and more! It's easy and fun!
There’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee in the morning, or an iced coffee on a hot afternoon. Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed beverages on a daily basis, and there are so many ways to brew it and prepare it. But did you know you can maximize your coffee experience in the morning in creative ways? Mix it up, try something new add some nutritional benefits, or just change the taste. d, more people are finding exciting ways to level up a standard cup of Joe. We have compiled a list of 5 ways to level up your coffee, and some suggested companies to look into who are creating these products. (Mentions don't equal endorsements, FYI!)
Level 1: Mushroom Coffee
Mushroom coffee has quickly become a common way to enjoy coffee with some added potential health benefits. But don't worry; it's not made of just mushrooms alone, and they're definitely not the hallucinogenic type. It's a mix of coffee and dried mushrooms ground into a powder that looks and smells just like coffee. The most common mushrooms used in mushroom coffee are reishi, chaga, lion’s mane, and cordyceps. You might have seen this in the grocery store; the company Four Sigmatic is a category leader in this regard.
So, why are people doing this? Those who drink mushroom-infused coffee often report its benefits include a smoother and more consistent energy, without the crash and burn that can come from caffeine and the acidic stomach that coffee often produces. Although the medicinal benefits of these mushrooms mixed in coffee are still being researched, some studies suggest this type of coffee infusion can help support immune health, ease stress, improve sleep, and reduce inflammation. Mushroom coffee is definitely a way to level up your coffee experience.
Level 2: Coffee with Fat
Coffee already has some natural oil, or fat, in it. Sometimes you will see oil floating to the top of your coffee depending on the beans used and their roasting process. Over the years, adding healthy fat to coffee became popularized with the rise of the keto diet. The purpose of adding fat to coffee is to help curb appetite while gaining essential fats in place of carbohydrates. Fat slows down the body's absorption of caffeine, which produces a longer, more sustained buzz.
Bulletproof Coffee, also known as butter coffee, is one of the more well-known coffees with fat consisting of unsalted butter and a medium-chain triglyceride oil (MCT oil), usually made from coconut oil or butter, blended into the coffee. It's very popular for those following keto diets.
Although Bulletproof Coffee is the product that put the trend squarely on the map several years ago, it's not the only fat add-in for coffee.
Some major coffee chains, such as Starbucks, have introduced coffee with olive oil. It's part of a twist on the coffee-with-fat trend, but it's believed to cut the acidity and smooth out the flavor.
READ MORE: MCT Oil: What Is it, and How to Use It
Level 3: Collagen Powder Boosts
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body; it is a connective tissue for bone, skin, muscles, tendons, and cartilage. An abundance of healthy collagen is associated with stronger bones, joints, and muscles, tighter skin, and healthier hair, skin, and nails. The human body makes its own collagen with a healthy diet of protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
This has led several brands to make collagen coffee, collagen boosters, and collagen powders for adding to your coffee or food—have you tried our No-Bake Collagen Brownie Cups? Adding collagen peptides to coffee does not change the taste of the coffee unless a flavored collagen is used. However, the health benefits of consuming collagen are still in question; more studies likely need to be done. (You may have seen collagen products such as those from Ancient Nutrition or Vital Proteins, for example). Without getting too lost in the nitty gritty here, collagen is complex! There are a few different types of collagen that work in different ways, for skin vs. joints, etc. Plus, collagen isn't a cheap product, however, so you might decide this trend isn't worth pursuing.
READ MORE: Getting Started With Collagen: What You Need to Know
Level 4: Spiced Coffee
So many people from around the world love adding various spices to their coffee. You can add them to the grinds before they brew, in with the grinds. Or add after! Some of these dried spices include cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice, cloves, ginger, star anise, pumpkin spice, and apple spice. This is a great way to change the flavor of your coffee making it like a new drink altogether. These warm and fragrant spices kick your aromatic coffee up a serious notch.
Grinding the spices yourself can definitely make them more vibrant. You might not want to go through the extra trouble to do that.
READ MORE: 5 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Caffeine
Level 5: Make Coffee Ice Cubes
There are clever ways to make sure your iced coffee stays strong. You can brew a concentrate yourself or you can go straight to cold brew coffee instead. Or, you can do this cheap at-home hack: freeze your leftover coffee. Rather than dump your coffee, transfer your leftovers to ice cube trays and freeze the coffee. This way, when it's time to add ice to your coffee, you won't be diluting the strength of your coffee.
Before starting any new supplement or health regimen, it's always advisable to talk to a qualified medical professional you trust, such as a doctor, nutritionist, or registered dietician, to determine what's best for your individual health needs.
