Key Highlights :
     Gone are the days of the same old boring cup of joe. Coffee drinkers around the world are now looking for ways to spice up their morning drink and give it a bit of a kick. The latest trend on TikTok, #spicycoffee, has over 2 million views and many coffee drinkers are posting their versions of a spicy cup of joe. Not only is this spicy coffee recipe surprisingly delicious, but it also has the potential to give you a major mood boost.
     There are various ways to add a spicy kick to your coffee and various spices that you can use to achieve this result. One way to make spicy coffee is by adding spicy honey to the bottom of your glass before adding the coffee. This not only adds a sweetener, but it also adds that spicy flavor that will help you stay awake and feel more energized. You can also grind whole pieces of cayenne pepper along with your coffee beans, which will enhance the spiciness and boost the aroma. If you don't want to use whole pieces of cayenne pepper, it's also possible to add preground spices such as cayenne and black pepper to the coffee beans and grind it all together.
     Another way to make your coffee spicy is by adding hot sauce to it. Even though it might sound a little weird, the result is apparently delicious and a must-try if you like spicy drinks. To do this, you can just add hot sauce to the bottom of your cup, add your coffee, and mix it all together. The amount you put in will depend on your taste, so start with just a little and add as much as you like. It's important to note that the type of hot sauce you choose will impact the flavor of your drink; it's best to eschew hot sauce that has vinegar as a base ingredient, like Tabasco, because the tanginess interferes with the pepper and clashes with the coffee. A good type of hot sauce to use is sriracha.
     To heighten the flavors of the hot sauce, you can add other ingredients in with your coffee beans to your grinder, creating an even more nuanced drink. To add some sweetness, try vanilla in extract or bean form. Just remember to use a light roast so that the taste of the hot sauce can shine through (darker roasts will be too bitter).
     Not only does spicy coffee taste delicious, but it also has the potential to give you a major mood boost. An article published by Healthline stated that your body releases endorphins (feel-good hormones that help you feel less stressed) and dopamine (a neurotransmitter that also acts as a hormone and gives you a sense of pleasure and motivation) when you consume spicy foods or drinks. So, if you're looking for a way to give your morning cup of joe a bit of a kick, consider amplifying both the taste and the energizing effects of your coffee by imbuing it with spice.