random round up: national coffee day

You know me, I’m a sucker for “national ______  day” posts. (you fill in the blank, I get pretty excited about them all.)

But today? Today’s “national day” seems more important than just a quick thumbs up on Facebook or a double tap on Instagram. (I’d even considering doing a Periscope video if I had combed my hair.)

It’s NATIONAL COFFEE DAY!

This deserves a celebration.

Grab your mug and start clicking…

My Cinnamon Dolce Latte made this list a couple years ago — we still make that one often.

No words even needed, make your own PSL today. (I now add pumpkin spices right into my coffee grounds before brewing and sweeten with maple syrup!)

Dairy-free? My recipe for dairy-free coffee creamer is just what you need. (add pumpkin spice!)

Maybe you need your coffee and smoothie in one. Try this Morning Monkey Mocha smoothie.

 

While in London, I fell in love with the Flat White, a misunderstood coffee drink here in the US. I got lucky and had some Australian friends make me my first one, but you can make them at home as well. (now would be a good time to insert an item from my birthday list: an espresso machine! 😉  )

Speaking of London, I bought this Cafe Life London book while I was there and made it a mission to get to as many as possible — a fun challenge if you ever find yourself there for three months or even three days! Or in any city really, go out looking for a local coffee shop, they rarely disappoint.

We use a French Press for our coffee makings — what do you use are your house?

This one looks fancy: pumpkin chai tea latte. (dairy-free!) I am a huge fan of chai + coffee. I use cold brew coffee mixed with cold chai and add honey for a little number I call Liquid Sunshine. This goes for hot coffee + chai too.

Happy National Coffee Day — may your coffee be strong and your Monday be short! xoxo

Cinnamon Dolce Lattes — homemade with a whole latte love

It’s fall, folks!

That’s “my tree” that I see on my walk to work each morning — after this weekend’s dreary weather, it is lacking in the leave department.

But they are just as pretty on the ground.

Campus is filled with leaves. And leaf blowers. Do people still rake? Or is it all in the engines these days?

The weekend weather didn’t bother me much since I was inside taking care of my guy. He had knee surgery on Friday, so I was Nurse Sarah, reporting for duty. 🙂

He’s doing well, recovering quickly — thanks for the calls, texts and sweet messages checking in on him.

And I’ll let you in on a little secret… taking care of him is actually pretty fun. He isn’t one to complain about pain, or really anything for that matter, and he rarely needs me to help him, so it was nice to be needed. (plus his requests were mostly food related — a “two-pher” since I wanted some kitchen time)

His Sunday morning request?

A cinnamon dolce latte.

This was kind of funny to me because we’ve been on the pumpkin spice latte kick for weeks now, so for him to ask for such a fancy-schmancy sounding drink kind of threw me off.

But after a little research online, I realized that the name is the only fancy thing about it. It’s suuuuper easy. And it will warm you right up!

CINNAMON DOLCE LATTE

fresh brewed coffee (we’re big fans of Valentine Coffee, show some local love)

ground cinnamon (Penzey’s is our top pick)

honey or your choice of sweetener

Before you brew your coffee, add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the grounds, then brew as you normally would. We use a French press, but any method will work just fine.

While the coffee is brewing — heat your milk, either on the stove top or in the microwave. You want to use half milk and half coffee for your final creation, so use equal parts of each, depending on how many you are serving. 

After warming up the milk, add several sprinkles of cinnamon — this is totally up to you, but I think the more the better. 🙂 Then stir in your honey. Have an Aerolatte? Let it do the work for you — it will foam up that milk right quick, otherwise you can just whisk it. 

Pour your freshly brewed java into a large mug, filling it half full, then add your sweetened, cinnamon infused milk on top. Sprinkle a little more cinnamon on top, if you have a patient who loves the extras, and serve with a smile.

Have any coffee treats or tips to share? How do you avoid paying $6 for a cup o’ joe? Or is that your special treat each week? Or maybe you prefer tea– have a favorite kind?