Our favourite places to stay on this sleepy Cebu island.
One of the things working strictly from home has taught me: My coffee cravings (which I dutifully satisfy) really do put a big dent in my savings. Apparently, a huge chunk of my life has been marked by breakfasts and brunches out, afternoon coffee dates, coffee shop runs, and working days spent at cafés… the list of coffee-related events goes on. Can you relate?
Since I haven’t been able to treat myself to my usual cuppa joe, I decided to try and get a little more creative with my homemade brew. And since I’ve never known myself to be a whiz in the kitchen, I stuck to super simple that anyone can master at home. Fellow coffee lovers, this one’s for you — pick your poison!
P.S. Dalgona coffee isn’t on this list of . We’re pretty sure you know how to make it already!
I start this list of with a personal favourite!
There was a time I reserved my mornings for fruit and veggie smoothies instead of cups of coffee. And though I do love that they’re healthy and delicious, there isn’t anything quite like starting my mornings with a much-needed caffeine kick — especially when I’m working from home. So I thought, why not start my days with both?
I scoured the web for the perfect caffeine and fruit smoothie until I found the perfect one on The Sweet Pea Chef. This coffee recipe is basically a banana smoothie mixed with brewed coffee and peanut butter. The special ingredient? Coffee grounds! (Who knew you could eat them?) They add a nice texture to the smoothie, and give it a nice “cookies and cream” kind of feel!
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On average, a cold brew will set you back at least ₱100. But with a bit of patience and the necessary equipment, the same amount (or less, depending on how much you buy your coffee beans or grounds for) could go a much longer way.
If you’re not new to cold brew, you know very well by now that it isn’t synonymous to a chilled cup of brewed coffee. Brewing takes 12 to 24 hours, and this makes coffee stronger and less acidic. Once you’ve mastered the simple art of making your own cold brew, we guarantee you’ll be saying “Starbucks who?” Seriously, this is one of the I recommend mastering — because it serves as an excellent base for countless others!
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*This recipe makes enough servings to last you several days!
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The thought of horchatas always takes me back to La Union; my friends introduced me to this sweet cinnamon drink on my first trip there. Those who enjoy their coffee sweet or are big fans of cinnamon-flavoured treats in general will love the dirty horchata, a.k.a. horchata topped with a shot of espresso, iced coffee, or cold brew. The following coffee recipe from Half Baked Harvest will transport you to El Union Coffee real quick!
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Is UCC one of the cafés you frequent? If so, you’re probably no stranger to the magic that is Kori-Kohi: coffee cubes served with warm milk. It was one of the first coffee drinks I learned to love when I was old enough to enjoy caffeine, and I love that it’s so easy to make at home!
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*This recipe can fill a 12-piece ice cube tray.
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If you love your coffee both strong and sweet, I won’t be surprised if Vietnamese iced coffee is your poison of choice. Since not all of us have a phin (Vietnamese coffee filter) at home, it’s easy to resign ourselves to just heading out to the nearest coffee shop that offers a good cup of cà phê sua đá.
However, this is one of those coffee recipe that are actually much simpler than you’d think. All you need is a strong brew — instant black coffee is fine, too — and some condensed milk. Enjoy!
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Yes, this list has not one, but two Vietnamese ! Besides their cà phê sua đá, the Vietnamese are also well-known for their egg coffee. Some say it tastes like tiramisu in liquid form — yum! With the following recipe by Moka Bees, you’ll be able to enjoy a quality cup of egg coffee, whether or not you happen to have a phin at home.
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I hear a lot about Thai iced tea and milked tea, but not much about Thai iced coffee! Perfect for those who love their coffee on the milky side, this coffee recipe is very simple and easy to prepare. For a more authentic take on this drink, you’ll have to use Thai coffee grounds and a Thai coffee filter to match. However, if you have none, you can make do with the coffee you have at home!
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The Italian word “affogato” means “poached” or “drowned”; and true to its name, this dessert refers to ice cream drowned in hot espresso. Sophisticated as it may seem, it’s actually one of the simplest out there.
While it’s usually served with vanilla gelato, we love making it at home means you get to mix your coffee with just about any ice cream flavour — we hear that even avocado is a great choice! Plus, if you don’t have an espresso maker at home, you can recreate this dessert with strong brewed coffee or instant coffee, too.
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Sometimes, simply adding ice to my homemade brew is enough to make my daily cup of coffee a little more exciting. Other days, this just won’t cut it! I discovered that adding peanut butter to my coffee adds an extra hint of flavour that instantly makes my morning or afternoon cup taste extra special.
While there are many different peanut butter out there, I love that this one hits the spot without the need for too many ingredients!
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Mocha lattes are among my favourite drinks to order when I’m at a café or on a coffee run. The extra flavour definitely provides me with a much-needed sugar boost in addition to the caffeine. With this coffee recipe by Jess Fuel, you can easily whip up your own in just a few minutes!
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There’s just something so delicious and soothing about masala chai. This tea, originating from India, is made with a lovely, fragrant mix of herbs and spices. And though I really do enjoy it, I like having it with a little kick; hence, I opt to have mine with a splash of coffee (or, as they say, I prefer to have mine dirty. Lol!)
You have several options when it comes to securing your chai, which is the main ingredient. Choices include using (1) chai tea bags, (2) chai concentrate, or (3) making your own. Once you have your chai, the hard part is over — because making your own dirty chai latte is super easy! You’re basically the boss, because you can customise all the quantities according to your preferences. Below, I share my personal recipe!
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⅛ cup cold brew concentrate (1 shot espresso or ¼ cup brewed coffee are good alternatives, too)
*If your chai concentrate is already sweetened, no need to add any sweetener (unless you’d like your dirty chai latte super sweet, of course).
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Ever since one of my sisters successfully replicated one of our favourite iced coffee drinks, all my outside world coffee cravings ceased to exist! It’s one of the top I recommend to those who love their coffee milky and sweet. We particularly love having it iced — ideal for a pick-me-up on a hot, lazy afternoon!
While you can definitely have yours with espresso or regular brewed coffee, I personally make use of cold brew concentrate. At home, we use homemade white chocolate syrup, too — although you can also buy these ready-made! Feel free to adjust the quantities according to your liking; but as a guide, I share my own recipe below for your reference.
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The mere thought of coffee jelly takes me back to my childhood. We’d make coffee jelly to top our vanilla ice cream on hot afternoons; and during the rare times my parents would allow me to have a bit of caffeine, I’d take a sip of my dad’s coffee jelly drink from Starbucks. I just loved its subtle flavour and chewy texture!
Years later, my colleagues and I would end our lunch breaks by grabbing coffee jelly from our office’s in-house restaurant. It easily became one of my favourite desserts: coffee jelly mixed with a generous amount of sweetened cream. With the following coffee jelly recipe from Kawaling Pinoy, you can enjoy yours the way you prefer: in your coffee, with ice cream, or with sweetened cream! Don’t you just love versatile ?
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When I was first introduced to the concept of cold brew coffee, I found it quite intimidating — especially since back then, I wasn’t a black coffee drinker. So, when Starbucks came out with their Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew option, I jumped at the chance to ease my way into trying out this hot trend.
I have this drink to thank for my present love for cold brew coffee — it’s smooth, non-acidic, and provides you with an excellent caffeine kick! The sweet cream adds a nice touch, too, especially if you like your coffee with just the right amount of milkiness and sweetness. The great news? You can make your own version of this at home, and it’s so easy! Below is a recipe by The Tummy Train.
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For the sweet cream
For the drink
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Iced caramel macchiato is my sister’s favourite coffee drink — so it brought us such great pleasure to find out that it’s actually one of the easiest to try at home! Surprisingly, it’s just the way that things are layered that give it such a fancy look! Cool, huh?
The following recipe from AllRecipes makes use of cold brew concentrate, but feel free to use espresso or brewed coffee if that’s what you readily have at home. You can enjoy it hot or iced. To each his own!
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Also read: Dalgona Coffee: What It Is, How to Make It & Alternatives for Non-Coffee Drinkers
With so many to choose from, it’s time to make your barista dreams come true! Don’t forget to snap photos of your concoctions and tag us on Instagram at @tripzillaph!
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