Coffee At Home: Winter Edition
Winter café-core for your friends and family.
Hi Bakers!
So you want to host more this year but don’t know where to start? It’s always a goal of mine too.
Life is busy and organizing is often overwhelming. But if you’ve ever romanticized about playing barista and having a little café or envisioned a space to be with friends that doesn’t need cocktails or require shelling out a ton of money on provisions, then you’re gonna love Coffee at Home.
Why are we doing this?
Not much is done well without intention. So yes, we are hosting coffee dates and setting out little treats because it’s fun, but culturally speaking, here’s why you and your community should embrace this concept:
Providing more opportunities to commune - Gathering with friends is essential for our souls, even if you are somewhat of an introvert like me. Providing a new, low-key setting brings us out of hibernation season. Put on some pants; we aren’t bears!
Think beyond chili cook-off, book club, or whatever a typical girls’ night looks like to you and your crew. I listened to the Coffee + Crumbs podcast Creative Gatherings about ways to connect and entertain with friends. I loved the idea of attending a soup competition, but a coffee and pasty soirée is definitely more in my wheelhouse as a host. Or as Sarah Copeland says, just don’t call it a dinner party and you will feel significantly more at ease.
Creating different options to convene - Different stages of life call for different locales and times to get together. If you don’t drink or are uninterested in the club scene, the options for places to hang out feels limited.
There was a place called True Love Coffeehouse in Sacramento that I used to go to in my twenties. It was decidedly funky with open mic nights, but my friends and I mainly went for the late night tea. If you can’t find a place to match your current vibe, then make your own!
Budget-friendly alternative - Even if your community has a perfect spot for coffee and conversation, the lattes and premade muffins add up. I love my local coffee shops, but also think it’s financially important to alternate with a DIY version every now and then.
If you’re hung up over the expenses associated with hosting, remember that you don’t need to splurge to create something special. Tea and a homemade coffee cake are typically going to cost a lot less than wine and cheese.
Lower stress, chiller vibes - Love the idea of hosting, but planning big parties feels overwhelming? Here, there is zero fear of tanking the whole occasion if the main course comes out burnt or 2 hours late. Save your sanity and even opt for drip coffee instead of manning the espresso machine for all your friends.
If dinner parties seem completely stressful, every twist on happy hour has already been exhausted, and you’re maxed out on book clubs, try hosting an at-home coffee shop.
Here’s how we are entertaining friends and family for low-stakes, alcohol-free, fun-forward gatherings this season:
The Coffee:
We’ve accumulated a lot of coffee making tools over the years, but when it came to actually putting Coffee at Home into practice, drip coffee was the way to go. Freshly ground local beans in an automatic drip machine is the right move here. If you want espresso, consider a moka pot.
Mise en Scène:
Time to put all your funky serveware, mix-and-match mugs and pottery, and fancy dessert pedestals to use. If you are looking for some easy investments, go for stainless steel espresso cups, a coffee carafe, or glass coupes to be used for drinks or yogurt parfaits.
Living (or used to be) Decor - My favorite local coffee shop, Nomad, is covered in potted plants - some for sale. Winter to summer - I always feel a little bit more alive surrounded by all that green. No need to go overboard at home, but you can decorate with indoor plants, fresh flowers, or big bowls of citrus.
Lighting - I love when the sun shines bright through our house - probably more so than the average person because it’s so rare around here. If you don’t have an abundance of natural light, consider taper candles, wireless lamps, and twinkle lights.
Scents - Your at home coffee shop will undoubtedly be fragrant with fresh coffee smell and hopefully some caramelized cardamom buns. Beyond that, try simmering spices and sliced citrus on the stove or a phthalate-free candle in a non-compete area (bathroom, entry hall, etc).
Winter Playlist:
Laufey - “Dreamer,” “From the Start,” “Promise,” “Serendipity”
Faye Webster - “Better Distractions,” “Thinking About You,” “Underdressed at the Symphony”
Clairo - “Sexy to Someone,” “Nomad,” “Juna”
The Marías - “I Don’t Know You,” “Only in My Dreams,” “No One Noticed”
Jesse Ware - “Hello Love”
Lux Prima - “Turn the Light”
Winter Pastry Menu:
Cardamom Buns - Fika, anyone? I adore cardamom buns. And as much as I like making them at home, it’s hard to finish off a dozen buns while they are still fresh and pillowy. Creating an occasion for such consumption makes twisting these spiced buns even sweeter.
Cardamom buns are often lumped in with their cousins, cinnamon rolls, when really they are more bread-like with a soft interior and caramelized edges.
Lemon Poppy Seed Coffee Cake - Citrus brings us sunshine when we need it the most during these dreary winter months. For this cake, we take the classic combo of lemon and poppy seeds and cross it with a heavily crumb-topped coffee cake. Adding poppy seeds to the streusel gives each bite a little crunch. You can make this cake the day before your event and it will still be moist and fresh.
Really Good Chocolate Loaf - This cake is intentionally dense but still buttery and tender. It is perfect for nibbling over good conversation or taking on a napkin after hours. Instead of frosting, try spreading slices with coffee and maple-flavored butter, not unlike you would with cornbread.
Minty Winter Drinks:
Winter Fog - Brew peppermint tea in 6 ounces of hot water. Steam 3 ounces of milk and hit it with a mini electric whisk or milk frother, if you have one. Pour over the peppermint tea. Stir in mint simple syrup to taste (recipe to follow). Makes one drink.
Mint Hot Chocolate - You know I love this combination, and the drink version is no exception.
Heat 2 cups of milk in a saucepan and bring to a slight simmer over medium heat. Add 3 peppermint tea bags and remove from heat. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes.
Remove the tea bags and set back over low heat. Whisk 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon of sugar into the milk until dissolved. Add 3 ounces of finely chopped milk chocolate and stir until melted. Remove from the heat and add a pinch of salt and the tiniest splash of peppermint extract. Makes 2 to 3 drinks.
Peppermint Iced Coffee - I always stop by Philz Coffee for mint iced coffees when I visit my parents back in California. I look forward to making them at home whenever I have fresh mint on hand.
Mint Simple Syrup
¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
¾ cup (180ml) water
½ cup mint leaves, loosely packed
Make a simple syrup by simmering the sugar and water together over medium heat. Cook until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the mint leaves and remove from the heat. Allow to infuse for about 30 minutes. Strain out the leaves and pour the syrup in a jar or lidded container. Use to sweeten tea, coffee, or lemonade. Store in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Love this idea! So cozy. :)
What a fun fun post! I love the smell of fresh brewed coffee and pastry. I’m starting to also love tea just as much.