A cold morning can make a familiar cup feel like an invitation to slow down. Maple cinnamon coffee is a simple way to change the mood: brew coffee you enjoy, add a little maple syrup, and let a cinnamon stick lend its aroma before finishing with warm milk.
You do not need an espresso machine or a flavored coffee. This recipe starts with ordinary brewed coffee, and the amounts below are a starting point you can adjust. Keep the first cup lightly sweetened so you can still taste the coffee underneath.
Choose the coffee before the extras
For a cup with a pronounced roasted character, try ARVERRA BOLD Dark Roast Coffee. It blends coffees from Brazil, Mexico and Guatemala and is offered in whole bean or ground in a 12 oz (340 g) pack. Its listed tasting notes are toffee and cocoa, with a full body.
Those notes describe the coffee’s flavor; they do not mean toffee or cocoa has been added. In this recipe, maple syrup, cinnamon and milk are ingredients you add yourself. Our guide to coffee tasting notes explains that distinction.
Maple cinnamon coffee for one
Makes: one roughly 8 oz drink. Use a mug that holds at least 10 oz so there is room to stir.
- ¾ US cup (180 ml) freshly brewed coffee
- ¼ US cup (60 ml) milk or an unsweetened plant-based alternative
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) pure maple syrup, plus more to taste
- 1 small food-grade cinnamon stick
You will also need a teaspoon and a small saucepan or microwave-safe jug for warming the milk. A small whisk is optional. Pick milk you already enjoy in coffee; a sweetened alternative will change how much syrup you need.
1. Brew your coffee
Make coffee using your usual drip, pour-over or French press setup, then measure 180 ml into your mug. If your machine needs a larger minimum batch, brew that amount according to its instructions and measure your serving afterward.
Match the grind to the brewer. The National Coffee Association’s brewing guidance lists medium grind for drip and pour-over and coarse grind for French press. For help measuring coffee and water, see our coffee-to-water ratio guide.
2. Add maple and cinnamon
Stir the maple syrup into the hot coffee, then add the cinnamon stick. Let it infuse for about three minutes as a starting point. Taste carefully once the coffee is cool enough to sip; leave the stick in a little longer if you want more cinnamon, then remove it before drinking.
3. Warm the milk separately
Warm the milk gently in a small saucepan, stirring, or heat it in short bursts in a microwave-safe jug. Stop when it is warm enough for your drink, without bringing it to a boil. Whisk briefly if you would like a little foam, then pour it into the coffee. Keep milk and syrup out of your coffee maker’s water reservoir.
4. Make one adjustment
Take a sip before adding anything else. For more sweetness, stir in another ½ teaspoon of maple syrup. For a more pronounced coffee flavor next time, start with half the milk. Changing one amount makes it easier to remember your preferred version.
Make four servings for a slow breakfast
Brew enough coffee to measure 3 US cups (720 ml). In a heat-safe serving jug, stir in 4 teaspoons (20 ml) maple syrup and add two cinnamon sticks. Start with the same short infusion, taste, then remove the sticks. Divide between four mugs and add ¼ cup (60 ml) warm milk to each.
Put extra syrup on the table so guests can choose their own sweetness. For different milk preferences, keep the coffee mixture separate and warm each person’s chosen milk as needed. Serve promptly.
Keep the recipe your own
You can leave out the milk for maple cinnamon black coffee or reduce the syrup for a less sweet cup. Start with the coffee you already like, then explore BOLD if its darker roast and toffee-and-cocoa profile sound appealing. A seasonal coffee ritual can be as simple as a familiar mug, a small adjustment and time to enjoy it.
