Small Ways To Make Drinking Tea and Coffee More Fun
Whether you’re a tea drinker or a coffee drinker (or both!), there are endless ways to make your favorite beverage more fun. Brewing your tea or coffee with care is the first step to enjoying a delicious cup, but there are also many ways to add other flavors or eye-catching features to your tea or coffee. From trying new teas and coffees from around the world to making tea and coffee art, there are endless possibilities for enjoying a delicious hot beverage.
BREWING BASICS
No matter what type of tea or coffee you’re brewing, there are some basic steps to follow to ensure a delicious cup. For tea, start by boiling fresh, cold water. Generally, you’ll want to use 1-2 teaspoons of tea per 8-ounce cup of water. Depending on the type of tea you’re brewing, however, you may want to use more or less water. After boiling the water in an electric kettle, let it cool slightly before pouring it over your tea leaves or bag. Green and white teas should steep for one to two minutes, while black and herbal teas should steep for three to five minutes.
Coffee brewing is a bit more involved than brewing tea, but the extra steps are worth it for a delicious cup of joe. Start by grinding your coffee beans to the appropriate grind for your coffee maker — a coarse grind for drip coffee makers, a medium grind for French presses, and a fine grind for espresso machines. Next, boil fresh, cold water and let it cool slightly before adding it to your coffee maker. For drip coffee makers, use 2 tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water. French press coffee should be made with 1/2 cup of water per 1 tablespoon of coffee grounds, while espresso machines use 1 ounce of water per 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds.
After brewing your tea or coffee, add milk or cream and sugar to taste. If you like your tea or coffee on the sweeter side, flavored creamers and syrups are a great way to add some extra flavor. There are many types available, so you can choose your favorite to add that extra oomph to your drink.
ADDING FLAVORED SYRUPS
Adding flavored syrups is a great way to experiment with different flavors and make your favorite beverage more interesting. There is a wide range of flavored syrups to choose from, ranging from classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate to more adventurous flavors like lavender and strawberry.
To make a flavored latte or cappuccino, start by adding one or two pumps of syrup to your cup. If you’re using a flavored syrup that is new to you, start with less and add more to taste. Then, add steamed milk and espresso (or strong brewed coffee) and stir well. Top with foam and enjoy!
You can also use flavored syrups to make iced coffees and iced teas. Start by brewing a strong cup of coffee or tea, then add one or two pumps of syrup and stir well. Pour over ice and enjoy!
MAKING TEA AND COFFEE ART
One of the most fun ways to enjoy tea or coffee is by making art with your beverage. This can be as simple as adding milk or cream to create swirls or as complex as creating detailed designs with multiple colors. For added enjoyment, you could put the coffee in a clear mug to see your design from the outside too. A ceramic mug is also always good for an Instagrammable look.
If you’re new to latte art, start with something simple like a heart or flower. To make a heart, start by pouring steamed milk into your cup and then slowly pour espresso over the milk while holding the handle of the pitcher close to the cup. This should cause the stream of espresso to hit the center of the milk. As the espresso hits the milk, it will swirl outwards in a heart shape. To make a flower, start by pouring steamed milk into your cup in a circular motion and then slowly pour the espresso into the center of the milk while holding the handle of the pitcher close to the cup. As the espresso hits the milk, it will swirl outwards in a flower shape.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can also try making multi-colored designs by adding different syrups to your latte or cappuccino. To make a swan design, start by adding vanilla syrup to one side of your cup and chocolate syrup to the other side. Then, pour steamed milk into the center of the cup and slowly pour espresso over the milk while holding the handle of the pitcher close to the cup. As the espresso hits the milk, it should swirl outwards in a swan shape. You can also try other designs like leaves, hearts, or stars. The only limit is your imagination!
TRYING NEW TEAS AND COFFEES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
If you’re a tea or coffee lover, one of the best ways to get more from your favorite beverage is to explore new types from around the world. There are endless varieties of tea and coffee available, so there’s always something new to try.
If you’re looking for new teas to try, consider exploring different types of black tea like Darjeeling or Earl Grey, green teas like sencha or matcha, white teas like Silver Needles or Dragon Well, oolong teas like Ti Kwan Yin or Da Hong Pao, herbal teas like chamomile or peppermint, or fruit teas like peach or strawberry. If you’re looking for new coffees to try, consider exploring different types of Arabica beans like Brazilian Santos or Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Robusta beans like Indian Mysore Nuggets or Vietnamese Weasel Coffee, or blends like French roast or Italian roast.
When trying new teas and coffees from around the world, it’s important to pay attention to both the flavor and aroma of your beverage. Take time to smell your tea or coffee before taking a sip and pay attention to how it tastes and smells after stirring your beverage. Notice how the flavor develops as you sip your drink and compare the front-end flavor (the initial flavor you taste when you take a sip) and the back-end flavor (the aftertaste that lingers after you swallow). Swirling your drink in your clear coffee mug will help release more aromatics so that you can enjoy the flavor, color, and aroma of your drink.
ATTENDING TEA AND COFFEE TASTINGS AND FESTIVALS
Another great way to have fun while exploring new teas and coffees is by attending tastings and festivals dedicated to these beverages. At tastings, you’ll have an opportunity to try many different types of tea or coffee in one sitting and learn about each one from an expert. Tastings can be educational as well as enjoyable — they’re a great way to learn about different types of tea or coffee and find new favorites.
Festivals dedicated to tea or coffee are also great events to attend if you’re looking to explore new types of these beverages. These festivals usually offer samples from different vendors as well as educational opportunities like talks from experts in the field. They’re also a fun way to meet other people who share your passion for tea or coffee!
FINAL WORDS
There are plenty of simple ways to mix up your morning or evening beverage routine to keep it from getting boring. Whether you love tea or coffee, you can easily take its preparation up a notch with one of these ideas for a more fun, enjoyable drink!