All posts tagged: espresso drinks

Mocha Valencia

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When I was a Starbucks barista, I loved making mocha Valencias because of the chocolate-y, orange-y, espresso-y aroma that would waft up from the cup when I swirled all those components together, but I always opted for a caramel macchiato or some sort of white chocolate mocha when I wanted to take my espresso-drinking experience to eleven. So, I probably wouldn’t have done a post about this particular coffee drink if a friend hadn’t requested it, but making one with a piece of orange zest—as opposed to a syrup like Starbucks does—was a bit of a game changer for me. This is how Seattle coffee shop, Cafe Ladro, makes them, but I’d never actually tried it for myself. It’s shocking how much flavor comes through with just a small piece! And I like that you can adjust the sweetness with this method—more orange doesn’t equate to a sweeter flavor—simply add sugar as you wish to create your own mocha Valencia adventure. I am now officially a fan. Will I turn you into one?? Enjoy! M Mocha …

Caramel Macchiato

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Treat Yo’ Self Two Thousand Fiftee-eeen! (You have to imagine Tom Haverford and Donna singing that, okay?) I was WAAAY late to the Parks and Rec party…like, didn’t-even-start-watching-it-until-it-the-series-was-over late. And while I was a little dissappointed in myself  (I’m usually pretty up-to-date, very familiar with, and generally all over any funny TV), after I’d watched the first episode, all I could be was excited…because, yeah, shame on me for taking so long, but also, lucky me—I had so much solid comedy ahead! Laughs for months to come! (It actually ended up being more like weeks, but that’s beside the point.) While Treat Yo’ Self Day has been around since 2011, Treat Yo’ Self 2015 (that’s today!) is my first opportunity to celebrate with the rest of the Parks and Rec-watching world. And if you have no idea what I’m talking about, two things: #1 I am so jealous because you still get to watch the whole series for the first time, and #2 Watch this video so you know what the deal is. Fragrances and “fine …

5 Ways to Celebrate National Coffee Day

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You KNOW I couldn’t let this day go by without paying tribute to one of my favorite foods (yes, I consider it a food—a food group, actually) on the planet: I’m talking about coffee. And turns out I don’t need a reason to celebrate…this little round-up includes coffee-related recipes that I’ve created this year with no holiday in mind. Coffee in itself is celebration-worthy, I say. So, pick your poison below, and I hope there’s lots of buzz surrounding your day! M 1. Hemp Milk Latte 2. Pumpkin Spice Latte 3. Buzz-Worthy Vegan Espresso Shake 4. Vegan Espresso Mousse 5. Coffeemallows BONUS coffee-related recipe! Starbucks-Inspired Coffeemallows

Marshmallow Monday: Starbucks-Inspired Coffemallows

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A couple Marshmallow Mondays ago, I did a post about Coffeemallows—which are delicious—but, I didn’t stop there. I created some souped-up Coffeemallows for HelloGiggles inspired by the core Starbucks espresso drinks that were on the menu when I was a barista. It was a looooong time ago, you guys. Those were much simpler times. And much simpler menus. Below are some photos of the finished treats, and if you’d like to whip some up yourself, head over to HelloGiggles for the recipes. FYI, my favorites are the Caramel Macchiato Coffeemallows. Enjoy! M Americano, Latte, and Cappuccino White Chocolate Mocha, Mocha Valencia, Caramel Macchiato, and Mocha I used mini cheesecake tins to make these, but you can also just make them in a cake pan as usual, and do all these up in squares.