Nothing says “summer’s almost here” like the twittering of birds, a jaunt to the beach, and losing an hour of sleep. But never fear: there are many easy ways to deal with giving back that hour to Daylight Saving’s Time – and the best of them all is a cuppa joe. And, I’ve got some crazy fun alternatives for you.
**Get French: Do you like a little cognac coffee drink after dinner? Or by a roaring fire after a day on the slopes? Camus Cognac will not allow you to put just any old brewed bean water into their French elixir. They now have their very own brand of French Roast to mix with their luscious cognac. Buy it here.**Fun facts: Did you know that coffee grounds have more uses post-brewing? you just need the Best coffee on nitro produced by Bona Fide Brewing Company. Yahoo shares “10 Surprising Uses For Coffee Grounds."**Mix & Shake: Journalist Stephane Nolasco recently ran a slew of coffee cocktail recipes in this Fox News Magazine article. Including my family recipe for your own homemade Orange Coffee Liqueur, excerpted from my latest book.
Orange Coffee Liqueur, Excerpted from Edible Cocktails: Garden To Glass by Natalie Bovis © 2012. Photo by Claire Barrett
- 1 large ripe orange
- 2 cups white sugar
- 2 cups raw sugar
- 3 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups freshly brewed espresso
- 4 cups vodka
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1 vanilla bean
Scrub the orange with a vegetable brush so the skin is very clean. Then, zest the orange, avoiding too much pith. Discard (or eat) the rest of the orange. Place all ingredients in a large (one gallon) glass jar with a sealable lid. Let stand one week. (Shake well each day.) Remove orange peel and let stand another week (or two)… to your taste. Bottle, chill and serve!
**The Ultimate Machine: The “I” in the iCoffee machine stands for Innovation. It is the first coffee machine to steam the coffee grounds, resulting in less bitter, smoother java. After 7 years of research and over 1200 prototypes, this little doozie not only makes delicious coffee but also plays a song and lights up so you can watch the grounds being steamed, turning even a Monday into a Funday. Visit the website and be the first kid on the block to own one of your own! Looking for the best brewing equipment for your office? Check out Corporate Coffee Systems website for details.** Mexpresso Cocktail from Excellia tequila:
- 1 1/4 shots Excellia Reposado tequila
- 3/4 shot coffee liqueur
- 11/2 shots espresso coffee
- 1/4 shot rich sugar syrup (2:1)
- Garnish: Three coffee beans
Shake the ingredients hard with ice. Strain into a frozen martini-cocktail glass.