4 Ways To Use Your Old Coffee Grounds.

Hello and welcome back to the blog! Today we are going to discuss something a bit different from our usual topics. 

Do you drink a lot of coffee in a day? If so, that means you have some sort of used coffee grounds to dispose of. While you can throw them away, why not do something more with them? In this post, I am going to give you options as to how you can reuse your used coffee grounds.

One thing you can do is add your coffee grounds to your plants or flowers as a fertilizer. Your plants and flowers will thrive if you add old coffee grounds to them because they have a high amount of nitrogen in them. The old coffee grounds will also help to keep  unwanted pests away from your garden.

If you are someone with a green thumb or if you compost regularly, you could add your old coffee beans to your compost. This will be a great addition to your compost, as they will help keep your soil rich in nutrients for your garden.

Another way to reuse old coffee grounds is to use them to prevent odor in your refrigerator. All you need to do is make sure your coffee grounds are dry. Then put them in a container without a lid before putting it in your fridge to absorb odor.

The final way I’m going to tell you to use old coffee beans is to create an exfoliating skin scrub with them. To create a basic coffee scrub, you need to use dried coffee grounds and an oil to bind it together. I find that coconut oil works best when binding the two together. Using an at home scrub like this will give you the same benefits as one you would purchase from a store.

I hope you enjoyed this post and find at least one, if not more of these tips useful.

A Simple Way To Make An Iced Latte.

Hello and welcome back to the blog! Today I am going to tell you how to make a simple Iced Latte.

I want to start with giving you a little bit of background about a latte. Simply put, a latte is coffee with milk added to it. Traditionally it is made with steamed milk, but for our purposes it does not have to be steamed.

Before we start I would like to let you know what ingredients you will need.

• 8 to 10 ounces of your choice of milk.
• ½ a cup of ice to 1 cup of ice (depending on cup size and personal taste)
• Freshly brewed coffee
• Simple syrup (optional and to taste)

The first thing you need to do is brew your coffee. You can use regular brewed coffee or expresso.  Then you need to pour your brewed coffee into the bottom of your selected cup (make sure you do this before adding ice).

 After you have poured your coffee, add your desired amount of ice on top of it. The next step is to add milk to your coffee. You can add whatever type of milk you want, but 8 to 10 ounces is the recommended amount. 8 to 10 ounces is the recommended amount because it allows for the perfect milk to coffee ratio. It is important to note that if you use expresso, you may need to add more milk than if you use regular brewed coffee.

If you want to add additional flavor, there are a few things you can do. One of the things you can do is adding simple syrup. This syrup comes in multiple flavors and is relatively cheap to buy. You can also add  whipped cream and chocolate or caramel drizzle to give it some additional flavor. Of course, this is all to your taste, and not adding any additional flavor is perfectly fine.

A Guide Of Different Milk and Milk Substitutes To Put In Your Coffee.

Do you like drinking coffee but have a hard time choosing what milk or creamer add to it? 

Today I am going to tell you what the differences are between some of the most popular milks and creamers, and which one may fit your needs the most.

For those of you who are lactose intolerant. Three of the most popular dairy milk substitutes are Almond Milk, Soy Milk and Oat Milk. Almond Milk has a light and nutty flavor, but be careful it can be bitter if it is not sweetened. It also contains around 60 calories in a serving. Oat Milk is a much creamier and sweeter alternative than its non-dairy counterpart, Almond Milk. It also has more calories than Almond Milk, with around 130 calories per serving. Soy Milk is the closest in flavor to dairy milk. Like Almond Milk and Oat Milk, it has a nutty and creamy flavor and also foams like dairy milk.

For those of you who prefer a milk with dairy in it, the three most popular options are Whole Milk, Low Fat Milk (also known as Skimmed Milk), and Fat Free Milk. Whole Milk is the creamiest of these three, but it is also has the fattest out of the three.  Low Fat Milk is not as creamy as Fat Free Milk, but it also does not have as many calories. As you could imagine, Fat Free Milk has the lowest calorie count out of the three. It is also the thinnest out of the three options, due to this it tends to dilute your drink.

In general, it is important to note that when talking about milk and creamer, the more fat in the milk, the creamer it will be. An other option you can put in your coffee as a milk substitute is Half-and-Half. Half-and-Half consists of equal parts  whole milk and heavy cream. It has a higher fat content than pure milk, and as a result is creamier as well.

I hope you find this useful when choosing what type of milk or creamer to put in your milk.

Some Of The Best Coffee In The Fast Food Buisness.

Have you ever been out and about and wanting a cup of coffee at a low price? I know I have, so today I’m going to tell you about the best coffee’s  fast food restaurants have to offer.

The best iced fast food coffee is the iced coffee from Jack in the Box. Jack in the Box offers two different flavors of iced coffee– original and mocha. Personally, I prefer the mocha flavor, but in both, sweet cream is poured over ice. Out of all the fast food chains  I have found that Jack in the box  consistently offers the  iced coffee that has the best flavor.

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http://”Caramel Frappe” by SurFeRGiRL30 is licensed under CC BY 2.0http://”Jack in the Box Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee” by theimpulsivebuy is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0x

If you are looking for a classic hot coffee, McDonald’s is the way to go. Their coffee never disappoints and is extremely customizable. McDonald’s also has the best dupe of Starbucks frappucino. The Frappe that they offer comes in  two flavors–mocha and caramel. Both of these mimic a frappucino, but are a fraction of the price, with a large costing $3.39, less that a tall (small) frappucino. 

Other fast food chains with notable coffee are Burger King and Del Taco. Burger King offers a larger variety of coffee than its fast food counterparts. I have found that Burger King’s quality of coffee is inconsistent and depends on a store by store basis. Del Taco has a much more limited coffee menu than other fast food chains. Although Del Taco only offers one iced coffee beverage, I have found that it better than the coffee at Burger King. It has consistently been better quality and  a better flavor than any of the competitors’ coffee.

These are just a few of the many options of coffee fast food chains offer. I hope you take the time to try coffee from some of these spots and form your own opinion on them.

A Review and Description of Starbucks’ New Brown Sugar Oatmeal Shaken Expresso

Recently Starbucks added The Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Expresso  to their menu. This drink has been receiving an abundance of popularity in the coffee world. I decided to try tried this drink on a spur of the moment decision, and I am so glad that I did! 

It only took one sip for me to understand the popularity behind the drink. Initially I thought that it would be extremely sweet, but to my surprise it was not. The strength of the coffee combined with the sweetness of the brown sugar created the perfect balance of  sweetness and bitterness. Even though the drink has “brown sugar”, the sweetness does not overpower the drink. You are able to taste other flavors. In fact, I got more of a cinnamon taste than any other flavor, and a subtle taste of expresso. Despite having three expresso shots added to it, it was not as strong as I thought it would be. The best way I can describe the taste of the drink is comparing it to Cinnamon Toast Crunch or an oatmeal cookie. 

I was also surprised to find out that the drink was not as unhealthy as some of the other options at Starbucks. For reference a grande Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Expresso is only 120 calories, in comparison to a grande vanilla latte, is 250 calories and has 35 grams of sugar. The drink is also a great option for those who are lactose intolerant, as it is made with oat milk.

Overall, I recommend those of you who have a sweet tooth and those of you who enjoy a subtle taste of expresso give it a try, for a refreshing pick me up. It is a great option for those who have dietary restrictions against lactose or want a healthy option.

A Coffe Conversation With Kimmy

Hi everyone and welcome back to Spill The Beans… The Coffee Beans. Usually on the blog I talk about my love for coffee, but today I am going to discuss  something a little different.  I thought it would be interesting to explore the other side of the coffee spectrum and interview someone who hates coffee, and explore their reasoning behind it. To get the point of view of  someone on other side I reached out to someone I know who has a strong distaste for coffee– my longtime friend Kimmy Barboza. I have known Kimmy for seven years and throughout our friendship she has always steered clear of coffee; To find out why she dislikes coffee, I asked her a series of questions that explored why she doesn’t like coffee and the influences behind it. Here’s what she had to say.

Have you always disliked coffee? Why do you dislike coffee?

I have disliked coffee since the first time I tried it. I dislike the bitterness and how strong coffee is, but the aftertaste of coffee is what I hate the most. I also get a headache and nauseous when I drink coffee, so I avoid drinking it as much as possible.

Do you dislike all coffee or just certain types? 

I dislike all coffee types except for the caramel frappe from Mcdonalds, because it is pure sugar and I don’t really taste coffee in it. I absolutely can not stand hot coffee, but I will occasionally try iced coffee if someone offers me a taste. 

Does anyone in your family drink coffee? Are you the only one who dislikes it in your family?

 My parents and my younger sisters all enjoy the taste of coffee. I am the only one in my entire family, including my extended family who dislikes coffee.

How old were you when you first tried coffee? What was the experience like?

I was probably eight years old when I first tried coffee, and it wasn’t even a sip, I just dipped my cookie in my parent’s coffee. Once I tasted it, I instantly spit it out trying to rinse out the taste from my mouth. That’s where my hatred for coffee started.

If you had to order coffee at a coffee shop what would order? Why?

If I were to get a coffee drink at Starbucks, it would probably be a grande caramel frappuccino with light coffee and extra caramel. I would get this because it would to drown out the bitterness and aftertastes of the actual coffee. Another coffee drink that I would consider ordering is an iced honey-cinnamon latte from the Meek House in Redlands, Ca because I  took a few sips from it once and enjoyed the taste– mostly because it was very sweet and I couldn’t actually taste the coffee.

As you can see, Kimmy and I have a different opinion on coffee– she detests it, I love it. She does not enjoy drinking coffee because she finds it “too bitter” and “dislikes the aftertaste”. On the rare occasion Kimmy does enjoy coffee, it is always an iced sweet drink that does not have a strong coffee taste, is not bitter, and does not leave an aftertaste. Kimmy’s reasoning for disliking coffee has as much to do with the effects it has on her as it does with the way it tastes– she avoids coffee because it “makes her nauseous” and often “gives her a headache”. I hope you enjoyed hearing from someone the other side of the coffee spectrum and learning why they have a distaste for coffee.

How To Clean Your Keurig In 5 Steps

If you own a Keurig, cleaning it on a regular basis is an important thing to do because it prevents bacteria and coffee residue from building up. Here is an easy way to clean your Keurig thoroughly and effectively. Before you begin to clean your Keurig you will need to have a ceramic cup or mug, dish soap, a damp cloth, and at least 48 ounces of white vinegar at your disposal. 

Step 1: Cleaning The Water Reservoir And Its Lid

Once you gather your materials, the first thing you want to do is to take off  the lid to the water reservoir and clean them both separately. To clean the lid and water reservoir make sure to do it by hand and use a damp cloth and dish soap. It is important to clean the water reservoir before proceeding with the process to ensure that you are starting of with the cleanest base possible.

Step 2: De-Scaling The Water Reservoir

Once the water reservoir has been cleaned you will proceed to de-scale the reservoir using the white vinegar. To do this place your ceramic cup or mug on the drip plate located on the bottom of the Keurig then simply pour the vinegar into the reservoir. Next and run a brew cycle until the “add water” symbol is indicated. When doing this step it is important to remember not to have a K-Cup in the holder, otherwise the de-scaling process can not be completed properly. The next part to this step is to let the vinegar sit in the reservoir for 4-6 hours to thoroughly remove any remaining bacteria and contaminants, and removing the vinegar from the reservoir.

Step 3: Removing The Vinegar From The Water Resovoir 

The next step is to rinse the water reservoir with water to remove any traces of the vinegar. In order to do this, first fill up the water reservoir with fresh water and  place your ceramic cup or mug on the drip plate of your Keurig. Next you have to run a brew cycle until the “add water” symbol is indicated. It is important to note that the longer you allow the vinegar to sit in the reservoir the longer it will take to get rid of the taste– you may need to complete more than one brew cycle in order to fully remove the vinegars taste. 

Step 4: Cleaning The K-cup Holder Thoroughly 

Cleaning the holder where the K-Cup goes is also an important step that many people forget to do. This can be separated into two parts; cleaning the funnel and cleaning the needle. Cleaning the K-Cup holder’s funnel is easier than cleaning the needle; to do so simply separate the holder from the funnel by twisting the funnel off of the holder. After doing this, place the funnel in the dishwasher or thoroughly wash it by hand. Cleaning the K-Cup’s needle can be a tricky process. To begin note that the needle is on the bottom of the K-Cup holder. To clear any clogs formed in the needle, use a paper clip to release any compacted coffee grounds.

Step 5: Cleaning The Drip Plate

The final step to clean your Keurig is cleaning the drip plate. In order to properly clean the drip plate you must separate the metal tray from the plastic container and clean each piece separately by using a damp cloth and dish soap.

Once you complete all five of these steps you can return to using your Keurig as you regularly would. These steps should be completed frequently to ensure that your Keurig is free of bacteria and coffee residue.

Two Recipes For Coffee at Home

Hi everyone and welcome back to Spill The Beans… The Coffee Beans, today I am going to talk about ways to make your coffee at home.

For those of you who would rather stay at home and enjoy a cup of coffee. Here are some of my favorite ways to prepare coffee at home.  

To make a cold brew coffee at home all you have to do is follow a few simple steps. First make sure your coffee is grounded coarsely, then steep the grounds in water for 10-12 hours (I like to do it overnight). After steeping the beans you have to strain it, then you can add creamer or the milk  of your choice.  If you want to save time in the morning you can also make a batch to last you a week on the weekend. Though the process to prepare the coffee is long the wait is worth it as steeping the coffee grounds allows for a smooth finish.

“cold brew coffee” by shalommama is licensed under CC BY 2.0

If you are in a  mood for a Frappuccino but do not want to spend the money on it here is the perfect recipe to make one at home. To start you are going to need the following ingredients: 2 shots of chilled strongly brewed coffee, half a cup of milk, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and ice. After you get all the ingredients you are going to start off by putting the ice and your chilled coffee  in the blender and blend it for 10-15 seconds. Once you blend that add in the half a cup of your milk of choice and blend for another 10-15 seconds. Make sure it is smooth and pour it into your cup. Finally to finish it off add your whipped cream and chocolate drizzle on top. This is one of my favorite coffees to make in the summertime.

www.pineappleandcoconut.com” by PineappleAndCoconut is licensed under CC BY 2.0

I hope you enjoyed this article and try out one of these recipes for yourself.

Healthy Options at Starbucks

Hi everyone and welcome back to Spill The Beans… The Coffee Beans, today I am going to talk about some of the healthier options you can get at Starbucks.

Starbucks has a wide variety of options when it comes to what to order and how to order it, especially when it comes to healthier options. Here are some of those options for you. First things first, if you are looking to include any additional flavors to your drink you can add the sugar free cinnamon dolce syrup or the sugar free vanilla syrup.

Something many people do not know is that Starbucks offers keto friendly drink options. Here are some of those coffee options, and how to order them. To start, order your choice of an Americano, Black Coffee, Iced Coffee, or a Cold Brew, then pick your choice of sugar free syrup ( cinnamon dolce syrup, or vanilla), finally add your dairy or non-dairy options of heavy cream, almond milk , or coconut milk. These drinks are a great way to get a drink at Starbucks but still stay on your diet.

Keto friendly options are not the only healthy items on Starbucks’ menu. There are many low calorie drinks on the menu such as a basic iced coffee which is 80 calories and an iced coffee with milk being 110 calories. A sweeter low calorie option would be a caramel iced coffee (a regular iced coffee with added caramel syrup) which is 80 calories without milk and 110 calories with milk. One of my favorite low calorie drinks is an almond macchiato; to order this first ask for an almond macchiato ( it is made with almond milk instead of regular milk), then substitute the cinnamon dolce syrup with the sugar free cinnamon dolce syrup, and finally ask for caramel drizzle on top. Even though these drinks are low in calories they still have a lot of flavor.

I hope that you found this article useful and give one of these drinks a try.

A Cup For Everyone At Starbucks

Hi everyone, and welcome back to Spill The Beans… The Coffee Beans, today I am going to discuss my top recommendations to order at Starbucks.

For those of you like your coffee on the sweeter side, but still enjoy a strong coffee taste, these next recommendations are for you. The Iced White Mocha is a fusion of an espresso and a white chocolate sauce topped with whipped cream to create the perfect white chocolate beverage.  Although I enjoy this drink the way it comes, I like to customize it by adding  caramel drizzle, 2 shots of vanilla, and having it made with almond milk.  The Honey Almond Milk Cold Brew is a traditional cold brew coffee that is sweetened with honey and is topped off with almond milk, creating the perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness in a cup.  The Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew is one of my favorites. It is a traditional cold brew coffee accented with a sweet cream that together makes the perfect choice for someone who enjoys something on the sweeter side.

For those of you that enjoy a stronger and more bitter coffee, here are some drinks that suit your tastes. The Nitro Cold Brew is one of my favorites to get my morning started; it is a mixture of a classic cold brew that is infused with nitrogen, which together create the perfect cup to start your day. The Cold Brew is another classic drink at Starbucks that is a great way to kick off your day. It is one of my favorites because it is extremely customizable , you can add in your favorite flavor sweetener. If you are looking for something just as strong as the original cold brew, but want something a little bit sweeter, the Cold Brew with Cinnamon Oatmilk Foam is the way to go; the cold brew itself is just as strong as the original cold brew, but the underlying sweetness of the oat milk and cinnamon make it less bitter.

I hope that at least one of the drinks I listed above will suit your tastes and that you will give them a try.