Why Coffee Syrup Is The Key To Richer Homemade Drinks And Desserts

Some people drink coffee purely for utility, needing the caffeine to get through the day — but others are true connoisseurs of the ancient beverage, seeking out the best coffee roasters in America for pure enjoyment of that fruity, bitter, nutty flavor. If you're one of those people for whom a touch of coffee in the morning simply isn't enough, DIY coffee-flavored syrup might be just the boost you need to bring your drinks and desserts to the next level. 

Easily confused with the syrups you might use to add flavor to coffee, coffee syrup is actually a way to add coffee flavor to other drinks and dishes. Made in the same way all simple syrups are, by heating up sugar and water in a saucepan, along with, in this case, ground coffee, and then straining it to remove any intrusive grounds, the result is a thin, toffee-colored syrup. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one month and used to top or mix into any number of plain dishes that need a touch of sweet syrup (and maybe a little caffeination, too). 

Making good desserts and drinks is all about finding balance, and the bitterness of coffee can be key to creating a more complex flavor when paired with an otherwise sugary-sweet treat. Adding this extra tasting note can take a basic dessert from flat to rich, and a basic drink from simple to artisanal, letting each bite (or sip) stay on your mind long after the cup is empty. Oh, and a pro tip: Make sure you use beans that produce a strong brew to get the coffee flavor to really come through. 

Have you ever had a cake that was just okay — until you added the glaze and then it was great? Sometimes, a plain base is the perfect opportunity to let a syrup or sauce shine, and there's so many ways you can use coffee syrup to do this, whether it's for a baked good or a fun drink. Though quite potent, in small amounts the versatile syrup can be great as a topping: Try heating some up and drizzling it on top of vanilla ice cream or pancakes and waffles. 

As a mix in, popular coffee cocktails, hot chocolate, and gently flavored coffee milk (a Rhode Island favorite) are all an open canvas for coffee flavor on the drinks side. Coffee syrup can also be swirled into caramel cookies or coffee-flavored frosting for decadent fruity cupcakes to add a level of nuance to traditional desserts. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the options, you can always lean into the perfect duo that is coffee and chocolate (think flavors of chocolate-covered espresso beans or the classic mocha) — go for a chocolate espresso martini or chocolate coffee banana bread for near-guaranteed flavor perfection.

Coffee syrup is also an easy way to get flavor into cakes by brushing it onto each layer of sponge, or in the case of tiramisu, soaking ladyfingers in the sweet mixture. You can easily modify the density of your coffee syrup by adding more or less water when making the mixture to create a thin, soakable liquid or a thicker syrup that will hold together as you pour it in, depending on what you intend to use it for. Our guess? Your syrup will be gone far before it reaches its expiration date.