We all know about ‘tea time’ in the United Kingdom. They make unique finger sandwiches and cakes, along with fine brews to sip and snack on. But for the rest of the world, it’s all about coffee. Go to Turkey and they sip a rich but light Mediterranean-style coffee blend. In Italy, they like it powerful and smooth, and they sip their espressos during lunchtime. Go to America, they like it bitter, roasted, strong and full of sugar so it can fuel them throughout the day. There are so many coffee cultures around the world. And it’s all for good reason. There are so many things you can do with coffee and snacking, that you can’t do with tea.
Flavoring coffee
Coffee can come in many different flavors by itself, purely down to where the beans were grown and how they were roasted. However, you can add flavoring to your latte of a mug of coffee. Here’s how you can make your own homemade vanilla extract which should then be added to your hot drink. It’s quite simple really, you just need a bit of vodka and a jar. Then add in the vanilla pods and allow them to slowly but surely ferment. Cut the beans in half to speed up the process and then slice them down the middle. Leave them in the jar for about 8 weeks and then it’s ready to use.
You can also add caramel to your coffee to give it some extra body, stickiness and sweetness to boot. You should also try adding some raspberry coulis to your coffee, as it will add a hint of fruit and natural sweetness to your cup.
Chocolate is your best friend!
The reason why people love coffee so much is, that chocolate goes down like a dream with a hot Americano or latte. In fact, all kinds of coffee drinks do well with chocolate for a snack. You should try making a chocolate tiffin, which is rich in butter, crushed biscuits, raisins and dark as well as milk chocolate. It’s like a chocolate flapjack, incredibly dense but goes well with a rich blend of coffee.
You should also try coffee creme truffles. You simply need to mix unsalted butter with double cream, add in some premium blend coffee that is at room temperature and mix. Then you should allow the mix to harden a little in the fridge, take them out and cover them with milk chocolate. Drizzle over some white chocolate for an aesthetic touch.
The American tribute
One could argue that Italy has the strongest coffee culture, but America is very close behind. They have made coffee modern, by adding sandwiches which go well with a dark roast. Namely, the grilled cheese! Well, it’s now a 3 or 4 cheese, grilled cheese sandwich. Monterey Jack, mature cheddar and Red Leicester cheese blended together in a wholewheat sandwich make for a very good snack to enjoy with your coffee.
Coffee cultures are quite fascinating, explaining a lot about a country’s palette. These are just some of the things you can enjoy at home if you want to spruce up your coffee time snacking.
