Sweet and Spice Delight: Honey Cinnamon Latte
History of the Drink in brief
Ok, so imagine you’ve visited a modern and comforting cafe, one fine day at 8 am in winter. You find that the wonderful aroma of coffee that’s been freshly roasted is amplifying here. Along with this is the enticing scent of cinnamon, wafting through the air. All of this has perfectly set the stage for…. Guess what? Honey Cinnamon latte! Go on and order it.
Although people don’t know the proper origins of this drink and it is a bit of a mystery, yet it’s found to have roots going back to the ancient Ayurvedic practices. That’s where this drink is acknowledged due to the healing properties of both honey and cinnamon.
These 2 ingredients, the likes of honey and cinnamon were many a times mixed together. The result was a beverage that was soothing and warming. By it’s consumption, it delighted the taste buds and also did nourish the body. As years passed by, and with the spread of the modern coffee culture involving baristas who were mixing milk, sweetener, spices and other additives to coffee, this pleasing drink (Honey Cinnamon Latte) was incorporated into the coffee scene. This is where it caught on with coffee connoisseurs as well as flavor enthusiasts.
In making a Honey Cinnamon Latte, multiple things were brought together. Creamy steamed milk, bold espresso, delicious honey as well as fragrant cinnamon are all key ingredients with their unique characteristics here. So, all of these ingredients in proper ratio create a milky coffee drink that offers an absolute balance of being sweet and spicy.
It could be enjoyed both ways as a hot or cold drink, depending on the weather and the season. Thereby for a lot of people, Honey Cinnamon Latte became a favorite that could be taken anytime or even throughout the year.
Popularity and Appeal
Now what’s happened in a few years recently is that, there’s this sector of specialty coffee and gourmet coffee which is booming. And Honey Cinnamon Latte has appeared as a rising star in this segment. Since it’s made up of unique ingredients, the resulting flavor is exciting. And thereby, the coffee enthusiasts who are looking to take their brewing experience to the next level, have given this a thumbs up.
Its ability of catering to diverse palates made Honey Cinnamon Latte rise to fame. What you get here is subtleness from cinnamon and pleasing sweetness from honey. All this makes the cup deep and complex. Hold on, it’s not just flavor that makes this different, it’s also the looks. Yeah! You can see the swirls of frothy milk combining with golden hues of honey, and topping it off are the brown specks of cinnamon.
Its aesthetic allure along with the tantalizing aroma that it has, will make you consider it not just as a beverage but also as an indulgent sensory experience. And we see that as more and more cafes are featuring it in their menus, it’s popularity is growing.
Espresso or Coffee Base
When it’s the time to craft a perfect Honey Cinnamon Latte, you need to start from the foundation first. Yes, the foundation, whether you would like to have a base of an espresso or that of a brewed coffee. If you prefer a bold, balanced and a bit of robust flavor, then surely you’ll enjoy your drink if you make it with an espresso base.
On the other hand, if you’re someone who likes lighter and milder coffees, then just use regular brewed coffee as a base for this drink. That’ll be perfectly fine for your Honey Cinnamon Latte, it’ll be smoother and low in coffee dominant flavor.
Do experiment with different types of espresso or coffee blends, so that you’ll be able to make your Hot Cinnamon Latte much more complex. You can go for a rich and smooth dark roast or a well balanced medium roast or even a lighter roast with notes of fruits or flowers, etc. Whatever you choose, it will anyways play a big role in the overall flavor profile of your Honey Cinnamon Latte. So try various options and finally settle for the one you find out to be an ideal match.
So summing it up, you need to remember these 2 things here, mainly. One is the type of base for your drink, whether it’s espresso or brewed coffee. And the other thing is roasting style of the coffee beans (light, medium or dark). Take care of these 2 along with other regular ingredients like honey, cinnamon and milk and you’re set for a great tasting Honey cinnamon latte.
Milk Choice (Dairy or Non-Dairy)
For you to craft a delicious Honey Cinnamon Latte, this ingredient is also very important. And it’s none other than milk! Yeah, milk it is that will make you a rich and creamy drink when used in the form of whole milk. What the fats in whole milk do is that, they create a velvety texture. And when you’re drinking Honey Cinnamon Latte, this velvety texture considerably increases its overall mouthfeel.
We know that there are few people looking for dairy-free alternatives here too. So there are options for you’ll. Almond milk, oat milk, soy milk and coconut milk will be just perfect to satisfy your criteria of being dairy free as well as packing plenty of nutrients. Each one offers unique flavors and makes Honey Cinnamon Latte very different from the other one.
Almond milk imparts a subtle nutty flavor, whereas when you use oat milk, there’s creaminess and a bit of a grainy feel. Coconut milk adds adds a tropical flavor to your drink, and soy milk gives it a beany undertone. So all of them have their own characteristics, and each one adds to your Honey Cinnamon Latte distinctive twists.
Now the thing is that irrespective of the milk you’ll be choosing, you have to froth it properly. This is done so that the luscious layer of foam crowns your Honey Cinnamon Latte.
Honey for Sweetness
No need for using any artificial sweeteners here, and that’s a big bonus for not just health conscious people but also for others. As Honey is the sweetening agent in Honey Cinnamon Latte, you get the natural sweetness from it plus plenty of health benefits. So it’s a win win for everyone.
Honey, with its notes of flowers and also its golden hues, pairs well with cinnamon. Infact, you can say that it enhances the earthy notes of cinnamon. When you’re incorporating honey into your honey cinnamon latte recipe, you need to choose high quality wildflower honey or clover honey or even other great tasting honeys.
Honey not only sweetens this coffee drink of yours, but also binds together all the components in it. Thereby, the richness of espresso, creaminess and frothiness of milk and the fragrance of cinnamon all come together with the honey. And the resulting beverage on your taste buds is a flavorful delight with every sip.
Honey cinnamon latte recipe
Ingredients :
- 2 shots of espresso or similar quantity of strongly brewed coffee (2 ounces)
- 1 cup milk (whole or skimmed milk or plant based milk etc)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon that’s ground.
- Cinnamon stick, or more cinnamon that’s ground for garnishing.
Steps to follow :
- Preparing espresso or regular coffee: You need to choose either an espresso or regular brewed coffee first. In either case brew 2 ounces. Try to make a strong coffee if you don’t have an espresso machine.
- Warming the milk: The milk is to be heated by putting it in a saucepan and at a heat level midway between low and high. Take care and don’t over boil the milk.
- Adding Honey and cinnamon: Here, you’ll be adding honey and cinnamon to the warmed milk. Until all of these are mixed properly, give it a stir. Take a frother and you need to froth milk using it.
- Assembling Honey cinnamon latte: The already prepared espresso or regular coffee is to be poured into the cup. Next, the milk with honey and cinnamon mix is to be poured over it. To create layers, you must be holding a spoon on top of the cup, and then on top of the spoon (backside facing upwards) milk is to be poured.
- Garnishing and serving: Take a little bit of ground cinnamon (a pinch) and it has to be sprinkled on the top. Another option is a cinnamon stick that’s placed in the cup.
After this all you gotta do is enjoy your cozy and comfy Honey cinnamon latte. Tweak your recipe by proportionally increasing the ingredients if you’re making this drink for many people.
More details in making Honey Cinnamon Latte
Brewing the Espresso or Coffee
First and foremost step to make a Honey cinnamon latte that’s delectable, is to make sure that the foundation of your drink is full of coffee flavor. For this, you can choose an espresso as it’s richly intense, or you can opt for a regular brewed coffee as it’s mild and aromatic. Whatever is your choice, brewing it absolutely perfect is the most important thing here.
In case there is an espresso machine that you’ll be using to make this base, then you need to grind coffee beans to a fine form. After that, the coffee grounds packed into the portafilter are to be tamped down by applying a decent amount of pressure.
Another thing that has to be looked into before even grinding coffee beans is selecting the appropriate roast. Ideally dark roasts taste amazing with milk, but medium and medium-dark roasts can also be used, depending on your preference. These roasts pair very well with the sweet tasting honey, warm cinnamon and milky taste of whole/skimmed milk or even plant based milk.
Froth and Steam the Milk
Moving ahead, for you to make a Honey Cinnamon Latte that’s wonderfully smooth and frothy, this step is most important. And the process is to steam and froth the milk! It will be a cakewalk if you have an espresso machine (with steam wand) at your place. This step is started as you pour cold milk that’s cold into the stainless steel pitcher. Then below the surface of milk, just submerge the steam wand.
Next you’re to create the effect of whirlpool here. By a slight angling of the pitcher, you’re good to go. This step results in a microfoam that’s frothy, and thereby is an addition to make the latte much more textured. The temperature has to be around 150°F for the best taste, so you need to be having a good look at the reading.
Adding Honey and Cinnamon
By now you would’ve finished brewing the base of your Honey cinnamon latte, that is either espresso or regular coffee, followed by frothing milk in a perfect way. Now is the time for infusing the deliciously sweet honey coupled with the spicy cinnamon into the cup. For this, honey has to be drizzled into the cup before you pour espresso or regular brewed coffee.
It’s only to ensure that the sweetness gets evenly distributed all through the cup of Honey cinnamon latte. After this, grounded cinnamon has to be sprinkled over it. You can add a bit of espresso or regular coffee that’s prepared into the cup. Stir properly so that all of them are blended.
Assembly and Presentation Tips
Here’s the final thing to do. And that’s assembling, followed by a presentation of Honey Cinnamon Latte as if you’re a pro barista! The already frothed and steamed milk is to be poured with care into the cup of espresso or regular coffee. Try creating nice layers if you can.
You can dust extra cinnamon on the Honey cinnamon latte as a topping, which makes it much more visually appealing. Last thing to do is to consider garnishing the drink using a cinnamon stick, or drizzling a bit more honey on top of it as a final touch.
Health Benefits of Honey Cinnamon Latte
Antioxidant properties of honey
Honey, alongside being a delicious additive or sweetener, comes as a package benefiting your health. A well known characteristic of it is its property of antioxidants.
Antioxidants play a key role by helping in the protection of cells from the damage that’s due to harmful molecules which are free radicals. As you sip your Honey Cinnamon Latte, you enjoy a wonderful cup, along with providing yourself a naturally available antioxidant punch. Thereby, you’re also boosting your health.
Cinnamon’s anti-inflammatory effects
Another important benefit you get from Honey cinnamon latte is its anti-inflammatory effect. We all know that inflammation is the body being naturally responsive to getting injured or infected. In case if there is prolonging of the inflammation, that can make someone chronically ill.
This can be combated with cinnamon in this cup of Honey Cinnamon Latte. It is said that with reduced inflammation, the potential risk of heart diseases and arthritis can also be lowered. Thereby each time you’re sipping Honey cinnamon latte, it can soothe you with its flavor, as well as benefit your body with its healthy punch. For increased consumption, do check with a doctor or a dietician regarding this anyways. Having Honey Cinnamon Latte in low or moderate doses is fine anytime.
Potential boost in energy from caffeine
Remember the name, caffeine! Yes, it is the main ingredient in any drink that uses coffee as a base. Even here, the espresso based or regular coffee based drink that is Honey cinnamon latte does have caffeine. It is renowned for being able to make the drinker energetic at times when it’s much needed. So if you’re beginning the day or about to hit the slump in the afternoon, this caffeine in your drink will be giving the boost when you need it the most.
You need to ensure that you’re not overdoing its intake. Consuming caffeine in moderate doses is what’s important to maintain optimum energy level over a period of 24 hours.
Here in Honey cinnamon latte, every single ingredient does play a part in a positive way to not just make it flavorful, but also to make it a healthy drink. This is what makes sipping on a Honey cinnamon latte a delightful drink that comes with an addition of health benefits.
Honey Cinnamon Latte – Variants and customizing options
Chilling Out with an Iced drink
Are the temperatures soaring high? No worries, here’s a Honey cinnamon latte variant especially for those times. It’s a cooling drink that refreshes you during hot weather. And it’s called as iced Honey cinnamon latte.
Just like your regular Honey cinnamon latte, even here begin by brewing a double shot of espresso or regular coffee. Follow it up by adding ice cubes to it, this is the only difference between iced Honey cinnamon latte and the regular one. Then comes drizzling of Honey and sprinkling of Cinnamon that’s been ground. Refrigerated milk will be added on top of it. By stirring it, your iced Honey Cinnamon latte is ready to shine when there’s too much sunshine.
A Touch of Spice: Nutmeg or Cardamom
You also have the option of sprinkling a bit of cardamom or nutmeg into the Honey cinnamon latte, if you’d like to enhance the taste or to make it have a slightly different taste. A flavorful harmony is created that’s due to the unique blending of these 2 spices which come with a good dose of aroma. A bit of refreshing citrus notes are brought about by cinnamon, whereas warmth combined with slight sweetness notes are from nutmeg.
To get to a conclusion as to how much quantity of each of these spices are ideal in your drink, you need to be experimenting with varying quantities. Deep and complex flavor, as well as enhanced taste with slightly different notes are what these 2 spices add on to your Honey cinnamon latte.
Sweet Swaps: Maple Syrup for Honey
Are you eyeing an alternative sweetener for this drink? Well, another good option here is maple syrup. You won’t be calling it a Honey cinnamon latte then, as the honey would’ve been replaced by maple syrup. Anyways, maple syrup will make your cinnamon latte quite different in a good way.
Fun Facts about Honey Cinnamon Lattes
Popularized by Specialty Coffee Shops in Recent Years
Honey cinnamon latte after entering the cafe culture is brewing success! It’s gained fame due to the innovation that’s taking place at cafes which focus on specialty and/or gourmet coffees.
Experiments are being done by combining unique ingredients all over the world by baristas. And this drink, the Honey cinnamon latte has become quite popular amongst coffee drinkers.
Traditionally Considered a Comforting Winter Drink
Just imagine that you’ve got a steamy Honey cinnamon latte cup in your hands, and if you look out of your home, there’s snowfall. So, there’s fire setup near you providing warmth. All this is a perfect scene for Honey cinnamon latte. It’s a warming and comforting beverage ideal for such times.
Can Be Enjoyed as Both a Morning Pick-Me-Up or an Evening Treat
Being versatile is what makes Honey cinnamon latte suitable for different times of the day. Having a caffeinated base, it is surely a great morning boost. And during the evenings or cold weather times it’s a delectable and comforting treat.
After working full day, it gives you good company with its flavor, that soothes you. Maybe it can even be substituted as a dessert too if you would like to go that way. So, if it’s the time when the sun rises or the sun sets, Honey cinnamon latte is always enjoyable.