using vanilla extract in coffee for a delicious treat
Have you ever thought about using vanilla extract in your coffee to turn it into a delicious treat? I have a confession to make, this is the ONLY way that I drink coffee. I want to encourage you to try this recipe and see for yourself how delicious it is!
A common beverage for millions of people worldwide is hot coffee and iced coffee. I’ll admit that I never was big on drinking coffee.
I always loved the smell of it, but I did not enjoy the flavor. That is, until I started making my own!
For starters, I learned that I don’t really enjoy the flavor of pre-ground coffee that has sat on a grocery store shelf for months. When I started buying coffee beans and grinding it fresh, it changed everything.
I started drinking coffee made with freshly ground beans, sugar, and cream. When I added the delicious flavor of vanilla extract, I almost cried it was so good.
Did you know that vanilla has some beneficial health properties? It’s an antioxidant and also has anti-inflammatory properties! It’s also calming.
Some people find that vanilla is a mild laxative. If that’s you, just decrease the amount that you put in your coffee.
Additionally, vanilla lifts the mood. If you struggle with depression, anxiety, and restlessness, adding vanilla extract to your coffee might help you.
Granted, drinking calming vanilla in caffeinated coffee might cancel the calm factor out. I’m not sure. I just know that it tastes so good.
If you like vanilla lattes, you’ll love this drink! Let’s get started!
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Using Vanilla Extract in Coffee
If you want the taste of fancy coffee without the expense, I want to encourage you to try this delicious recipe using vanilla extract in your coffee! It’s cheap to make it yourself, plus it tastes better when the beans are ground fresh.
Tools you may need
Electric or manual coffee bean grinder – Grinding coffee beans fresh will give you the most delicious results.
Electric or percolator coffee maker – Use whichever one you have to make coffee.
Ingredients
Roasted whole coffee beans – If you have never tried making coffee with fresh ground coffee beans, you don’t know what you’re missing.
Try to buy organic coffee beans if you can. You can’t really wash coffee beans before you use them. I prefer medium roast coffee beans but use what you like best. If that’s a dark roast or light roast, more power to ya.
Water – I use my Berkey water for making coffee. Use good, filtered water if you have it. If not, tap water will work.
Sugar – I love using organic cane sugar in my coffee because it has a hint of sweet molasses flavor. But you can skip the sugar if you don’t like sweet coffee. Alternatively, you can use honey, molasses, date sugar, monk fruit sugar, demerara, or other sweeteners.
You can also use maple syrup, coconut sugar, and agave nectar.
Vanilla extract – You can’t make vanilla coffee without vanilla extract. I show you how to make your own vanilla extract for cheap in this easy to follow blog post. But if you haven’t made your vanilla bean extract yet, you can use store bought vanilla extract.
Cream – I love using heavy cream in my coffee. It makes the coffee smooth, creamy, and delicious. You can use raw cream or heavy whipping cream from the grocery store. Alternatively, you can use whole milk, 2% milk, skim milk, half and half, or nut milk if you prefer.
Steps for using vanilla extract in coffee
The first step is to make your coffee.
I have an old, electric Mr. Coffee bean grinder and a manual coffee grinder (for power outages). Most often I use the electric bean grinder and electric coffee pot. But I also have an enamelware percolator coffee pot (for power outages).
Next, get out your favorite coffee mug. I love using my stainless steel coffee mug when I’m on the go and to keep my coffee piping hot. But when I’m home, I opt for something with a little more character.
This cow mug was a birthday present from my sweetheart.
Second, fill your coffee cup with flavor.
If you like your coffee sweet, add a teaspoon or two of sugar to your empty coffee cup. You can also use honey or other sweeteners.
Next, add a couple drops of vanilla extract to your cup. Don’t overdo it here. Vanilla extract has concentrated flavor and a little bit goes a long way. Plus, if you made your extract with alcohol…there’s that.
If you want rich, creamy coffee, add some heavy cream. I add a lot of cream to my coffee, but do whatever you like best.
Pour in your fresh, hot coffee. The hot coffee will sort of mix and dissolve the sugar, vanilla bean extract, and heavy cream all by itself as you pour it in.
But give your coffee a good stir to make sure everything is well combined.
And that’s it! You have delicious, flavorful coffee!
Recipe Card
Simple Vanilla Coffee
Equipment
- coffee maker (You can use a percolator on your stove or an electric coffee maker.)
- coffee bean grinder
Ingredients
- water
- 1-2 tsp sugar (Optional. You can also use honey or another sweetener.)
- 2 drops vanilla extract
- heavy cream, to taste (Optional. You can also use milk or half and half.)
Instructions
- First, add water to your coffee pot, grind your coffee beans, and make a fresh pot of hot coffee.
- Next, add the sugar or another sweetener (optional) to your coffee cup. Then, add 2 or so drops of vanilla extract and heavy cream (optional) to your cup.
- When your coffee is made, pour it over all the ingredients in your coffee cup. Stir and mix in your ingredients. Then enjoy your hot vanilla coffee!
Frequently Asked Questions
Will using vanilla extract in coffee make you drunk?
Only adding a couple drops of vanilla extract in your coffee will not make you drunk. Even if you are using vanilla extract made with alcohol. Additionally, if you are using vanilla extract made with food grade vegetable glycerin and water, you have no risk that it will make you drunk.
Just don’t add anything else to turn your coffee into Irish coffee and you’ll be OK.
Is vanilla extract OK to add to coffee?
Vanilla extract is safe to consume for everyone who isn’t allergic to vanilla beans. And since you are just using a couple of drops of vanilla extract in your coffee, pretty much anyone can drink it.
If you are pregnant or nursing, your obstetrician has probably already told you not to drink too much caffeine. That includes coffee.
How much pure vanilla extract to use?
Start by adding one to two drops of pure vanilla extract to your cup of coffee. If you have a very large coffee cup (like 30 oz or more), you might choose to add up to an eighth of a teaspoon of extract.
But start small and add a drop at a time until you get the flavor that you like.
Does vanilla extract spike insulin?
Vanilla extract does not spike your insulin levels. Whether you’re using vanilla extract made from alcohol or made from a mixture of food grade vegetable glycerin and water, neither will spike your insulin.
Is vanilla extract better than vanilla syrup for coffee?
If you are watching your glycemic intake, calories, and your blood sugar levels, using vanilla extract is better than vanilla syrup. The syrup has extra sugar that will cause your insulin to spike. Vanilla extract adds the same great flavor but without the extra sugar and calories.
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