First, I will admit that I LOVE coffee. Second, I will admit that I might be a coffee snob. There are friends of mine who are tea drinkers and they can tell you there is a correct way to brew tea. The same thing goes for coffee. But I am not going into those details.
During my "recovery" time two months ago, my husband did a bit of our shopping and he needed to buy some coffee beans for us. I do not shop exclusively at Starbucks, but I do admit they have several beans that I enjoy. We have a local shop that roasts their own beans: Stone Cutters. Besides having fantastic coffee they have scrumptious homemade cinnamon rolls. My husband happened to shopping at Target and decided to pick up a different brand of coffee. I hate to talk badly, but after my first few sips of this coffee, I told my DH I was pouring out the pot he brewed and making a different flavor of bean. This "different" bean he'd purchased left an aftertaste in my mouth that seemed like cigarettes. I am not a smoker. In the end, these beans left our house without being brewed again.
Shortly after this incident my husband and I went to Stone Cutters to grab a coffee and a cinnamon roll. We needed more beans and decided on two different pounds. The owner, Greg, assured me that one we chose only had hints of a fine cigar smell. I was apprehensive but trusting. Stone Cutters Espresso Roast was superb.
One of the reasons I head to Starbucks now and then is to purchase their Hazelnut Syrup. At home I like to add this flavor to my coffee. It's frustrating when sometimes they will sell me a bottle and other times they won't. It all depends on their supply. Lately I have been thinking I should learn how to make my own syrup.
After searching the web and not finding anything to my likings, I came up with the following recipe. This may be my new fav for adding to my home brews!
Hootie's Hazelnut Syrup for Coffee
2 Cups water
1 Cup white sugar
Mix together in small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Cool then add 1 TBSP of Hazelnut Extract. I have stored my concoction in an old Starbucks bottle; one that I have a pump for.
The trickiest part was finding the Hazelnut Extract. Thank goodness for specialty stores.
*****
As an added funny, I must tell that I have been using Starbucks Hazelnut syrup for at least the last 15 years. When I would vacation with my husband's family on our annual beach vacation, I would always take a bottle of syrup with me. One morning one of my BILs commented that he'd probably add some alcohol to his coffee too if he was a coffee drinker and wasn't related to this bunch. I hated to burst his bubble that this was alcohol free. :)
4 comments:
My hubby and daughter are the coffe drinkers in this household. That is handy for gift giving, since he always loves to receive a new kind of coffee to try.
I don't think he has ever tried a coffee syrup. Your Halzelnut Syrup sounds good and I assume that it will store well for a long time. Thanks for the recipe.
I also enjoyed Stone Cutters coffee. Thank you for introducing me to it.
parTea lady-
I'm not sure how long the syrup will stay "fresh" (read 'start to grow mold here') since the store bought version has perservatives added to it. The amount my recipe makes is small enough that I feel I can keep it on my counter and not worry. Certainly storing it in the 'fridge would increase it's longevity. :)
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Sweetcakes-
You know me, I can easily have my arm twisted to go out for any kind of food! :)
UUgh - coffee with a cigarette taste! Yuck!
I don't like coffee, but I LOVE the way it smells.
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