Start your caffeine affair!

A pick-me-up, an excuse to get together, an elixir of intellectuals, a beloved daily ritual...coffee is many things to many people. The brew has inspired imaginative concoctions and a happy union with alcohol. Supriya Kutty explores some exciting ways to celebrate this diabolical duo

Point to note before you get brewing
Coffee’s flavour comes from unstable oils that deteriorate very quickly. So, brew it fresh each time and store grounds or powder in airtight containers. For optimum taste, steep the grounds in recently boiled water for two minutes. The flavour will be absolutely stimulating, just like a good cup of coffee should be.

Spice Cafe
An aromatic cup of rich spice-induced coffee and warm brandy, perfect for soothing a cold or a sore throat

Ingredients
½ cup brandy
3 tbsp sugar
5-6 cloves
½ inch cinnamon stick
Rind of 1 lemon
Rind of 1 orange
1/3 vanilla bean
4 cups fresh black coffee

Method
1. Keep the coffee hot in a saucepan.
2. Heat all other ingredients gently in a separate saucepan till the sugar is dissolved and the brandy is warm enough to light.
3. Ignite, pour the coffee over and strain into coffee mugs.

Irish indulgence
A perfect after-dinner drink where you sip the smoky whisky through a mellow cloud of cream!

Ingredients
1 heavy bottomed goblet or glass
2 tbsp whisky (ideally Irish)
1-2 tsp brown sugar
Fresh, strong, dark coffee
2 tbsp heavy cream

Method
1. Pour whisky into the glass, add sugar and place a metal spoon in it.
2. Pour coffee over the spoon and stir to dissolve the sugar.
3. Hold the spoon just above the coffee level and gently pour the cream till it floats on the surface of the coffee. Do not stir. Serve.

Hot Brown
A sweet, silky, dark delicacy dusted with a sprinkling of fragrant cinnamon.

Ingredients
30 ml dark rum
11/2 tsp instant coffee
2-3 tsp condensed milk
Hot water to top
1 tsp cream
Pinch cinnamon powder

Method
1. Put rum and coffee in a mug and add boiling water.
2. Add condensed milk and stir well.
3. Swirl in the cream, sprinkle cinnamon powder and serve.