Custom Flavored Coffee - Flavored Specialty Coffees

Coffee purists may not like the idea of adding flavors to coffee, but for many coffee drinkers flavors add an exciting new dimension to their enjoyment of coffee. Flavored coffees have been around for many years, but they have been made especially popular by the Starbucks Coffee chain over the last decade or so. There are two main ways to make a flavored coffee.

Either use ground coffee that has already been infused with the flavor or by the addition of flavoring during the making of the coffee.

Liquid coffee with flavorings, such as the old favorite coffee and chicory essence, offer an third instant mix alternative. Freeze dried or powdered instant coffees are also available as flavored pre-mixes.

The flavoring options are endless. There are literally hundreds of flavor choices available commercially, prepared and ready for you to make your cup of flavored coffee. But you don't have to just rely on the commercial options. You also have the option to experiment with whatever ways you may choose to add flavors as you make your cup of coffee.

Liqueurs are popular additions for introducing flavors to coffee. You can either simply add a liqueur to your coffee, or you can choose from pre-flavored options such a liqueur flavored ground coffee. Coffee spiked with rum and butter has a long history, and Irish whiskey added to make an Irish Coffee is an old favorite. Bourbon, brandy, amoretto and Tia Maria each have their following as coffee additives, as do many more of the leading liqueurs.

Fruit and berry flavors can be added to your coffee as a cordial, syrup or essence; or, again, ground coffee can be bought pre-flavored. Vanilla, chocolate, nuts, honey, herbs and popular recipes have all inspired innovative variations of coffee flavorings. Interesting and sometimes unexpected flavor combinations, such as banana and hazelnut, maple and pecan, chocolate and caramel and cinnamon and blueberry, seem to work well with coffee.

Possibly the most popular coffee flavoring is chocolate. The two tastes - coffee and chocolate - seem to be complementary. To make Caffe Mocha, coat the bottom of an 8-ounce cup with chocolate syrup. Add a freshly made espresso. Nearly fill the cup with steamed milk and top it with a layer of foamed milk or whipped cream. Sprinkle grated chocolate over the top and serve.

A popular alternative way to make a flavored coffee is to add the flavoring to the milk not the coffee. Add half an ounce of flavoring syrup to 5 ounces of cold milk, and foam the milk with the espresso machine's steaming wand. Make an espresso coffee and place it in an 8-ounce cup. Pour the foamed flavored milk over the coffee. Sprinkle on a topping such as grated chocolate or whatever complements the flavor. A popular topping choice is a pattern made by pouring a thin stream of the same flavoring syrup that has been used onto the foamed milk.