Let's face it: flavored coffee is a genius idea. The concept originated in the 1960s when coffee prices increased, and companies could not afford top-quality beans. Enter the flavored bean. The maker added flavor to the lower-quality bean to compensate for its bitterness.
There are so many ways to create perfectly flavored beans. You can soak them in oil or add spices. You can even immerse the beans in alcohol. While flavored coffee beans are often made in factories, you can also make your flavored beans at home.
It can be a fun and creative process to flavor beans. You can make the bean as strong as you want. Read on and learn how to flavor coffee beans.
In This Guide...
How Do You Flavor Coffee Beans?
When dealing with artificially flavored beans, the process involves both natural and synthetic flavoring oils. The most popular flavoring oil is vanilla. Artificial flavor agents are also a part of the flavoring process.
The process can necessitate up to 80 or more compounds. The flavors used often complement the bitter coffee bean enough to make it a more pleasant and lighter tasting brew while not compromising the bean's natural flavor.
Flavor oils are put on the beans upon roasting. Careful consideration is paid to the type of roast and the flavor used. Dark roasts are not paired with sweeter flavor oils because the dark roast would overpower the lightness of the sweet oil.
Before the flavor is added, the beans are cooled so that the heat does not eradicate the flavor compounds. The flavor is added to the roasted beans before grinding. The beans are shaken to ensure that the coating is ideally even on each bean.
All of this refers to the factory method of flavoring the bean. However, if you are feeling bold and creative, you can flavor your beans at home. It is easy and fun once you know how to do it.
What Are the Ways You Can Flavor Your Coffee Beans?
There are various ways to flavor coffee beans. It all depends on your preference. You can add spices, oils, alcohol, or syrups to liven up the beans. Flavored coffee is a real treat for those who want the flavor without the extra calories (with the exception of syrup).
Add Spices
When flavoring coffee beans at home, you can add spices. It livens up the bean and makes it more approachable in taste. If you are a devotee of flavored coffee but do not want the chemicals and preservatives that come with it, flavoring at home is a good option.
Some of the different flavors you can use include the following:
- Nutmeg
- Chicory
- Allspice
- Cocoa
- Cinnamon
- Coriander
When adding spices to the beans, you first pour the beans into a bowl. Then, split beans down the center and add the flavor. Six vanilla beans are ideal for a pound of beans. Thoroughly mix the halves and put coffee into the original container.
It takes about 24 hours for the spice to be infused into the coffee. Make sure to leave them in a dark, cold area. You can even mix and match these spices together if you want. It may take some time to perfect the intensity of the flavor to your liking.
Add Syrups
Select an excellent syrup to infuse the beans with the flavor. This process is how coffee shops like Starbucks™ and roasters create flavored beans. Roasters add syrup to the coffee beans, and then they spin for about 20 minutes, and you add 3 percent of the weight of the beans in the syrup.
Be cautious not to add too much syrup because it downgrades the flavor of the coffee. Some of the different syrups you can use include the following:
- Vanilla
- Maple
- Hazelnut
- Chocolate
Have the syrup and beans spin in a mixer for about 15 minutes. Once that is done, the beans will fully absorb the syrup like a sponge. When you add the syrup, you can combine and mix them or add them separately.
You can also make your syrup if you prefer and mix an equal measure of water and sugar with spices like ginger or caramel.
Infuse the Beans with Oil
Infusing the beans with oil is the most common way to flavor the beans. These oils are concentrated and can be purchased in coffee shops. Almost all oil brands come with instructions, and you would be wise to follow them.
Some of the most popular flavors to add include the following:
- French vanilla
- Hazelnut
- Irish cream
- Peppermint
- Amaretto
- Butterscotch
Once you have added oil to the beans, gently toss them by hand and leave them alone for about an hour. The longer the beans are resting, the better the oil soaks into the beans. This method gives an enjoyable and robust flavor.
Add Something Sweet to the Mix
Something sweet will surely please the palate and take your flavored beans to the next level in deliciousness. Some of the other sweet little additions you can add include the following:
- Honey
- Brown sugar
- Chocolate
- Cocoa powder
- Molasses
You can change how you flavor the coffee beans. It depends on your preference for sweeteners. If you want a lot of sweeteners, you make sure that it is thoroughly mixed before adding them to your coffee.
Add Alcohol
You can use alcohol to spice things up and make them interesting. Using alcohol will enhance the flavor of the coffee. When soaking coffee beans in alcohol, you will first need to pour the alcohol into a glass. The proper measurement is .25 ounces per 1.5 ounces of liquor.
The beans should soak for 24 hours. If your aim is for the flavor to be stronger, try leaving them for an extra 6 to 8 hours. The coffee beans should be left to dry before grinding them.
Then, pour the coffee beans through a sieve into another glass. Some of the best choices for alcohol to soak the beans include the following:
- Brandy
- Whiskey
- Rum
- Tequila
- Sambuca
- Bourbon
- Vodka
Soaking coffee beans in alcohol is a good idea if you want the energy without drinking the coffee. The alcohol will depress the coffee in the beans. True coffee lovers need to know this.
What Are the Best Flavored Coffee Beans and Grounds?
People who like flavored coffee tend to want to know about the roasting and brewing methods of the beans. There are some very popular flavored coffee beans you might want to check out. The following is a list of different flavored coffee beans that will entice and delight your senses:
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice
Starbucks has been spoiling us with pumpkin spice lattes since 2003. However, they have also blessed us with pumpkin spice ground coffee, which is great all year round.
A true fall favorite, this coffee is warm and balanced. It has subtle notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, which makes it the perfect autumn treat. It is like dessert in a cup! You can dress it with cream and sugar, or even keep it black, which is good enough on its own.
AmazonFresh™ French Vanilla
The taste is Arabica bean mixed with French vanilla. Amazon coffee prides itself on its freshness, as they package their coffee as soon as it is roasted.
Coffee beans used to make this coffee come from Central and South America. Amazon's coffee is delicious and smooth. It is high-quality coffee for an affordable price. This French vanilla is creamy and luscious.
Community Coffee™ Pecan Praline
This coffee is rich in Southern charm, as it offers a burst of pecan flavor. The coffee is made from 100 percent Arabica beans, and this coffee is even good for those who do not generally like flavored coffees. It has a pleasant and delicious nutty flavor.
Seattle's Best™ Coffee Toasted Hazelnut
This brew is another flavored coffee that even regular flavored coffee drinkers can appreciate. Seattle's Best coffee comes from Arabica beans. The company is known for its quality coffee. They offer some of the best flavors. If you are a fan of hazelnut, you will love this coffee.
Starbucks Fall Blend
This flavor is another great fall-oriented coffee. It is a unique blend of medium roast coffee with notes of fall spices. The beans from Sumatra give this blend a touch of autumn.
It also has subtle notes of citrus and a nutty balance. It is perfect for chilling out and watching the colorful leaves fall to the ground as you savor each delicious sip.
New England™ Blueberry Cobbler
This coffee is unique, exciting, and perfect to go with a lush dessert. If you want to make it decadent, add vanilla cream and sugar. It will taste like a blueberry cobbler with a little bit of whipped cream on top of it. Or, if you prefer, you can conjure up the image of vanilla ice cream on top!
Blueberry Cobbler is made from 100 percent Arabica beans. New England coffee does not discriminate where they get their coffee beans. They come from Africa, Central America, and South America, and the brand has been utilizing the same roasting method for over 100 years.
Volcanica™ Caramel Chocolate
The marriage of chocolate and caramel in this coffee is to die for. It is like drinking a caramel macchiato. This coffee is high-quality that is roasted to perfection. It is a medium roast coffee made with 100 percent Arabica beans.
There is a touch of caramel sweetness. This coffee is artfully balanced and ideal when you want something sweet but do not wish to spend calories on a syrupy latte.
Churchill™ Amaretto
Churchill roasts its coffee beans like a small batch company. They do not generate large batches of bean roasts that lack that quality flavor its customers are looking for.
This coffee has a lovely almond flavor. It also has a touch of apricot for uniqueness. It is roasted by Italian standards, so it is a little stronger than most coffees. The amaretto flavor is robust. You must like the amaretto flavor to be able to enjoy it.
Volcanica Jamaican Rum
Volcanica coffee is made from 100 percent Arabica beans, and it is a quality roast. This take on Jamaican Rum tastes like molasses in the best way possible. Its flavor profile contains French vanilla, so it is smooth and sweet. It has a touch of nuts and spice that gives this coffee a kick.
The coffee also has notes of vanilla, which is bold yet balanced. The rum taste has a sweet and spicy vibe. This coffee experience is gratifying and one to savor.
Volcanica Chocolate Crème Brulee
This coffee is an excellent dessert coffee. It pairs brilliantly with a wonderful piece of chocolate. The best part is that it is great to drink black. The crème Brulee flavor coupled with a chocolate kiss is irresistible to the palate.
This coffee is also good with creamer or milk. It also works well as a holiday coffee to brew for guests after dinner. Even if you do not normally drink flavored coffee, this coffee is great to try.
Some of the delicious, flavored coffees are hidden gems.
There are many options as far as flavored coffee is concerned. It all depends on your taste.
Conclusion
Flavored coffee is a fun way to jazz up your coffee. You can flavor your beans at home. There are different methods to flavor the beans, but flavored syrup is how popular coffee shops do it. The best advantage of flavored coffee is that it often tastes like a dessert in a cup minus the calories. Yum!