Your Favorite Coffee House Drinks Made Healthier At Home

By
Katherine Marko
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This pandemic is stressful enough, without having to forgo your favorite coffee house beverage. Heck, one of the first stops in the morning, before school or work, is often the coffee shop. The aromatic coffees, freshly brewed with spicy flavors. Ahh, pure bliss. Yet, inside that trendy coffee house are the not-so-healthy additives like processed sugar, sodium, and artificial flavors. Fear not, you can still get your morning fix by brewing your own cup of organic coffee with natural sweeteners and real flavors.

A healthier brew made at home

Today, lattes, Frappuccino, and cold brews are part of the American culture. So, now, as we sit isolated in our homes, we come to appreciate the little luxuries we once took for granted. One thing for sure, you won’t miss the heaps of unhealthy ingredients that lurk inside your favorite beverage. One large coffee house beverage may contain up to 50 grams of sugar. Add a little flavored syrup, and now you’re adding 5 grams more sugar per pump.

When making your own lattes and fraps at home, you can use all-natural sweeteners like raw honey, maple syrup, dates, or natural stevia. Now, more than ever, it’s time to pull out your coffee maker and brew your own healthier version of your favorite fancy coffee drinks.

Mocha Frappuccino

Coffee and chocolate are a delicious duo. With warm weather on the way, mocha Frappuccinos are increasingly popular. However, these tasty drinks are very high in calories and sugar—about 50 grams per serving. They’re also rich in saturated fats, thanks to the whipped cream topping and whole milk. Try this healthier version instead.

Serves: 2

Prep time: 5 Minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups strong, brewed, organic coffee, cooled
  • 1 cup almond or coconut milk
  • 2 Tbsp natural cocoa or raw cacao
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 3 Tbsp raw honey or maple syrup
  • 1 pinch Himalayan salt
  • 1 pinch of cinnamon

Instructions:

  1. Pour brewed and cooled coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.
  2. Add the frozen coffee cubes, almond milk, cocoa, maple syrup, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon into the blender. Blend until smooth.
  3. Pour into two glasses. Enjoy!

Caramel Latte

No place for refined sugar here. Instead, raw honey takes center stage. The addition of coconut oil boosts the metabolism and adds a rich creaminess to the brew.

Serves: 2

Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup strong brewed organic coffee
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk
  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 Tbsp organic grass-fed butter
  • Pinch of Himalayan pink salt
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp raw honey

Instructions:

  1. Gently heat almond milk in a saucepan. Pour into a blender.
  2. Add coffee, coconut oil, grass-fed butter, salt, vanilla, and honey.
  3. Blend on high for 10 seconds until emulsified and frothy.
  4. Pour into 2 mugs immediately. Enjoy!

Vanilla Bean, Cinnamon Latte

Lurking in most vanilla lattes is high fructose corn syrup and artificial vanilla flavors. This healthier version forgoes the calories and the refined sugar and replaces it with all-natural maple syrup.  

Serves: 2

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup strong, brewed organic espresso
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk
  • 1/2 vanilla pod split and seeded or 1 tsp vanilla paste or
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup

Instructions:

  1. Gently heat almond milk in a saucepan. Pour into a blender.
  2. Add espresso, vanilla, cinnamon, coconut oil, and maple syrup.
  3. Blend until smooth and frothy.
  4. Pour into 2 mugs immediately. Enjoy!

Chai latte

For those of you who love chai lattes, here is a healthier version you can make at home. Just like a latte made with coffee, chai latte is made with steamed milk. Instead of coffee, though, a powdered tea mix is used. Coffee house versions are notoriously high in sugar, more than you’d want to consume in a day. So, here’s a healthier version you can try at home.

Serves: 2

Prep time: 5 Minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of almond or coconut milk
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/8 tsp ground cloves
  • 3 Tbsp maple syrup or raw honey

Instructions:

  1. Whisk together the almond milk, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
  2. Continue whisking ingredients to combine, stirring regularly until the mixture is hot. 
  3. Add more seasoning to taste, if required, and serve immediately.
  4. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to four days in the fridge. Reheat or serve chilled. 

During these stressful times — and home isolation, we all need a little comfort food, and for some, that means a great cup of coffee. As a bonus, research suggests that drinking at least three cups of coffee or tea a day reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 42 percent. That’s not all. Another study published in the European Journal of Neurology found that coffee may even decrease your chances of getting Alzheimer’s by 65 percent. So, go ahead, put on your barista cap and try these guilt-free versions of your favorite coffee beverages.

-Katherine Marko

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