I love peanut butter on pretty much anything that can hold it. From toast, oatmeal, pancakes, and even just drizzled over a banana, in my opinion, there’s not much that doesn’t benefit from a little peanutty love.
I’ve been using peanut butter for a while in smoothies and protein shakes as I love the richness it adds. I also do enjoy the occasional bulletproof coffee and one morning, whilst I was day-dreaming my way through my breakfast, a thought struck me.
If you can drink peanut butter in a smoothie and if you can add butter to coffee then can you add peanut butter to coffee? If so, then how do you make peanut coffee?
I’ve done some digging and it turns out there are loads of ways to make that coffee a little nuttier. From simply adding the stuff to your morning cup of joe through to all kinds of fancy peanut-infused coffee options, there’s bound to be a method you’ll enjoy.
I’ve been working hard to try all manner of peanut coffee making methods and have come up with this complete guide to getting nutty with your morning java.
(As a side note before we get too deep into the world of peanuts, make sure you’re extremely careful if you have friends or relatives with a peanut allergy. Don’t let them drink any of these coffees and make sure they know you’ve added peanut butter to the recipe!)
Peanut Butter Coffee
Can you just add a teaspoon of peanut butter to your next cup of joe?
Well, the answer is yes, but you do want to be a bit careful with how you go about this. Simply stirring peanut butter into your mug of java will leave you with a thick, gooey sludge at the bottom of the drink which is not particularly appetizing.
Here is how you avoid the goop.
Brew some black coffee in your french press, drip machine, pour-over, or any coffee brewing method that you like best. Add this to a high-speed blender and add in 1 tablespoon of peanut butter per 8 ounces of coffee (you can adjust these amounts to suit you once you’ve given this a taste).
Blend this mix on high for 45s to a minute and serve.
You can top this with milk or add any sweetener you like to taste.
Peanut Butter Mocha
If you’d rather something a bit richer, then another delicious way to incorporate peanuts into your coffee routine is to make this decadent peanut butter mocha. It’s a combination of chocolate syrup, peanut butter and coffee mixed expertly to give a deliciously moreish drink.
To make this recipe at home you’ll need a double shot of espresso, a cup of milk, and some peanut butter flavored chocolate syrup.
Coffee
The coffee you use in this recipe has to be extra strong to hold it’s own against the ultra-sweet syrup. Ideally, a double shot of espresso should be used. This can be brewed using an espresso machine, Moka pot, or Aeropress.
If you don’t have any of these options at home then worry not. Just brew an extra-strong french press or pour-over and use this instead.
You want around 2 ounces/60ml of coffee.
Milk
The milk you use is completely up to you. It can be dairy, almond milk, soy, oat, coconut or anything else that suits you.
To make this drink a real treat, foaming the milk adds a thick luxurious texture to it. This can be done using a steam wand, milk frothing wand or jug, manual milk frother, or even using a whisk or french press.
Warm the milk to around 140F/60C and then whisk or press the french press plunger up and down until it’s light, aerated, and fluffy.
Another super simple way to froth milk is using a jar. Add the milk, seal the jar, and shake vigorously for around a minute. Then remove the lid and microwave the milk for 30 seconds to help it hold the foam.
For this recipe, you’ll want 8 ounces/1 cup/250ml milk.
Syrup
You can use a store-bought chocolate syrup here and add a teaspoon of peanut butter straight to the coffee if you want to keep things simple.
It’s best to mix the peanut butter into the hot coffee alongside the syrup and then top with milk. You can use as much or as little syrup as you like to get it tasting sweet enough,
If you want to go the whole hog and make your own chocolate syrup then you’ll need sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract.
Using equal parts water, sugar, and cocoa powder (half a cup is a good starting place) add these to a saucepan and stir this on medium-low heat. Once the sugar and cocoa dissolve, continue to stir for 1-2 minutes. As it starts to heat up, add 2 tablespoons of smooth peanut butter and keep stirring on the heat for 5 minutes.
Next, remove the pan from the heat and add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and taste the sauce. You can add a pinch of salt here if you like.
Start with 1 tablespoon of this mixed into your coffee and milk and see how it tastes. Adjust the syrup quantity until you’re happy with the result.
The rest of the syrup will store for up to 2 weeks in a sealed container in the fridge or you can use it in other coffees, desserts, or even poured over ice cream!
Peanut Iced Coffee
For a hot summer’s morning, you may be looking for something a bit cooler to start your day. Peanut butter iced coffee is a refreshing and satisfying beverage that will curb hunger pangs.
It’s very simple to make and all you need is some cold brew coffee, milk (any kind you like), ice, and peanut butter.
Add 1 cup of coffee, 1 cup of ice, 1 cup of milk, and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter to your blender and blend at high speed for around 1 minute, or until combined into a thick, luxurious mix.
This recipe will make 2-4 iced coffees, depending on your serving size.
Other Peanut Flavored Coffee Options
For a cup of coffee that has peanut butter and chocolate notes infused into the coffee grounds then try this Moose Munch ground coffee. It’s rich and satisfying and can be drunk black or used in any of the recipes listed above.
Another, very simple way to enjoy peanut butter coffee is to buy some peanut butter flavored syrup and add this to your morning cup of joe.
This DaVinci Gourmet Classic Peanut Butter Syrup is a good choice to make easy nutty lattes in the comfort of your own home.
Peanut Butter coffee creamer like these Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup ones are another simple and delicious way to satisfy that sweet tooth.
If you’re looking for a more health-boosting option then Primal Kitchen also does their own version of a peanut butter coffee creamer. It contains collagen for healthy skin, hair, and nails and is dairy-free.
If you have a Keurig or similar pod machine then you’ll be excited to learn that you can buy peanut butter K-cup pods for it!
Crazy Cups Flavored Coffee does a peanut butter and jelly flavored capsule that’s sure to itch that peanut craving.
Virginia Gold Peanut Coffee
Another mad idea that just has to be investigated when looking into the world of peanut coffee is using peanuts instead of coffee beans?
As mad as it sounds, peanuts when roasted, have a similar taste to coffee beans. A peanut farmer in Sullfolk, Virginia has started this craze when he combined the world of peanut growing with the world of coffee roasting.
The peanut makes a zero acidic, caffeine-free cup of joe. This differs from de-caf coffee as it usually has trace amounts of caffeine. The result is supposedly a smooth tasting and all-round delicious cup of java.
Although it’s a tricky process to get the peanut roasting just right, it is a great American-grown alternative to the traditional drink. To find out more about Virginal Gold check out their website.
Take-Home
Peanut coffee is a diverse option that ranges from a simple black coffee with peanut butter added right through to coffee made from peanuts instead of coffee beans. If you love peanuts as much as I do then I hope you’ll give some of these recipes a go and let me know what you think in the comments below.
Happy drinking!
Related Reading
Why Would You Put Butter in Coffee? (It’s Delicious and Decadent)
Espresso Affogato (Gelato Ice Cream and Coffee, A Perfect Pair)
French Press Letting Grounds Through? Here’s What To Do
Why Is Espresso Served With Lemon? (It’s Really Not Why You Think)
Vietnamese Egg Coffee (Ca Phe Trung) Is Delicious And Easy To Make At Home
