Coffee can be so much more than a reason to rise and shine. It is true that a cup of joe in the morning can help you feel more awake and less tired. That stimulation is a result of caffeine being absorbed into your bloodstream; from there, traveling to your brain, where it blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter, resulting in a stimulant effect. This mood boost is great in the AM, and quite nice at other times as well — like in a cocktail.
There are many health benefits associated with drinking coffee. Coffee is filled with nutrients, including Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Manganese, Potassium, Magnesium and Niacin. Even better, coffee contains high amounts of antioxidants; actually, massive amounts of antioxidants. Americans get more antioxidants from coffee than from fruits and vegetables. The caffeine in coffee can increase fat burning in the body and boost the metabolic rate. This is the result of caffeine increasing adrenaline levels in the body that release fatty acids from fat tissues into the blood, where they can be used as fuel. The benefits list goes on, with lower risks of certain cancers, diabetes, depression and neurological diseases.
Given the many health benefits of coffee, it makes the perfect addition to a holiday line-up of healthier cocktails. I combined the concept of Irish Coffee with a Shakerato coffee, to come up with an any time of day coffee cocktail. The rich, creamy texture of nitro cold brew coffee, which is widely available in cans, makes this an especially tasty holiday sipper.
Nitro Irish Coffee Shakerato
Ingredients
- 6 oz Nitro cold brew poured hard into a metal cocktail shaker
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 oz dark rum
- Heavy cream whisked until thick
Instructions
- Combine coffee and maple syrup in a metal cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously until outside of shaker is really cold, about 30 seconds.
- Strain into a glass, stir in dark rum and top gently with a 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream.
Kristen Coffield
I am a passionate advocate for food as medicine, life navigator and culinary coach. This is my space for sharing what excites, inspires and motivates me to live my best life. It began as a recipe blog for nourishing, simple, weekday meals and has become something much bigger… a guide to resilient wellness. I am excited to share my knowledge of how daily habits can cumulatively help you to live like you mean it and age like you want to.
