Lavender And Rose - Flavor Notes And Floral Additions To Elevate Your Brew From Ordinary To Extraordinary

Chocolate, sweet, bitter, caramel, nutty, spice, vanilla, bold, fruity, bright…each of these are common coffee tasting notes.

And, typically when folks search for flavored coffee selections, these same palate pleasers are at the top of the list, creating choices such as hazelnut coffee, caramel macchiato coffee, French vanilla, chocolate covered strawberry, pistachio, and on and on.

But, if you love a good light roast, you’ve likely noticed one word missing from the list of coffee tasting notes and flavors above - floral.

Of course, some of you are familiar with (and love) flavored coffee selections such as our Honey Lavender Latte, which clearly highlights a floral tasting component.

However, as we mentioned in reference to light roast, coffee in and of itself can have a faint, soft, and even slightly sweet floral flavor. We’ll get to the whys and how's regarding this in a moment, but such notes are primarily why unlikely flavors such as lavender and rose pair so well in your brew.

You may have even noticed many coffee shops now carrying floral coffee selections, floral infused syrups, and floral flavored foams to top your brew. Though, outside of cafes, a quick internet search will reveal this tasty trend expands far past coffeehouse menu boards.

So today, we’d like to explore these less common, even seemingly unlikely, flavors, zeroing in on two favorites - lavender and rose.

We’ll examine the natural floral components of coffee as well as how these flavors can be added to your brew to enhance it in every way.

And, of course, we’ll be including some delicious recipes as well, allowing you to florally elevate your cup of joe at home!

So, let’s get started…

What Is Floral Coffee?

Floral coffee can refer to some of the natural tasting notes in java, but it can also reference coffee which has been either infused with floral flavors or had such elements added by way of syrups, foams, etc.

Most commonly, when folks speak of floral coffee, they’re referring to flavors which occur naturally in this beloved bean.

These flavor compounds come about due to a variety of reasons, including the type of coffee, the altitude and/or region where the coffee is grown, and the roasting profile of the beans.

The term floral, in general, describes the sweet, soft, even gentle aroma of fresh flowers.

And, those flowers growing in the same region, or rather the same soil, as some coffee shrubs can impart this quality on, or seemingly into, the coffee cherries as they grow to maturity.

The greatest floral imprint left on the coffee bean, however, comes from the actual blossoms that appear on the coffee shrub itself, prior to the appearance of the cherry, or fruit, which surrounds the inner ‘bean’ that we’re most familiar with.

This is sometimes difficult to imagine when it comes to coffee, but in reality there are many different floral notes to be recognized, depending on the coffee variety - the most common being jasmine, elderflowers, rose, lavender, and hibiscus.

These notes can be detected aromatically or in flavor, and typically in terms of flavor folks detect this floral component as sweet and sometimes herbal.

Since coffee begins as a fruit, a coffee cherry to be exact, this is very similar to what you’ll detect in an apple.

My grandfather had several apple trees that lined our property, and I can distinctly remember the beautiful, fragrant blossoms that would fill the trees prior to the appearance of the red, yellow, and green fruits.

Like coffee, when sampling an apple, you can often detect a faint hint of both the fragrance and taste of those blossoms.

When it comes to coffee, and specifically speaking of Lifeboost Coffee, my personal favorite for detecting those subtle, soft, and slightly floral notes is our light roast.

Since this coffee is roasted at lower temperatures and for less time than other selections, the flavors of the growing region are most prominent, including those seemingly sweet and slightly fragrant floral notes.

But, if you’re an avid coffee drinker, you know that these flavor notes we’re speaking of aren’t the same thing as flavor infusions or flavored coffee additions.

Instead, the natural flavor notes of coffee, including the floral ones we’re highlighting today, are subtle, smooth, and as they occur organically, are not at all overpowering.

In other words, these aren’t the dominant flavors you’ll experience with each sip.

In fact, one of the reasons folks like to add flavors to their brew is to essentially bring forward these unique notes to experience them in a bolder way.

Enter the floral coffee trend…

For a long time, the most common coffee flavor additions centered around sweet tastes such as chocolate, caramel, vanilla, or cinnamon.

But recently, many have ventured out from the ordinary to find that adding floral flavors to their brew, such as lavender and rose, truly makes for an extraordinary sipping experience.

So, let’s take a look at these specific florals now, highlighting the benefits of such additions as well as how you can go about infusing or flavoring your brew from the comforts of your own kitchen.

Lavender Coffee

Lavender is one of many floral notes that can be naturally present in some coffees, though I must say, this particular floral note is more commonly detected when added or infused into a cup of joe.

Lavender has a strong, even unique, aroma as it contains both herbal and floral notes.

Many utilize this flower for its aromatic benefits, as lavender has a calming effect which can reduce anxiety and stress while also promoting healthy sleep.

But, these benefits can also be obtained when the oils of the flower are ingested.

Of course, we’re not at all saying you should tip a bottle of lavender essential oil back by the ounce, like a shot of liquor!

Instead, these benefits can be derived when infusing this flower directly into your brew or in syrups and creams to use as a flavor addition to your coffee.

When doing so, the calming benefits of this flower can help to balance out any jittery effects some receive from the caffeine content of coffee.

Many even attest to benefiting from both the lavender and the coffee here, getting the best of both worlds, which results in a boost of energy or productivity from the coffee while also feeling calm and relaxed from the lavender.

So then, how can you use lavender in your coffee?

Below you’ll find 3 recipes, each highlighting a different way to incorporate lavender into your brew, then you’ll find a bonus recipe, one which utilizes one of our flavored selections which is already infused with lavender and honey, a fragrant and delicious union.

1- Lavender Infusions

One way to add the aroma, flavor, and benefits of lavender to your cup of joe is by infusing the dried flowers directly into your coffee.

You can do this two ways, cold or hot.

When making cold brew, you can simply add 1-2 teaspoons of dried lavender to your coffee grounds.

Then, simply add your grounds and water to your cold brew maker, and allow the mixture to brew as usual.

When making hot brewed coffee with lavender, all you have to do is add a few dried lavender buds to your coffee grounds prior to brewing.

In either method of preparation, you can play around with the amount of lavender buds you use to find a ratio or amount that best suits your palate.

Then, to further enhance either a hot or cold lavender infused cup of coffee, you can opt to add roughly 1-2 teaspoons of sugar (or a plain, simple syrup) as well as a bit of steamed (or cold) milk to your liking.

And that’s it, you’ve got a homemade, lavender-infused, latte that was as simple as adding a few dried flower buds to your brewing process. Easy peasy!

2- Lavender Simple Syrup

Another way to add lavender to your brew is by using a lavender infused simple syrup.

When making a syrup like this, you can easily store it in the refrigerator to use at your convenience (these generally last roughly 2 weeks refrigerated), then add to hot or iced coffee, cocktails, and you can even use it to flavor foam toppers for your brew.

Homemade Lavender Simple Syrup

• 2-3 tablespoons dried lavender buds
• 1 cup organic cane sugar (you can also use coconut sugar)
• 1 cup filtered water

In a small saucepan, combine lavender buds and water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then add sugar.

Lower the heat until it settles to a gentle boil, stirring frequently until the sugar is completely dissolved. Then, allow the mixture to simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat, and allow the lavender to continue infusing into the mixture until it is cooled.

At this point, taste the syrup. If you feel there is a sufficient lavender flavor, go ahead and pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a glass jar suitable for storage. If you’d like your syrup to have a stronger lavender flavor, allow the mixture to steep 10-20 minutes longer prior to straining and storing.

3- Lavender Infused Cold Foam

Aside from using a lavender simple syrup directly in your coffee, you can also add this florally sweet infusion to any simple cold foam recipe, making a fragrant and delicately sweet, creamy topping for your coffee.

Personally, I love the flavor of this used on our light roast, which already boasts subtle floral notes from our growing regions.

Lavender Cold Foam

• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons milk (your choice)
• 1 tablespoon lavender simple syrup (see recipe above)

Add all ingredients to a small glass, then froth with a handheld frother until nearly doubled in size, resulting in a light, fluffy consistency.

Pour onto your prepared coffee, and enjoy!

4- Honey Lavender Latte

Our Honey Lavender Latte Coffee quickly became a Lifebooster favorite, and it’s no wonder as this one is smooth, fresh, floral, and seemingly sweet.

Here, our beloved medium roast coffee serves as a base for lavender essential oils and flavors of field-fresh, raw honey, with a creamy and smooth finish.

But, when you add a touch of cream or milk, personally, I think this flavor selection just sings!

So, before we move on to another floral infusion, I wanted to close out our lavender coffee exploration by sharing a recipe incorporating this fabulous Lifeboost flavored selection.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces strongly brewed Lifeboost Honey Lavender Latte Coffee
• 6 ounces milk
• 1 tablespoon lavender syrup
• ⅛ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon raw, unfiltered honey

Instructions

• Add milk, lavender syrup, and honey to a small saucepan and heat over low-medium heat, stirring frequently to avoid scorching.
• Heat the mixture just until warmed through, then add vanilla and set aside.
• Add strongly brewed coffee to your favorite mug, top with warmed, flavored milk, and enjoy!

Rose Coffee

Roses are a common garden and landscaping favorite, but this floral note can also be found in coffee.

Most commonly, however, this flower (in dried form) is added or infused into syrups for coffee because of its unique flavor as well as the benefits it brings to the body.

At first thought, roses seem like an unlikely coffee companion, but when added to your brew, this flower gives a subtle scent, much like lavender, bringing along with it the slight sweetness commonly found in culinary floral additions.

Both rose petals and rose hips are commonly used when infusing water and simple syrups with their flavors. And, these have wonderful benefits for your health.

• Rose petals and buds are rich in vitamins E and A, which can boost collagen production, benefiting your skin, nails, and hair.

• They contain both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

• Studies have shown roses can both improve your mood and reduce stress, promoting feelings of calmness, even aiding in achieving a restful night of sleep.

• The vitamin C content of roses supports the production of white blood cells, aiding in your body’s immune responses.

• Roses are known to ease digestive distress, calm an upset stomach, and relieve painful gas and bloating.

• The antioxidant content of roses aids in fighting oxidative stress, reducing the harmful effects of free radicals throughout the body.

No wonder folks are adding this powerfully healthy flower to teas and coffees, right?

When using roses to flavor your coffee, most choose to use a rose simple syrup or rose water.

Below, we’ll show you how to make both, then we’ll include a few recipes showcasing ways to incorporate these into your brew.

1- Rose Water

To make rose water, you want to start with fresh, pesticide/fertilizer/chemical free, rinsed/cleaned rose petals.

Then, you’ll follow the steps below. Once finished, you can store your homemade rose water in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Homemade Rose Water

• 2-3 cups fresh rose petals (rinsed and cleaned)
• ½ gallon of distilled water

Add rose petals to a large pot, then top with just enough distilled water to cover the petals.

Simmer, covered, over low heat for 30-45 minutes or until the petals have lost most all of their color.

Remove from heat, then allow the water to cool completely. Once cooled, strain into a jar. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to one month.

2- Rose Simple Syrup

Rose simple syrup is made in similar fashion to lavender syrup, as you’ll be combining water, sugar, and dried rose petals here.

And, as with the lavender syrup, this can be used as a simple addition to hot or iced coffee or as a means to flavor a delicious foam to top your brew.

Homemade Rose Simple Syrup

• 1 cup dried rose buds or petals
• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 cup sugar

Add sugar, water, and edible roses to a medium saucepan and heat over high heat until the mixture begins to boil, stirring occasionally to ensure the sugar is fully dissolved.

Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for roughly 5 minutes.
Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the roses from the sweetened, flavored liquid.
Now, return the liquid to the pot on the stovetop and cook over low heat for another 10 minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken slightly.

Once thickened, allow the syrup to cool, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

3- Rose Water Latte

One way to add the flavor, aroma, and benefits of roses to your coffee is by using rose water.

So, after you’ve followed the instructions to do so, above, you can mosey on back to your kitchen to make this tasty, floral latte.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee
• 4 ounces milk (your choice, dairy or non)
• ¼-½ teaspoon rose water (choice amount listed according to your taste preference)
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions

• Add milk and sugar to a small saucepan and heat over low heat, stirring occasionally, just until the milk is warmed through and the sugar is dissolved.
• Add freshly brewed coffee to your favorite mug, top with rose water and warmed, sweetened milk, stirring to combine. Enjoy!

4- Iced Rose Latte

If you’ve made the rose simple syrup listed a few points above, then you can effortlessly add this to any latte, hot or iced.

But, such syrups indeed make the addition of sugar to chilled coffee much easier, and that’s how we’ll use this ingredient below.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee
• 6 ounces milk
• 2 tablespoons rose simple syrup
• Ice
• Whipped cream, optional for topping

Instructions

• Add ice to a large glass.
• Pour in rose simple syrup over the ice, then add cold brew and milk, stirring to combine.
• Top with whipped cream, if desired, and enjoy!

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Honey Lavender Latte.

References:

https://meadowridgecoffee.com/a/blog/what-makes-certain-coffees-taste-floral

https://bridgecoffeeroasters.co.uk/collections/floral

https://www.yogadirect.com/why-add-lavender-to-your-coffee#

https://counterculturecoffee.com/blogs/counter-culture-coffee/coffee-basics-tasting-notes

https://43factory.coffee/en/news/floral-coffee-tasters-flavor-coffee/#

https://thequeenbean.blog/2020/03/24/the-spring-edit-fruit-floral-and-citrus-toned-coffees/

https://pinchplateparty.com/2022/08/13/lavender-infused-cold-brew-concentrate/

https://www.kitchenaid.com/pinch-of-help/countertop-appliances/how-to-make-lavender-coffee.html#

https://neighborfoodblog.com/homemade-lavender-simple-syrup/

https://www.ohhowcivilized.com/lavender-cold-foam/#wprm-recipe-container-28203

https://itsblume.com/en-us/blogs/the-scoop/5-benefits-of-rose-petals-n-hips#

https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/how-to-make-rose-water#simmering

https://sugaryums.com/rose-simple-syrup/#recipe

https://www.figjar.com/rose-latte/