Last Updated on August 18, 2023 by Barry Gray
Indulge in a delightful syrup made just for you, whether it’s the brisk winter season and you crave the heat in extra pumpkin spice or feel like some classic vanilla.
Syrups can completely change the flavor of your coffee in an instant. With a wide range of flavors available, they can even mask the flavor of poorer coffee or give an artisan twist to your Latte.
Flavored Syrups Can Lead To Coffee Escapades
I vividly remember my first taste of these syrups at Starbucks years ago. I was instantly captivated. On my way to work every morning, I experimented with various tastes and flavors to elevate my morning coffee experience.
I used to really look forward to these coffee-tasting escapades. I had no clue what I was doing, but I loved every cup I drank.
For me, that’s part of the overall fun of adding syrups to coffee. They completely change the experience and turn your coffee from boring Latte into an adventure.
If You Are Watching The Waistline – You Can Still Drink Syrups
You can still drink syrups if you are watching your weight; with the new-age syrups being zero calories, you have no worries there, but more on that later.
One of my best friends would accompany me on my coffee tours, but he was keeping the use of coffee syrup low profile since he was watching his weight and didn’t want too many calories.
But here’s the good news.
You can still use syrups and enjoy them without boosting your calorie count, but you will get the sugar spike as they are made with sugar.
Think About a Skinny Latte Without Sugar, for Example
It can add up if you add more than two teaspoons of sugar to your coffee and you have a few cups daily. One way to temper yourself away from sugar is to use syrup, but err on the side of less is more.
Your taste buds can enjoy the hazelnut flavor without overloading your skinny latte with too many calories. In fact, it is a great way to get off the sugar in coffee and retrain your brain to better flavors.
What are Coffee Syrups?
Coffee syrups are a type of syrup used to add flavor to coffee. They are typically made with sugar, a sugar substitute, water, and a natural or artificial flavor.
Traditional syrups used sugar; today, with new-age syrups, they use sugar substitutes. That is how they can get them to be zero calories, but not every syrup falls into that category.
They Offer Endless Flavor Options
Here’s where it gets fun. The flavors these days seem endless.
Vanilla, caramel, Hazelnut, chocolate, and pumpkin spice, to mention a few. They can be used with lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas. They even taste good in iced coffees if you have the right combination.
Great Combinations Add Great Flavors
Here are some terrific combinations to start your syrup journey if you have yet to try them. If you have, perhaps there will be some new ones for you:
Vanilla Syrup
Vanilla is an excellent flavoring for lattes and cappuccinos. Having said that, vanilla can be used in any coffee.
I’ve even tried using the syrup with a few crushed-up vanilla pods on top of the cream in my coffee for a more artisan look; for example, the results have been mind-blowingly good.
Caramel Syrup: Add Some Fudge For Decadence
Think iced coffee and caramel. Any coffee with whipped cream tastes excellent with caramel in it. That is just my opinion.
A hard espresso can be softened with the sweetness of caramel. I make mean fudge from scratch and put some fudge shrapnels on top for a brilliant handcrafted coffee look.
Salted Caramel
Remember salted caramel. You can also try the broken fudge trick I add when craving dessert.
I can immediately change a regular cappuccino into a fudge dessert dream, but we are upping calories here.
Hazelnut Syrup
Mochas buzz with a bit of Hazelnut. The chocolate flavor of the dark roast of mochas is a perfect accompaniment.
Chocolate Syrup
Mochas, lattes, and cappuccinos taste great with chocolate-flavored syrups. The goal is to go easy and avoid being too heavy-handed. If your mocha is a bit bitter, the chocolate and sweetness of the syrup will wick that away.
Pumpkin Spice
My favorite mixtures are espresso, whipped cream, and pumpkin spice. I also love the cinnamon stick that comes with it. This is a great winter favorite, but any season will do if you are in the mood for it.
More And More People Are Doing This At Home
The great news is you no longer have to go out for these types of coffee. More and more people are making them at home, and why not? The syrups are so readily available now.
If you are new to syrups, start small; in other words, less is more.
- Start with a small amount and add more to taste.
- You can use a pump to measure the syrup or eyeball it.
- Coffee syrups can be added to hot or cold coffee. I love iced coffee.
- They can also make other coffee drinks, such as frappuccinos, milkshakes, and cocktails.
So, Who Invented Coffee Syrups – And Why
Coffee syrups were introduced to America in the early 1900s. Back then, coffee was mainly consumed black, and people appreciated the subtle, sweet taste of the syrup since it did not have an overwhelming sugary flavor.
Coffee Syrups Have Been Traced Back To 1932
Although syrups had been around for a long time before that. The Silmo Packing Company in Massachusetts made the first mass-produced coffee syrup. This was as far back as 1932.
In 1938, Eclipse Food Products started promoting its coffee syrup product in Warwick, Rhode Island. Autocrat Coffee.
Autocrat bought out their long-standing rival, Eclipse, in 1991 and currently produces both syrup brands. Autocrat is acknowledged as the leading brand of coffee syrup in Rhode Island. The syrup was created to enhance the taste of coffee milk.
The Syrups Began As Very Vanilla
Coffee syrups were originally flavored with vanilla, but other flavors, such as caramel, Hazelnut, and chocolate, soon became popular. Coffee syrups were also served in coffee shops and diners, often used to make flavored coffee drinks, such as lattes and mochas.
Today the flavors are more diverse and easier to get hold of. Your local grocery store or supermarket will have a few to try.
The first coffee syrups were served in soda fountains in the early 1900s. The first coffee syrup is thought to have been created by a soda fountain operator who sweetened leftover coffee grounds with milk and sugar to make a syrup, then mixed it into glasses of milk.
Coffee Syrup And Milk
In the 1930s, coffee milk was regularly served at pharmacy lunch counters. It was targeted toward children and youth as an alternative to the hot coffee served to their parents.
Due to the product’s popularity, coffee syrup was eventually bottled and sold by merchants.
Coffee syrups are a popular way to add flavor to coffee, and they can be a great way to customize your coffee drink to your own taste.
However, it is essential to note that coffee syrups can be high in sugar, so it is important to consume them in moderation.
Like Everything To Do With Coffee – Coffee Syrups Are Evolving
Suppose traditional syrups are not your thing, and you want to remain completely healthy and calorie-conscious. In that case, there are new syrups specially designed for the health-conscious.
The Advent Of The New Age Coffee Syrups
Several new-age coffee syrups are made with healthier additives.
These syrups are lower in calories and sugar than traditional coffee syrups, and they have a lower glycemic index, which means they have less impact on blood sugar levels.
This is helpful for those that feel the wack of caffeine and sugar on blood sugars.
Some of the most popular new-age coffee syrups are made with stevia, monk fruit, erythritol, and allulose. These sweeteners are all-natural and have zero calories.
They can be found in various flavors, including vanilla, caramel, Hazelnut, chocolate, and even salted caramel.
Health Stores Even Stock Coffee Syrups Now
New-age coffee syrups can be found in most health food stores and online retailers. They can be used in any coffee but are outstanding in lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas.
If you want to try new-age coffee syrups, keep a few things in mind. First, not all of these syrups are created equal. Some brands are better than others. Second, the taste of these syrups can vary depending on the brand and the flavor. These syrups can be expensive, so you should shop around before you buy them in bulk.
Here are some of the most popular new-age syrups:
- Stevia: Stevia is a natural sweetener with zero calories and no glycemic index.
- Monk fruit: Monk fruit is another natural sweetener with zero calories and no glycemic index.
- Erythritol: Erythritol is a sugar alcohol with zero calories and a low glycemic index.
- Allulose: Allulose is a rare sugar naturally found in some fruits. It is zero calories and a low glycemic index.
I don’t use coffee syrups every day, I am too versatile for that, and I drink many types of coffee as a coffee lover. However, I do keep a batch of syrups handy for those moments when I want something different.
A friend of mine got off sugar in his coffee by using the healthier option syrups made from monk fruit and stevia. However, even the full-sugar version will still give you less sugar than a white teaspoon.
Here are some homemade coffee syrup recipes:
Coffee Syrup Recipes
But you can also make your own coffee syrup. Here’s a simple vanilla coffee syrup as an example.
The Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method:
- Combine the water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Let the mixture cool completely before storing it in an airtight container.
Caramel Coffee Syrup:
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method:
- Combine the water, sugar, and corn syrup in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes or until the syrup has thickened slightly.
- Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla extract.
Hazelnut Coffee Syrup:
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup hazelnut extract
Method:
- Combine the water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved.
- Remove from heat and stir in the hazelnut extract.
Once you have made a few of these, you will probably start thinking of your own coffee syrup ideas; who knows, you might become the founder of a whole new flavor!
That is part of the joy of experimenting with coffee. New drinks are making the news daily, meaning loads of new coffees to try and the possibility of becoming the inventor of a fresh gourmet coffee.
