You’re looking to add a little extra to your morning coffee, what about experimenting with different flavours?

Many of us use sweeteners or a creamer to enhance the taste, but perhaps don’t consider adding anything else.

You should though as just a little added extra can completely transform the whole cup. Here’s a few spices and flavours that you could try:

CINNAMON

This is one of the most popular spices for coffee, especially in Autumn when everything is getting a bit colder. The aromatic, rich taste works perfectly with coffee and adds a depth of flavour. It’s easy to do as well, either add to the beans during the grinding process or simply drop 1/2 a teaspoon directly to your cup.

LAVENDER

We all know Lavender works well with tea, but what about coffee? Sprinkling dried Lavender over your beans gives your coffee a light, perfume-infused flavour. It won’t be to everyone’s tastes but it can be a refreshing change, especially in Spring time.

NUTMEG

Nutmeg had been a coffee favourite for years and it’s not hard to see why. It’s combination of depth and sweetness is a perfect addition to your coffee and a great alternative to sweetner. Add to the beans during the grinding process for the best results.

CACAO NIBS

If you find mochas too overpowering why not try Cacao Nibs? They are what chocolate consists of before being transformed into the rich, creamy treats and have a subtler flavour that won’t take over your cup. The dried, fermented bits might not look appetising but they’re bursting with a taste similar to dark chocolate. The nibs have a nutty, slightly chewy consistency and are a perfect addition to your coffee blend. Simply throw a few in the grinder along with the coffee beans and enjoy.

CARDAMOM

Cardamom has a strong, unique taste with an intense aroma that’s surprisingly complimentary to coffee. Adding warmth and depth to your cup, you only need one or two pods in your coffee grounds to get the full burst of flavour.

STAR ANISE

Most people have a love/hate type reaction to licorice, so Star Anise won’t be right for everyone. If you are a fan, the spice is the perfect way to add a licorice boost to your coffee. Half a pod is enough for a flavourful cup, but if you find it too overpowering just reduce the quantity the next time.

It’s a no-brainer that the sweet flavor of vanilla perfectly complements coffee’s rich taste, but have you tried adding vanilla directly to your grind? The simplest way is to add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to your ground beans before you add the hot water. You can add after, but before ensures a better distribution of flavor throughout the coffee. For a more intense taste you can mix the ground beans and vanilla and store for a week before using.