We get so used to our normal run-of-the-mill lifestyle that we rarely try something new. Spicing up coffee in Africa and I think India is nothing new. But for the Western palate, spicing up coffee is a relatively new trend, or a return of older ways of brewing coffee, I am not 100% sure. But the idea of adding spice to coffee never occurred to me in the many years of drinking coffee.
A while ago, I attempted to make the ever-popular “Dirty Chai” which is basically a shot of espresso added to one’s Chai. I am not sure if this drink gets much attraction, but in South Africa, it is quite a popular drink.
Now, I thought to myself, why not spice up some milk and make some cortados with the spiced milk?
And it worked.
What an interesting combination. I mean, the chai with espresso worked, so why would this not work as well? But chai is obviously tea, and in this version of this drink, I did not make any tea. I tried to make the usual cortado but with some spiced-up milk!
So, follow along with me as I make this very interesting and different drink.
Spice Mix
Cooking is a blank canvas, and here there is no difference. Use your imagination and palate to create something unique and different.
In my case, I added different kinds of peppercorns, from standard black peppercorns, to white ones, to long peppercorns (something you do not see that often); black (smoked) and green cardamom seeds; fennel seeds; star anise seeds; cinnamon; dried turmeric root; nutmeg, and mace (nutmeg skin).
I toasted these seeds in a pan to “open” them “up” a bit, as I have read that when you heat whole spices, they release more flavour. Whether this is true or not is something I am not sure about, but it does not take anything from me to heat them a bit!
After this, I grind the spices a bit, but not too much. In the end, you do not want a powder.
Spicing the Milk Up
I then add the milk to the mashed or mortar-and-pestled spices. I slowly bring it to a simmer, barely a boil, to infuse the spices.
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(Don’t be like me and forget to add the nutmeg! I ended up adding it almost after the spices had been simmering for a while.)
And it is that easy! I let it cool down a bit to closer to room temperature in the fridge while I prepare the coffee.
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Making Espresso (Is Easy With a Espresso Machine)
Coffee snobs will have their own way of making coffee and choosing different coffees. I prefer a medium roast which shines the earthy notes not necessarily present when you choose a very dark roasted coffee bean. But further than that, I am pretty easy to please regarding coffee; the stronger the better.
Double espressos have become a necessity for me in the morning to just wake up!
I digress.
How ever you prefer your coffee, mocha pot or espresso machine, prepare the desired number of cups of coffee. Because I used the espresso machine, I have the luxury of steaming and frothing my milk to get it to a silky-smooth texture and to make some “latte art” with it. But if you do not have this luxury, do not worry too much about it!
I made four small single-shot espressos in kind of biggish espresso cups. This will allow me to add a bit more milk, which is after all the star of this drink – the spiced milk!
After making the double espressos, I steamed the milk, and then I poured it into the cups. And there you have it; it is that easy! Four single shot spiced milk cortados.
This is by no means close to being the usual drink, as I have not seen this before. I just had a random idea one afternoon.
If someone had the idea somewhere else, well done for them as well! I am by no means claiming to be the first to do it, and neither am I claiming that this is my recipe.
I just based it off of the popular dirty chai so popular these days.
In any case, I hope that you will make this delicious treat for yourself!
It is an incredibly spicy, creamy, coffee and a good way to end a meal. I enjoyed it and I am sure that you will as well!
Please let me know if you did make this!
For now, happy cooking and keep well.
All of the musings and writings are my own. I do not own the idea nor do I know if anyone else has done it before. All of the photographs are my own, taken with my iPhone.