It’s the start of a brand new year, so why not start with a clean coffee maker?  It’s something we should do once a month, so it’s probably time.  :-)

1. Fill your coffee pot with a mixture of one part distilled white vinegar and two parts water. (If it has been a long time since you last cleaned your coffee maker, make the mixture half and half)
2. Put a filter in your coffee maker, either a paper or gold mesh filter is fine.
3. Pour the vinegar mixture into the coffee makers reservoir.
4. Close the lid, switch on the coffee maker and let the entire mixture run through.
5. After it’s done, turn off the coffee maker and discard the paper filter and the vinegar mixture.
6. Allow your coffee maker to cool off for at least 15 minutes.
7. Repeat this process again without the vinegar, just running pure water through the coffee maker.  You may need to rinse a couple of times, just make sure that you can no longer smell the vinegar.

Here are some other tips for care and maintenance:

-Use this cleaning process on brand new coffee makers.

-Use the same vinegar mixture to soak and clean gold mesh coffee filters.

-Never use the coffee pot to pour water into the coffee makers reservoir; this adds oil and debris from the coffee pot along with your water.

In my last blog, I talked about finding a little more time to just sit and enjoy my coffee in the morning.  What’s your favorite way to relax with your morning cup?

Are the mornings crazy at your house?  They tend to get that way at mine.  This year, I made a resolution to make mornings a little less crazy.  My plan is to find fifteen minutes to enjoy a cup of good coffee and chill.  I figure it will be like a reset button, letting me get my head together for the day and start everything off on the right foot.  They say it takes about two weeks to make something a habit.  I’ll let you know how it goes. Can you find fifteen minutes?

What are you doing for New Year’s Eve? Here at ID we’ve concocted a few delicious drinks to ring in the New Year! We’d love to hear your favorite International Delight celebration drink ideas, with or without alcohol. Have a happy and safe New Year!

Sparkling Vanilla Bliss
2 oz International Delight French Vanilla or Vanilla Latte
2 oz coffee liqueur
2 oz vanilla vodka
2 oz club soda or seltzer
Combine over ice and enjoy. Serves1

Hazelnutini
2 oz International Delight Hazelnut creamer
2 oz hazelnut liqueur (such as Frangelico)
2 oz vodka
Combine in a shaker with ice and strain into a martini glass. Serves 1

Caramel Crush
1 cup hot coffee
2 ounces Caramel Macchiato
whipped cream, caramel syrup and crushed toffee bars
Combine coffee and Caramel Macchiato, top with whipped cream, a drizzle of syrup
and crushed candy bars.

Chocolate Mint Blended
½ cup cold coffee
3 ounces Chocolate Mint Truffle
1 cup ice and/or 1 scoop mint chocolate chip ice cream
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and thick. Serve with a bendy
straw.

Hey all you International Delight aficionados.  Did anyone come up with a creative coffee drink over the holiday weekend?

Christmas is a busy time of year for all of us, but poor Santa has to work all through the night.  How about setting out a delicious cup of coffee to help get him through the night?  Here’s a super easy recipe for a peppermint mocha that the big guy might enjoy.  Add a few cookies and a carrot for Rudolph and everyone wins.

1 cup. fresh coffee

¼ cup Breve Dark Chocolate Cream or Chocolate Mint Truffle

Stir it up with a peppermint candy cane and top it off with a dollop of whipped cream.

With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, you have probably popped into a coffee shop for a delicious seasonal drink.  What’s your favorite seasonal coffee beverage?

With the colder weather coming in some of us may be adding a little something extra to our coffee.  What is your favorite coffee liqueur drink?  What kind of creamer goes best with it?  Stay tuned for one of my winter warmer recipes.

Why not add a little pizzazz to your coffee with garnishes? In some of my past blogs, I’ve talked about getting nice coffee house foam on top of your coffee, whether using a steamer wand, an electric frother or a French press. The foam gives you a great canvas to work with when decorating. You can make swirls with chocolate or caramel syrup, or add dashes of cinnamon or nutmeg.  A peppermint candy cane works great to stir your coffee and gingerbread biscotti is another perfect stir stick.  Kids can have a great time decorating their hot chocolate too. Candy canes, sprinkles, mini marshmallows or whipped cream with a drizzle of chocolate syrup will put a smile on their face. Animal crackers can go for a swim, too.

What’s your favorite coffee and creamer flavor combination during the holiday? Let us know what really
hits the spot on a cold wintery morning.