Happy New Year folks! What a scorcher it has been over the past few days here in Sydney. With temperatures soaring during peak summer, a much needed afternoon cup of coffee may only wake you up but not necessarily cool you down. And that is why my dear friends, the iced coffee was invented. It is my favourite drink of choice on hot summer days and some hot summer nights as well – with a generous dollop of home-made vanilla ice cream of course!
As much as I love a tall glass of iced coffee with a scoop of ice cream after dinner (it was a treat we really looked forward to as children and one that was reserved for very special occasions!), I am now an adult and have to be sensible about things like this. I also feel my palate is more refined than when I was a child and craves cleaner tastes and textures. A sophisticated cold coffee poured on ice with a dash of sweetener and soy milk cools my hot afternoons very nicely. Inspired by coffees in Southern India, I have been spiking my iced coffee with cardamom on occasion and it is truly divine.
I love the ease and convenience of having a Nespresso coffee machine when creating an iced coffee. It means that I can extract the hot coffee directly into my serving glass and instantly cool it down with ice cubes rather than spend more time, effort and utensils brewing and cooling coffee. The coffee itself is a beautiful thing. I have been exclusively using Nespresso coffee for about 5 years now and every single extraction is a revelation. Perfectly balanced and rich with that glorious crema on top. Something that is of utmost importance when you want a good iced coffee that has a depth of coffee flavour and not watered down by all the ice and milk. The Nespresso Ristretto Grand Cru has to be my most prized and frequently used capsule. It is intense and has subtle fruity tones which I love. When these flavours pair with cardamom in an iced coffee, it feels right!
What are your favourite iced coffee flavours? Do you have a special twist, a special ingredient that changes the game? I would love to know, one coffee lover to another; so please do tell! And stay cool. x
Recipe
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Ingredients
- 40 ml Nespresso Ristretto
- 4 ice cubes
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 tablespoons maple syrup
- 125 ml chilled milk of choice
Instructions
- Place ice cubes in a 350ml capacity tumbler. Pour Nespresso over the ice cubes. Sprinkle cardamom and add maple syrup. Stir gently until combined.
- Pour over the milk slowly. Enjoy chilled.
disclaimer - This post was created in collaboration with Nespresso. Recipe and musings are my own.
Really great, thanks!! I get something like this at a local coffee shop and wanted to recreate it at home. Honestly, I like this version much better! 🙂 (I used a little heavy cream in addition to the milk.)
Cardamom coffee is one of my favorites...and I'm an ice coffee drinker all year, so thanks for posting this! I just linked your recipe to our spice shop to give our customers some ideas. Thanks!
Just made it and it's such an interesting flavour! I'm used to the traditional iced latte so this is a great change
Two tablespoons of maple Syrup? This would make it sugar with coffee and cardamon. I thought this was for adults.
Apologies. It should really be 1 tablespoon maple syrup (have fixed it now!). Alternatively, don't add any. I will often have it straight, but find that sometimes a touch of sweetness really lifts the cardamom flavour especially if the coffee is too strong. Cheers!
When you say "pour over the milk slowly", does that mean pour the milk over the coffee slowly, or the other way around - "pour the coffee mix over the milk slowly"? Or does it not make any difference really? Sounds lovely with the cardamon. I do love a nice spice.
you got me! I meant Pour the milk over slowly. x
I adore cardamom in coffee! I need to try this 🙂 Thank you, Sneh!
I love cardamom in my coffee! It adds such a gorgeous flavor and fragrance. Cheers, Sneh! 🙂
So delicious and refreshing! one of my favorite summer drink. Perfect with that little pinch of cardamom.
Cheers,
Rosa
Sneh thank you for the lovely recipe. Just made it & it's delicious! Love the cardamom.