You’ve been taking regular coffee, why not kick it up to a notch. But with a spice this time, not creamer. Cinnamon is a popular spice that compliments coffee. The great thing about cinnamon is that it not just delicious but also healthy and can brew a spunky addition to your next cup of coffee. In this guide, we’ll tell you what cinnamon is, the health benefits, and various ways to add cinnamon to your coffee. 

Before any additions, make sure your brew is great first and doesn't taste bland. Use only freshly roasted coffee beans. 

WHAT IS CINNAMON?

Cinnamon is a spice and it comes from the inner bark of trees, especially in the ‘Cinnamomum’. Cinnamon can be traced to one of the must-have spices for Ferdinand Magellan in the 1500s. 

It now plays an important role in our everyday lives. This spice is now popular in the culinary world. It is now used as a flavoring condiment for different dishes around the world. These cuisines include cereal curry, desserts, and coffee. 

Cinnamon is often harvested by breaking the barks of the tree mentioned above into rolling sticks or ground cinnamon. There are two types of cinnamon, most people don't know this. The two types are Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon also referred to as pure cinnamon is native to countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and India. 

Cassia cinnamon, often referred to as the ‘regular’ cinnamon originates from China. As the name implies, it is a common type of cinnamon. It is what most people picture when they think of cinnamon. When it comes to flavor, Ceylon is much lighter than Cassia cinnamon and is less bitter. Ceylon is also more expensive than Cassia, which explains why Cassia is more common. 

SPICE UP EACH CUP

Most coffee lovers enjoy adding cinnamon to their brew because it gives them an extra boost of flavor. Drinking the same type of coffee every day can get boring sometimes, adding a little cinnamon can switch things up without really changing the overall structure of your cup of coffee. You can add it to different coffee drinks like cappuccinos, macchiato, latte, etc.  

Aside from its sweet flavor, there are other reasons why you should add cinnamon to your coffee. Cinnamon coffee satisfies your palate while serving as a decongestant. It also clears up your sinuses and provides an energy boost. It is because of these benefits that coffee lovers add cinnamon to their cup of coffee to stimulate their digestive system. Furthermore, it serves as a delicious low-calorie supplement for sweeteners and is heavily packed with antioxidants. 

THIS IS A BREAKDOWN 

A Hint Of Sweetness: As we mentioned above, cinnamon has a natural sweet flair so once it is in your brew, you won't be needing sugar or artificial sweeteners. Cinnamon spice is ideal for any coffee lover watching their intake of sugar. 

Gives an energy boost: Yes, coffee gives you a boost but cinnamon will help your body handle sugar you will get from your cup of coffee for a longer time.  

Lowers appetite: Did you know that cinnamon satisfies your sweet cravings and suppresses your appetite? You’ll even feel satisfied for a longer time. This addition is great for those who are stretching a gap between snacks or trying to lose weight. 

It is nutritious: Cinnamon contains lots of nutrients. Do they include calcium, fiber, iron, manganese, and vitamin K. All these nutrients from a flavorful bark? Yeah. 

HOW TO ADD CINNAMON TO COFFEE 

The fibers in cinnamon have difficulty dissolving completely because they are finely ground tree bark. It can result in a sludgy mess if it does blend well with the coffee. There are a few ways to help it blend in as much as possible into the coffee. 

BLEND IT WITH ANOTHER MIXTURE FIRST 

If you want to add ground cinnamon into the coffee, it's a good idea to first blend it into another before mixing it with the coffee. For instance, if you’re making a cappuccino or a latte, the best thing to do is to add cinnamon to the milk while steaming it or while it's still warm. Cinnamon will dissolve better in a thicker substance. This will ensure that the cinnamon in your coffee comes out rich and spreads throughout the beverage. 

If you want to add cinnamon into your coffee without milk, you should mix it with substances like flavored syrups or warm honey to help it dissolve faster as soon as it is added into the hot coffee. By doing this, the overall flavor of your coffee, especially black coffee will have an extra flavor kick. 

When adding cinnamon to coffee, especially when using honey or milk, remember to add the cinnamon gradually and stir. It will help the cinnamon blend in well. 

USE IT AS A GARNISH

We know it might be easier to add a dash of cinnamon to your coffee for garnish but you should know that this strategy won't completely mix with your cup of coffee. This option works better if you add cinnamon to coffee that has a layer of whipped cream. It will give you a nice aroma as you sip your delicious cup of coffee and add a little zing as the spice slowly makes its way into your cup. 

USING THE WHOLE STICK 

This is the fastest and easiest way to make cinnamon coffee. Just add the entire stack into the coffee. It is an aesthetic accent piece for most high-end coffee drinks out there and it also adds quite a punch of flavor to your coffee, especially when it's in a small cup. 

Most baristas place an entire stick of cinnamon into a coffee drink that already has a lot of milk and whipped cream, it will help to smooth out the pungent presence of the cinnamon. You can try this method at home. 

ADDING CINNAMON TO COFFEE GROUNDS 

As we mentioned, you have to be careful when adding cinnamon to already brewed coffee. Ideally, the cinnamon should be added to the ground before brewing. You should be mindful if you are adding the cinnamon for a drip coffee or pour over because it could gum up on the filter and clog it. For the drip method, just add a sprinkle of cinnamon coffee and brew. 

Also, you can use cinnamon sticks in your French press. Crack two sticks in half and add them to the coffee grounds inside the French press and brew normally. You can make your own creamer with cinnamon and add your coffee, or you can just add cinnamon spice to the brew. If you prefer using maple syrup, simply store the bottle with a stick of cinnamon to get an infused flavor. 

ADD CINNAMON INTO COLD BREW 

While making cold brew, it is best to use cinnamon sticks so it won't gum on your filter. Break a 3-inch cinnamon stick into half or fourths, then mix it with the grounds and steep for 12 to 24 hours. Then, filter the concentrate and dilute it with water. 

You can store your cold brew in a jar that has a lid in your refrigerator for some days.  You can also make a cinnamon mocha. This method works well with a drip coffee pot. Add ½ teaspoon of vanilla and ½ tablespoon of cocoa to an empty coffee pot. 

Add one tablespoon of ground cinnamon to the coffee grounds and brew. You can add sugar later if you want more sweetness. Another way to add the spice is to break the cinnamon sticks and put them inside the coffee bag or the canister where the coffee is being stored. 

The reason behind this method is that the scent will seep into the coffee without making it too strong. Sometimes, you add more sprinkles or more sticks than required into the brew and it might come out too strong. So if you don't want a strong flavored cinnamon coffee, you can go with this option.  

Did you enjoy reading this guide, were you fascinated at how a simple tree bark can add spice to your coffee and give you more nutrients? The next time you want to add a flair to your coffee, forget the sugar and add some cinnamon instead. 

You can't tell, after sprucing your coffee the first time, it might just become part of your daily routine. So get creative and spice it up. Buy freshly roasted coffee beans to get started!