Dunkin Donuts Winter Seasonal Blends Have Arrived

Mocha Mint, Gingerbread Cookie and Pumpkin Spice. In short, dessert in a mug.

Along with the brisk air and snowball fights the winter months bring glittering snowy landscapes and, best of all, Dunkin Donuts' seasonal blends. Mmmmm...I don't know about you, but I look forward to these flavors all year long.

 

This year, Dunkin Donuts is offering three delicious winter coffee blends: Gingerbread Cookie, Pumpkin Spice and Mocha Mint.

 

The Gingerbread Cookie blend is a spicy treat that deliciously echoes its smiley faced cookie counterpart. The flavor is ever present, but not overpowering.

 

The Pumpkin Spice blend is amazing. It's got that rich, comforting flavor that keeps pumpkin pie on every holiday dessert menu. In fact, a cup of this coffee is dessert in itself.

 

The Mocha Mint blend is smooth and minty with a tantalizing hint of chocolatey goodness. If I could only have one blend of coffee ever again, it would be this one. The balance between the flavors is perfection and every sip is a treat.

 

Each blend is so rich and flavorful, I enjoy them both hot and cold. I always make full pots of coffee, knowing there will be some left over that I can chill for an iced treat later on. Why pay $5 for a cup of iced coffee at a corner cafe when I have something better at home.

 

I'm a huge fan of Dunkin Donuts' coffee blends, and their winter collection is to die for. The flavor is sensational and makes the cold, blustery days of the season seem to melt away. Dunkin Donuts coffee can be found at retailers nationwide.

Salted Caramel Mocha coffee creamer

Add the perfect sweet and savory combination to your morning coffee.

Drinking coffee is a great way to wake up, but when you do not enjoy the full, bold flavor of coffee, you may want to look at different types of coffee creamers. One of the best ones, in my opinion, is the Salted Caramel Mocha coffee creamer. Here are some of the reasons why I enjoy this coffee creamer and I am sure you will enjoy it as well.

The first reason I like this coffee creamer is that it allows you to get the best blend of a sweet and savory flavor for your coffee. When you are able to get this taste, you will not have to be concerned about the coffee creamer overpowering your coffee and you also don't have to be worried about the coffee being so strong you cannot stand to drink this.   

Another reason you need to look at the Salted Caramel Mocha coffee creamer is you will be able to enjoy the caramel taste as well. Caramel in most creamers can be too overpowering, but with this creamer, the balance between all the flavors is going to be great and keep you drinking your coffee for hours on end.

A major drawback of the Salted Caramel Mocha coffee creamer is that it's a little bit on the thicker side. Since this can be thicker then what you are used to, you may want to have some way to stir your coffee to guarantee you can have it mixed in right.

Drinking coffee is a great way to wake up in the morning or to soothe a sore throat. I know for me, though, the taste of coffee can be bitter and leave me wanting to use a creamer. This is when I tried the Salted Caramel Mocha coffee creamer and was shocked at how great this makes the coffee taste. 

Make Your Own Cheap Mochas at Home!

Depending on the area of the country that you live in, and the size that you usually order, mochas can get quite expensive! You could easily be paying $4.00 for your beloved mocha drink. It’s a fun indulgence to go and pick up your perfectly crafted mocha drink. It’s fine to still get them but if you can skip the coffee shop once or twice a week, it is possible to make them at home!

Start by putting one part warm water and one part sweetened cocoa powder and stir them together. Take the mixture and pour it into a coffee cup. Brew the espresso on the espresso machine. Grind approximately three tbsp. espresso and add the appropriate amount of water into the machine. The exact specifics depend on the espresso maker. Wait patiently for it to brew!

Once it’s done, pour the espresso into the cup. Use the steamer on your machine to heat up and froth the milk. Pour the milk into the coffee cup. Stir everything together to blend it. Add a dollop of whipped cream and enjoy!

The type of milk that you choose is ultimately up to you. Skim or one percent milk is ideal if you want to not only cut calories and fat but also to have an extra frothy mocha. Skim milk froths much better than full fat milk. It’s also possible to use soy or rice milk.

Making your own mochas at home can really save some cash and can save you time on busy mornings!

Iced Mochas – Perfect Even in Freezing Weather!

The prevailing wisdom, and common sense, tends to state that you should drink cold espresso drinks when it’s hot outside and warm ones if it’s cold outside. Well, being the little rule breaker that I am, I tend to go for ice mochas whenever possible. Of course, if it’s morning and chilly outside, you won’t catch me milling around with cold iced mocha in my hand!

I pretty much prefer all of my espresso drinks cold, from caramel macchiatos to Americanos. One thing that I notice is that I drink them a lot faster. For some reason, it takes me forever to sip on a regular, hot grande espresso drink. That is my preferred size.

This is where I get into trouble when I make my own drinks at home. I know that there are ways to make your own ice espresso drinks at home but I haven’t yet done it myself. I don’t know why it seems daunting, especially when I already know how to make mochas at home myself! Either way, I drink hot drinks when I make them myself but most of the time, I order iced drinks when I buy espresso drinks.

While I don’t drink them a lot, I do enjoy the Starbucks Frappuccino. The coconut mocha Frappuccino is absolutely to die for. The only issue for me is that they only contain coffee, and I need espresso! I love to grab a Frappuccino, such as the coconut mocha and add one or two shots of espresso (I’m a bit hardcore), and go along my way! I say that iced mochas are a hit every single day, in all types of weather!

Lactose Intolerant? Consider a Soy Mocha

I’m personally sensitive to milk in general, lactose intolerant if you will. But, it’s not very serious as I’m able to consume dairy products occasionally, without too many issues. I couldn’t drink a mocha every day but I am able to drink one once or twice a week if I so desire. For those that love mochas but can’t handle the stomach issues that come along with the milk, consider a soy mocha!

I don’t drink any milk regularly, not a fan of any of it. I simply tolerate it as part of my mochas! Soy milk is said to be estrogenic and not the best option for those with thyroid or endocrine issues. For most of us, it is a healthy and lower calorie substitute for cow’s milk.

In a tall mocha, substituting soy milk for dairy milk can save about 60 calories and three to four grams of fat. The amount of protein in them is comparable. The soy milk can temper the sweetness of the chocolate a bit and make it a bit more palatable for those that find it too sweet.

While soymilk does have less fat in comparison to full fat dairy milk, it is comparable with 2% milk. You won’t save a lot of fat but the type of fat is important. Soy milk does not have any of the cholesterol that is contained in cow’s milk.

Even if you aren’t lactose intolerant, maybe try a soy mocha. I was honestly surprised at how tasty they are. It’s creamy and even a bit decadent tasting.

Cut Calories While Still Enjoying Your Mocha!

Drinking a delicious regular or iced mocha is a lovely addition to the morning, or afternoon for that matter. Those that love their mochas on a regular basis may have concerns about calories and fat. The fact is that drinking standard full-fat mocha can pack close to 400 calories. It does contain calcium and about 13 grams of protein, so it isn’t all bad. However, for those looking to cut back on calories and want to still drink mochas, there are a few ways to do so.

Use 2% or Non-Fat Milk

This is one of the easiest ways to cut calories, and fat.Using non-fat milk, even with whipped cream, will cut it down to a bit less than 300 calories. With 2% milk, you still save about 50 calories.

No Whipped Cream

You can reduce calories around 60 to 70 calories by omitting whipped cream! I have to admit, this is a tough one for me. I’m okay with the non-fat milk, as I don’t really like milk and full-fat makes it pretty heavy, but if I’m going to get a mocha, I want the whipped cream. As I don’t get them daily, the calories are worth it for me.

Sugar-Free Syrup

If you are a fan of some of the mocha variations, such as peppermint mochas, an option is to go with one of the sugar free-syrups.  If you drink a tall peppermint mocha with sugar-free syrup and non-fat milk, it will only be 100 calories! I can’t really drink any of the sugar free products but for those that can tolerate them, this is a great option.

Stock up on Your Holiday Coffee Flavors at up to 75 percent off!

Americans love their Holiday coffee flavors. One popular holiday flavor of coffee is pumpkin. Other holiday flavors include gingerbread, caramel apple and a variety of Christmas blends. Now is the time to stock up on these coffee flavors before they are disappear into hiding until next fall. The added bonus is that you can often find these Holiday flavors at a discount this time of year, as coffee retailers look to sell off the excess stock they have. Here are some websites that are having sales on their Holiday coffee flavors:

1. Paramountcoffee.com is selling the remaining inventory of its holiday-flavored coffee at 50 percent off. These bags of coffee are reduced from $8.99 to only $4.50. This is a great stock-up price that rivals the price of supermarket coffee brands. Flavors include Christmas Perk: Chocolate Raspberry, Fall In Love: Caramel Apple, Fall In Love: Caramel Nut Delight, Fall In Love: Vanilla Nut Cream, HoHo Nice and Ugly Sweater: Crème Brulee.

2. Coffeebean.com is selling its Holiday Coffee Duet for $4.95, which is marked down from its original $17.95 price tag. It is also selling hot cocoa and tea latte gift sets for similar prices.

3. Gloriajeans.com also has several holiday flavors of coffee available at 50 percent off original prices. Flavors include Apple Spice Delight, Holiday Cheer, Caramel Apple Nut, Caramel Pecan Roll, Pumpkin Spice and several others.

Check out these holiday coffees that are on clearance. Coffee can last quite a while when it is unopened. If you are planning to save the coffee until next winter, choose the whole bean variety if possible. There is nothing that says this coffee cannot be enjoyed all year-round, though, especially at these prices! I plan on stocking up on some of these great flavors.
 

Let’s Talk About White Chocolate Mochas

So, are you a fan? There is always chatter about how white chocolate is not real chocolate. Well, that is technically true! White chocolate is not officially chocolate as true chocolate has chocolate liquor in it. Instead, white chocolate contains cocoa butter and sometimes vegetable fat. It’s commonly used in baking. Just as with anything else, white chocolate mochas have a distinctive taste from typical mochas.

White chocolate mochas tend to be creamy, when made right. If made with full fat milk, it can be a bit overpowering. Drinking a white chocolate mocha can feel decadent. Add some whipped cream and it’s a full-fledged dessert! The exact taste of white chocolate mochas varies depending on where you get them from. Those can’t handle a bold chocolate flavor instead typically choose white chocolate mochas.

Choose from full fat, low fat or nonfat milk for your mochas. You can choose soy or rice milk but I wouldn’t recommend it. The flavors do not work well with the white chocolate flavor. The full fat version can pack a calorie punch. A 16 oz. white chocolate mocha made with full fat milk is approximately 500 calories with around 20 grams of fat. If you choose nonfat milk, it goes down to 420 calories, not a huge reduction.

I have an enormous sweet tooth. Yet, white chocolate mochas are typically too sweet for me. I think that I need the depth of actual chocolate in it. Every now and then I sample one just to see what I think and every time, I tell myself that I don’t want to order it again. It does seem popular as many people that I know drink them regularly. But, I’ll continue to pass them by.

Coffee Review: Seattle's Best Cinnamon

I have mentioned this coffee in a couple of my blogs, so I thought that I would finally post an official review of it. First, let me say that I have had access to some of the best, fresh roasted, fresh-ground flavored coffees while working in a coffee shop several years ago, so I know good coffee. I never thought that I would find a coffee that rivaled this fresh-roasted coffee in a grocery store. In Wal-Mart, nonetheless. Nevertheless, I have finally found my holy-grail coffee that costs only $6 per 12-ounce bag. It is Seattle's Best Cinnamon. Let me tell you why I love this coffee so much:

First of all, I have always loved the flavor of cinnamon in my coffee. I used to add a sprinkle on top of traditional coffee grounds when I was using a drip coffee maker, but that only produced a slight cinnamon flavor. The cinnamon coffee that I loved at the coffee shop that I used to work for costs $14 a pound plus $5 shipping. That is $19 a pound for coffee and, with my coffee habit, is too much for me to spend on a regular basis.

I had tried several supermarket cinnamon flavored coffees, but none made the cut. I had a coupon for Seattle's Best and decided to try a bag on a whim. When I saw that they produced a cinnamon variety, I was sold. I had to try it. Best of all, this coffee uses Cinnabon brand cinnamon, which is said to be a very rare, expensive type of cinnamon. The grounds of this coffee are slightly finer than traditional drip coffee grind, even though it is packaged as drip coffee. This means that I can use a bit less coffee and still get a nice, strong cup. It is the perfect grind for my Aeropress.

 It is the perfect cinnamon coffee and anyone who loves cinnamon will love it. Once I purchase a proper coffee grinder as I plan to do soon, I will try to locate it in whole bean form, although I cannot imagine what this coffee will taste like fresh-ground. It will be heaven and I am worried I will drink way too much of it! If you love cinnamon or just good coffee in general, this is the coffee for you.
 

Coffee Addicts

Is coffee addiction a real problem?

I have an extreme coffee addiction, and I've had it for as long as I can remember. I started drinking coffee everyday regularly, and by my freshman year in high school, I needed one cup in the morning and one in the afternoon. Then, I drank mochas and other chocolaty drinks and gained quite a bit of weight, as well as an addiction.

In college, my addiction got worse, and I needed to top my several cups of black coffee off with an energy drink like Red Bull to stay awake in my afternoon classes. But I didn't think this was particularly unusual--all of my friends and everyone in the cafeteria, it seemed, needed coffee to be a functional, thinking creature.

Since graduation, a number of my friends have tried to cut back or cut down on their coffee intakes. I can't even imagine how this could be possible. On days when I don't have coffee immediately, I get a headache and a sort of fuzziness of focus in my brain. They are mildly unpleasant symptoms, sure, but who wants to give away an entire week to fight his or her coffee addiction?

Illustrated by the popularity of coffee shops and caffeine culture in the United States, most Americans have a similar problem to mine. And it's not just Americans--despite Starbucks' world dominance, America is only the 25th highest of coffee consuming countries, drinking about 4.2kg per capita in 2008. Compare that to the greatest world coffee consumer, Finland, a country which drinks 12.0 kg per capita.

That's not to say that most Americans aren't caffeinated in other ways. I would say that most Americans have an addiction to caffeine or some sort, whether its coffee, soda or tea. It's almost impossible to put in the long hours required of us without some sort of additive that keeps us awake. But I wonder, how did we start to classify caffeine, which is certainly a mood-enhancing drug, as something necessary, not dangerous?

Some say that coffee addiction is more the need for that jolt of energy. Rather, it is a ritualistic sort of experience--smelling, grinding, brewing, sitting, ordering, carrying. Doctors mostly classify it as a physical dependence, rather than an addiction, since we need it to function. I don't understand the difference. All I know is that there are so many factors that play into coffee addiction that it may be better classified as coffee culture addiction than anything else.  

 

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