Vanilla Almond Coffee

Stop paying coffeehouse prices for flavored coffee. This mix blends ground coffee with vanilla extract, almond extract, and a touch of star anise in a food processor. The extracts coat the grounds evenly so every cup brews with consistent flavor from start to finish.

Star anise is the unexpected ingredient that ties it all together. It adds a warm, licorice-like note that deepens the almond flavor and gives the coffee a complexity you won’t find in store-bought flavored beans.

Process the mix, scrape the sides, and give it one more 10-second pulse. Store in the fridge to keep the extracts fresh, and brew as you normally would using one tablespoon of the flavored mix per 6 ounces of water.

Kitchen Tips

• Use a medium-grind coffee as your base. Fine espresso grinds get too wet from the extracts and clump, while coarse grinds don’t absorb the flavoring evenly.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The extracts can go stale or lose potency at room temperature.
• Use pure extracts, not imitation. The difference in flavor is significant, especially with almond extract.

Variations

• Add ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon for a spiced vanilla almond blend.
• Swap the star anise for a pinch of cardamom for a Middle Eastern-inspired cup.
• Use hazelnut extract instead of almond for a vanilla hazelnut version.