My 1-Ingredient Upgrade for Better Coffee

After shopping for my friends and family for the holidays (and myself, if I’m being totally honest), I’m looking for small ways to cut back without sacrificing my favorite comforts—like my daily coffee ritual.

While I love picking up a seasonal latte from my local coffee shop, my barista recently let me in on a secret: it’s easier than you might think to recreate those cozy flavors at home by adding a pinch of ground spices directly to your coffee grounds before brewing.

How To Add Spices to Your Coffee

The easiest way to infuse your coffee is to add ground spices directly to the coffee grounds before brewing. Extra points if you freshly grind them, but the jar in your cupboard will work, too! Here’s how to do it:

• For a drip coffee maker or pour-over: Sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon of ground spice into the coffee grounds before starting the brew cycle.
• For a French press: Stir the spice into the coffee grounds before adding hot water, then let it steep as usual.
• For espresso machines: Mix a tiny pinch of spice with the ground coffee before tamping. Too much can clog the portafilter, so use sparingly.
• For a stovetop Moka pot: Add the spice to the grounds in the filter basket before assembling.
• For cold brew: Stir spices into the coffee grounds before steeping overnight, then strain as usual.

Baking spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom work particularly well, but don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations and ratios. Even a tiny pinch can transform your cup. And don’t forget to season with a pinch of salt—it helps balance bitterness and enhances sweetness.

So, what makes this technique work? When hot water passes through the spices, it extracts the essential oils and aromatic compounds, infusing flavor into the brew. Unlike pre-flavored coffee beans—which are often made with lower-quality, stale beans—adding a dash of spice puts you in control of both the quality of your coffee and the intensity of the flavor.

Spice Inspiration for Your Morning Cup of Coffee

Adding spices to coffee isn’t new—many cultures have been infusing their java juice for centuries. Here are a few examples:

• Turkish coffee is often brewed with cardamom, adding a floral flavor. Cardamom-spiced coffee is popular across the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
• Moroccan coffee includes a blend of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, black pepper, cloves, and nutmeg, resulting in a warming, gingerbread-like brew.
• Café de olla, a traditional Mexican coffee, is brewed with whole cinnamon and cloves along with piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar) for a sweet, deeply spiced cup. Some versions also include star anise and orange peel.

The next time you’re craving a cozy, spiced coffee, check your spice rack before reaching for your wallet.