Cafe Au Lait (Non-Alcoholic)

So simple, I'm surprised it is even in the New York Bartender's Guide. I've learned, however, that a bartender needs to know how to serve coffee as well as alcohol, and I've applied a little knowhow to this recipe to make it more special for drinking at home.

• black coffee
• hot milk
• sugar to taste (demerara used)

Heat milk in a saucepan on low temperature--do not boil. Add sugar to milk and whisk until it dissolves. Once heated, whisk milk to produce foam. Pour hot coffee in a mug and use a spoon to add milk foam to the top of the coffee.

Spiced Iced Coffee (Non-Alcoholic)

I think I'm going to need a category of caffeinated drinks for this blog. A non-alcoholic coffee cocktail has completely the opposite effect of most of the cocktails I am doing. I can work these in in the morning and switch to alcohol in the evening.

Anyway, spiced coffee is always a good idea. And since the weather is unpredictable, you can do this one hot or cold as needed. As the recipe stands, you have to steep the pot of coffee in the fridge, so you might as well have it cold. Whipped cream is not a requirement, as seen in the photo, but it is so much more of a treat. With this recipe, you can have coffee shop style coffee at home!

• 32 oz. hot black coffee
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 12 whole cloves
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• peels of 2 lemons and 2 oranges cut into thin strips
• 4 sugar cubes

Mash together spices and fruit peels in a heat-proof container. Add hot coffee, stir and chill. Serve over ice in a highball glass.