The Middle Eastern Way to Make Coffee 10x Better
- Cardamom is a versatile spice that can be used in both savory and sweet dishes, known for its peppery, citrusy, and floral flavors.
Coffee is a morning staple in my house. Whether it's hot water and a scoop of mushroom coffee or the Keurig K-cup experience with stevia and a little CoffeeMate creamer , there's something about the smell and taste (and caffeine) that brings me a little joy. But the same old same old coffee day after day can get a little bit boring. One way to mix things up? Add a little cardamom to your coffee for a fun and spicy kick.
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What is Cardamom?
Cardamom is a spice that's part of the ginger family. It's a bit peppery, pungent, citrusy and slightly floral. You can find cardamom in a variety of forms: ground, as a seed or as a whole pod. The versatile spice can be used in savory dishes, like noodle soups and curries, and sweet dishes like pancakes , cookies and pie .
Cardamom is a classic example of warm spice , a category that also includes cinnamon, ginger and cloves. If you've had chai or Thai coffee you've likely had cardamom before.
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What is Cardamom Coffee?
Cardamom coffee isn't a new concept—it's popular in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. I've never made cardamom coffee at home, but I like to play around with coffee flavors, so I gave it a try and it was delicious. Here's how to make a cup of your own.
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How to Make Cardamom Coffee at Home
The most common way to add cardamom to your coffee is before you grind and brew the coffee beans, but you can also add it directly into a cup of brewed coffee. Choose either of the methods, brew your coffee as usual and add milk and/or sweetener, if that's how you take your coffee. If you're grinding the cardamom with your coffee beans, start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoons of cardamom seeds or 1-2 whole cardamom pods. Alternatively, you can add 1/4 teaspoon of ground cardamom to a cup of coffee.
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I wasn't sure how much ground cardamom to use, so I started by adding 1/4 teaspoon of ground cardamom to my light roast breakfast blend coffee pod, which makes a 12-ounce cup of coffee. After brewing, I stirred the hot mixture thoroughly to further dissolve the cardamom and remove the "grainy" look.
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What I Thought About Adding Cardamom to Coffee
My initial sip with nothing but coffee and cardamom was too strong for me. To balance out the spice a bit, I added about a teaspoon of cane sugar and a splash of zero-sugar caramel macchiato creamer. The resulting drink was a really balanced coffee with a more subtle cardamom taste. It was definitely evident, but not overpowering. Adding ground cardamom to coffee is definitely something to consider in the colder months. I can also imagine drinking this iced on a hot day.
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