By Danielle Nemec
At home coffee is always a simple and more cost effective way of having coffee. All you need is your favorite (Java Love) coffee beans, milk/creamer, and some sort of coffee maker. But do you find yourself missing the rich and fun flavors of a local coffee shop’s craft lattes? Those artificial syrups can get expensive (not to mention some of the very unnatural ingredients they have).
Here’s the good news: You can enjoy cafe-level flavors at home, without breaking the bank, just by making your own coffee syrups. It’s simple, customizable, and costs just a fraction of what you’d spend at the store or coffee shop.
Here’s where to start:
Understand that all of these flavored syrups have a base of simple syrup (aka liquid sugar). So, to begin, you will need to start with this base syrup using the recipe below:
-
1 cup sugar (about 50¢)
-
1 cup water (pennies!)
-
Heat together in a small saucepan until the sugar dissolves completely.
-
Let cool and store in a clean jar or bottle.
This makes about 16 ounces of syrup for less than a dollar — compared to $10–$20 for a store-bought bottle.
Now, have some fun with it! Introduce a burst of flavor to these syrups using these simple additions below:
-
Vanilla: Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
-
Cinnamon Brown Sugar: Add 2 teaspoons cinnamon + use brown sugar for a cozy flavor.
-
Maple Brown Sugar: ½ cup brown sugar + ½ cup maple syrup + ½ cup water
-
Honey Cinnamon: ½ cup honey + ½ cup water + 1 tsp ground cinnamon
-
Almond Vanilla: Mix in ½ teaspoon almond extract + a pinch of cocoa + ½ tsp vanilla extract
Money Saving Tips:
-
Reuse glass bottles or mason jars instead of buying new containers.
-
Make small batches so nothing goes to waste.
-
Buy sugar in bulk — it’s cheaper per pound.
For less than the cost of one fancy latte, you can whip up a whole batch of flavored syrup that lasts for weeks. It’s an easy way to keep your daily coffee ritual special, while keeping your wallet happy.
So next time inflation has you debating whether to skip your favorite latte, grab a saucepan instead. Your homemade coffee bar is just a few ingredients away!
-
