Homemade Coffee Syrups

I don't like coffee.  I wish I did.  Lattes or mochas (basically any drink priced at $3 or more) I can handle, but black coffee, no way.  Going to a coffee shop is a treat for me since I like the fancy drinks... I always think about how much money I could save if I found a way to make these drinks at home.

Another component of these fancy drinks; fancy flavored syrup. I love to add a little flavor to my coffee drinks, but seriously, what are those syrups actually made of??  As much as I love natural products, I always fall victim to the artificial syrups. Ugh.

It's time to bring the coffee shop to my house.  Hopefully I can stop consuming those artificial flavors while saving a bit of money.

The best thing about these syrups is that you can use them to personalize your coffee.  Use them with warm of iced coffee and use as little or as much as you want.  Add milk, non-dairy milk or cream if you like.  Design your own drink!

Chocolate Coffee Syrup
This coffee syrup is rich and think with a velvet consistency.  It tastes like a ganache, and actually has multiple uses.  Put it on a sundae, dip fruit in it, and just eat a spoonful to satisfy a craving.

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup cocoa


Place all three ingredients in a small sauce pan.  Whisk ingredients together till the cocoa is incorporated.  Turn stove on to medium heat.  Continue to whisk the mixture until it just comes to a boil.  Remove pan from heat and turn off stove.  Continue to whisk for about a minute to make sure none of the syrup burns on the bottom of the pan.  Let the syrup cool and store in an air tight container.  Refrigerate.
*this syrup is reasonably thick, and gets ticker when cold.  If you plan to use in ice coffee, let the syrup sit out at room temperature before using, or place in microwave for a few seconds.

Vanilla Brown Sugar Syrup
This syrup reminds me of what you would use for a vanilla latte.  With the addition of the brown sugar, this syrup has a richer and deeper flavor.

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Combine all three ingredients in a small sauce pan.  Whisk ingredients together.  Turn stove on to medium heat.  Continue to whisk the mixture until it just comes to a boil- at this point all the sugar will be dissolved.  Remove pan from heat and turn off stove.  Continue to whisk for about a minute to make sure none of the syrup burns on the bottom of the pan.  Let the syrup cool and store in an air tight container.  Refrigerate.  This is basically a simple syrup, with the addition of vanilla flavor.  If you just wanted the brown sugar syrup, you can leave out the vanilla and it would taste just fine.