The Best Way To Add This Common Ingredient To Coffee

A morning cup of coffee is a great way to start your day. And coffee can taste even better with the typical add-ins like cream or sugar. But not every coffee additive is universal — some can even be controversial. One unusual coffee ingredient you might want to try is mint.

Since mint can be overpowering, and its signature cool feeling doesn't pair well with a hot brew, it's best used in iced coffee or cold brew. With a cold coffee, you avoid the hot-cold contrast and create a better flavor profile. The best way to add mint to coffee is to muddle it.

Thankfully, muddling mint into your morning cold brew is easy. Simply put 8 to 10 mint leaves in the bottom of your cup along with a pinch of sugar, and use a muddler to gently crush them down with a twisting motion and release their minty flavor. Gentle is the key word there. You're trying to release flavor, not pulverize the leaves. If you don't have a muddler, the next best kitchen tool is a wooden spoon or rolling pin. Top with ice and cold brew or chilled coffee, optional dairy, and you've got a refreshing, minty caffeinated beverage.

If you don't want to muddle mint, another option for your cold brew or iced coffee is mint syrup. To add mint syrup to your iced coffee, simply stir in one tablespoon at a time, and adjust to your preference. Add milk, cream, or a dairy alternative if desired. 

You can buy mint syrup in grocery stores, but if you prefer homemade, it's easy to whip up. To make mint syrup, just mix one cup each of water, sugar, and mint leaves in a small saucepan and boil it on medium heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Then, let the mixture simmer for one minute before removing it from heat. Let it steep for half an hour and then strain it through cheese cloth or a mesh strainer into a glass jar. Once it cools, your mint syrup is done. Mint syrup may be a food you didn't know should be refrigerated. Properly stored (in the fridge), mint syrup lasts about a month. 

Using fresh mint provides a better flavor for your coffee, and doesn't have the added sugars that mint syrup has, but if you like a sweet kick, syrup may work better. Experiment with your mint coffee to find the mix that's right for you, and remember to think twice before buying your coffee at the grocery store, as the beans may not be so fresh.