5 Yummy Things To Make Out Of Leftover Coffee

Sure, you could do the incredibly obvious (and boring) thing of putting the leftover coffee cup in the fridge to drink as iced coffee later. But did you know that leftover coffee deteriorates in flavour the longer it sits, as the flavourful oils in the coffee begin to break down and go rancid after sitting for a couple of hours?

The nice thing about leftover coffee is that it can be used in so many other ways. Think sweet recipes for instance, as coffee is known to enhance the flavours of chocolate for example, and is also prized for its range of coffee desserts ranging from cakes and ice creams to tiramisu and mousses. Likewise on the savoury side, use coffee for anything from coffee pork ribs to dry rubs and marinades over meats and grills.

So instead of discarding leftover coffee, why not brew a little extra and use it for these delish recipes:

1. Make coffee ice cubes

Frozen coffee in the form of ice cubes are perfect for enjoying undiluted iced coffee. Just pour your leftover coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze overnight. And whenever the craving strikes, put the ice cubes in a glass and top with warm milk. Or use the coffee cubes for instant caffeinated smoothies by blending them with milk or yoghurt and a hint of vanilla.

2. Make ice cream

Like coffee ice cream? Chuck in some of that leftover coffee to your regular vanilla custard base and get the ice cream machine churning. Best thing with homemade ice cream is that you can control the sugar level to a tee.

3. Add some buzz to tomorrow’s breakfast

Love your coffee and overnight oats? Why not combine them in a decadent (and super easy) jar of mocha overnight oats or coffee chia seed pudding? Pour your leftover coffee into a jar with oats, milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup and chia seeds. You can really put anything you want in this awesome breakfast dessert. Just mix well and leave overnight in the fridge as usual. Or make it the morning and you have a healthy sweet treat to look forward to at the end of the day.

4. Use it as a marinade

Steak lovers swear that adding coffee to the marinade makes the meat juicier and adds another layer of rich flavour. But don’t just take our word for it. Try it for yourself – sauté onions and garlic in a pan and toast some sesame seeds at the same time. Add the ingredients to the leftover coffee and a splash of soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce for a quick and easy marinade.

5. Give your baking a caffeine boost

Coffee naturally brings out the flavour of chocolate better so it’s a winning combination when you use it in your usual go-to recipes for brownies and chocolate cake. Or, just whip up a delicious tiramisu since you already have the coffee part done.