There are coffee lovers, and then there are moms. Moms don’t just love coffee; they survive on it. New moms thrive on it, dream about it, countdown the minutes until they can drink it. And then twin moms like me… well, just hook up the IV.
Whether you’re a novice java drinker, or a tried and true coffee veteran, we can all benefit from an upgrade to our regular caffeine routine. Here are six easy coffee hacks for busy moms, because coffee before talkie.
Spice Up Your Life
You may have tried adding ground cinnamon or nutmeg to your Americano Misto, but have you tried adding it straight into your coffee grounds…before you brew? Did I just blow your mind? I hope so. Break free from flavor monotony with your home brew and try adding a teaspoon of spicy goodness. Try cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, clove, or vanilla bean. They all work wonders for your bean flavor profile.
I use the Braun 12-cup Brewsense and throw the spices right in. The glass FlavorCarafe seals in the fresh flavor by minimizing air exposure, so your delicious spiciness doesn’t get lost! Plus, the Brewsense has a gold-tone filter, which isn’t just for bling. Unlike paper filters, this one actually enhances the flavor of your coffee by allowing essential oils to reach your cup and cleaning is a snap because a “CLEAN” warning illuminates at descaling time. (Too bad babies didn’t come with this feature.)
Have a Foam Party
My dream is to have my own milk steamer but until that day comes, I stick with adding a dash of coconut or MCT oil to brewed coffee and blending for 10-15 seconds with my Multiquick 5 Braun hand blender until it starts to froth. Pour out that tasty foam cloud into your favourite mug and enjoy a faux dairy-free latté. Bonus – the added oil will keep you fuller longer to help get you over that morning hump.
Don’t Be Bitter
Somedays I’m just not feeling my blend when the acidity really comes through. To combat the black bitterness, I add a pinch of salt to level out the taste. I use a black lava sea salt, but any old salt will do. Word to the wise: start small so you don’t ruin your morning with a salty espresso.
Ice Ice Baby
Sick of your iced lattés turning into lukewarm milk baths? This hack will keep you and your coffee cool as beans. Brew an extra cup one morning and siphon off enough to freeze in an ice cube or food tray. I like to mix it up and freeze black coffee, and some with milk, so I have a selection AND to make my iced coffees look pretty. (Just a heads up, the milky cubes will melt faster than the coffee ones.) The trick is the layering: first, fill your glass with the cubes. Next, fill the glass halfway with cold milk. Last, add in your coffee. Take a photo for Instagram and enjoy!
Scrub a Dub Dub
Don’t let your use coffee grounds go to waste. Reuse your fine grinds by making a coffee face scrub that leaves you with energized, silky soft skin. You’ll need 3 parts finely ground (used) coffee beans, 2 parts melted extra virgin coconut oil, and a few drops of a skin friendly essential oil (lavender or frankincense is a good place to start). Add the coconut oil and 3-5 drops of essential oil to your grounds, stir, and put in the refrigerator to set. This face scrub is best used right before or in the shower, to minimize cleanup.
Coffee O’ Clock
When you’re a mom, it’s always time for coffee. But that doesn’t mean we’re always drinking hot or fresh coffee; mostly it’s the same one from 6:30 a.m. that has been refilled and reheated at least five times during the day. To ensure you can drink at least ONE cup hot off the press, utilize a programmable coffee maker like the Braun Brewsense 12-cup coffee maker. This bad boy ensures that your coffee is made at the right temperature and right brewing time, every time.
And you can pour a cup at any point during the brew cycle thanks to the anti-drip technology which is incredible because sometimes moms don’t have those extra 5 minutes to wait.
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