Café con Miel

Ingredients

• 2 cups freshly brewed coffee
• 1/2 cup whole milk, or non-dairy alternative
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 dash ground nutmeg

Steps to Make It

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Warm all the ingredients in a small pot over low-to-medium heat, but do not bring to a boil.
3. Stir well to dissolve the honey.
4. Serve in small mugs.
5. Enjoy hot!

Tips for Making a Great Cafe con Miel

• The Coffee: This recipe really sings with fresh coffee, so take the time to make a fresh pot, or press a single cup in your French press or AeroPress to get a richer cup of coffee. These are both great ways to brew just a small amount of coffee and the quality of the coffee is perfect for mixed coffee drinks like this.
• The Milk: When warming up the ingredients, the milk is your biggest concern. There is a fine line between warm and scalded milk and this is why it’s very important to keep the heat low enough so you can manage it; boiling your cow’s milk will make it curdle and you’ll have to strain it through a fine colander to remove the cooked proteins that have formed. Alternatively, use your favorite non-dairy milk like rice, almond, or soy beverages.
• The Honey: Honey comes in many flavors. Depending on what the bees were feeding on it can be made of the nectar of just one flower or many, and you can find it raw or pasteurized. The honey you choose will change the flavor of your coffee so buy a few types and experiment. Or try infusing the honey with spices.
• The Spices: Don’t be limited to the three spices included in this recipe. They are recommended and traditional, but not necessary. If you run out of one, skip it or substitute it with another spice you enjoy, like ginger, peppercorns, cardamom, or cloves.

How to Infuse Honey

Place whole spices in a small jar and cover them with honey. Allow this to sit for about 5 days, then strain off the spices and rebottle the flavored honey under a tight seal. Whole spices work best, so a vanilla bean, a cinnamon stick, and coarsely ground nutmeg are recommended. Remember that the more spices you add to the jar or the longer you allow the honey to infuse, the stronger the flavor will be.