When Coffee Meets Blueberries - 3 Tasty Ways To Boost Your Health And Your Brew

What flavors do you initially think of when pondering what pairs well with coffee?

Vanilla? Chocolate? Caramel?

These three make up some of the most common, and loved, coffee drinks. Mmmm, vanilla lattes, mochas, caramel macchiatos, my mouth is watering just thinking of these classics.

But, have you ever thought about pairing coffee with fruit? More specifically: plump, ripe, juicy, sweet, slightly tart blueberries…and coffee!

Fruit and coffee may not seem like traditional pairings, but even without added flavorings, your beans can have natural flavors that hint of slight fruity notes depending on the elevation and region where they’re grown.

And, this makes the perfect backdrop to combine the natural confectionery sweetness of fruits like fresh berries, even apples, peaches, and some tropical fruits!

Specifically, fruits which possess a combination of sweet and tart flavors (like berries) pair well with coffee as these notes are polar opposites to your brew’s bitter and bold flavors.

So, by merging these two opposites we actually bring out the best flavors in each component.

Still not sure about this pairing?

Travel to grandma’s kitchen with me for a moment…

There’s a fresh pot of coffee brewing. Can you smell the bold and robust, yet smooth, warm aromas wafting throughout the room?

You pour yourself a mug as the warmth of the nearby oven fills the room. The mixer, bowl, and myriad of remaining ingredients litter the countertop, complete with sifted flour remnants dotting your apron.

The egg timer rings and you peek slowly inside of the hot oven to find sights mirroring the scents already mingling with your fresh brew. Perfectly browned streusel-like topping rests on bursting, slightly syrupy, purple-hued, fruity orbs.

You breathe in notes of sweetness mingled with cinnamon and a distinctly rich berry scent.

You set a small, worn, dessert plate onto the table aside your (second) mug of coffee. A few more moments of cooling, and you’ll soon plunge a small fork into the crumble.

As the first bite graces your taste buds, your salivary glands recognize the faint hint of tartness hiding within the confection. You take a slow sip of coffee, relishing the combination of the freshly baked fruit crumble with your piping hot java.

Can you taste it? It’s aromatically enticing, and incredibly delicious, right?

Coffee…and fruit. Coffee…and blueberries.

That’s not such an unlikely pairing after all, is it?

And, what’s even better, this duo is a powerful health booster!

So, before we dive into some delicious ways to enjoy iced coffees and lattes incorporating the sweet, tart flavors of blueberries in your brew, let’s take a look at all this pairing has to offer.

Coffee, Cinnamon, Blueberries, And Your Body

Our Cinnamon Blueberry Crumble Coffee, simply put, begins with our beloved medium roast coffee and then incorporates natural flavor extracts (like those we often use when baking) to bring bold, natural flavors…without added sugar and calories.

But, as you’ll see in a moment, we also like to boost our daily brew with the addition of some of these same flavors in a more hands-on way to not only bring out these incredible taste bud tantalizers more intensely, but also benefit from the healthy rewards these ingredients can bring to our bodies.

First, you likely already know that coffee boasts powerful health benefits.

When enjoyed black, coffee only has 1-2 calories per 8 ounce cup and contains no significant amounts of fats, carbs, or protein.

But, despite its lack here, this powerful brew contains a wealth of micronutrients like magnesium, potassium, and niacin.

Beyond this, coffee contains thousands of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, chlorogenic acids, caffeine, diterpenes, and other antioxidants which each possess many benefits to your health.

It’s because of these very components of coffee that this brew has been found to reduce the risk of:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Several types of cancers
• Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases
• Heart disease
• Depression
• Gout

Coffee consumption has also been linked to improved memory, energy, athletic performance, liver health, may help with healthy weight management, and even reduce the risk of all causes of death.

And, each of these are thought to be linked to coffee’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic effects.

Ah, but when you add cinnamon to your brew, you amplify these boosts as cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants as well.

One of cinnamon’s most potent antioxidant compounds comes from cinnamaldehyde, the component of this spice that provides its notable aroma and flavor.

Cinnamaldehyde has been proven to effectively reduce inflammation, which is at the root of most chronic diseases and illnesses.

• One study found cinnamon to reduce blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes by stimulating insulin receptors.

• Researchers have found cinnamon to be “highly effective at halting the growth of bacteria as well as fungi, including the commonly problematic yeast, Candida.”

• The oils found in cinnamon have been used for their antimicrobial effects.

• Even the aroma of cinnamon has been found to stimulate brain activity, boosting memory and improving attention span.

• Cinnamon may lower the risk of cancer and heart disease due to its antioxidant properties.

• Studies have linked cinnamon to significant decreases in total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

• This spice has also been used as a natural breath freshener, may benefit skin health, fight against infections, and reduce allergy symptoms.

Regarding the simple enjoyment of the spice, cinnamon is said to provide a sweet element to foods and beverages without adding any sugar or a significant amount of calories. (There are approximately 6 calories in one teaspoon of cinnamon.)

But, what about those blueberries? Berries contain natural sugars, so can these still provide benefits to your health?

Absolutely!

Blueberries are often dubbed a superfood for their impressive abilities to:

• Decrease inflammation
• Aid in digestion
• Support a healthy heart
• Improve weight loss
• Fight against cancer
• Boost brain health

These small, but mighty, berries are able to provide such benefits due to their high antioxidant content which fights against free radical damage in the body.

This type of damage can occur from normal metabolic processes, with aging, and due to exposure to environmental pollutants, processed foods, sugars, and more.

Antioxidants reduce the damage caused by free radicals which protects you against disease, aging, DNA damage, and cell death.

Blueberries have also been effective as weight loss aids due to their fiber content and the fact that they are also low in calories, making them a healthy and filling snack.

Aside from their antioxidant capabilities, as we listed above, blueberries also effectively decrease inflammation. And, as inflammation is a key component to disease, reducing it has been linked to a decreased risk of cancer, autoimmune disorders, heart disease, and depression.

These powerful berries also contain roughly 25% of your daily vitamin C needs and 36% of your daily need for vitamin K, which helps your body make the proteins necessary in blood clotting and keeping your bones healthy.

Incorporating Blueberries And Cinnamon In Your Brew

Coffee, cinnamon, and blueberries are all highly regarded for their rich antioxidant content, making this trio exceptionally powerful when combined to fight against disease, reduce inflammation, and protect/promote the health of your body!

When combining foods and beverages with such powerful nutrient profiles, some of these combinations can increase nutrient absorption and amplify antioxidant effects.

Amazing, right!?

So then, let’s see how we can combine more of these healthy, and tasty, ingredients into your brew…

1- Creamy Blueberry Booster

This first brew combines the healthy powers of coffee and blueberries.

But, before we proceed, I have a confession, and maybe this should double as a warning label on this recipe…

This is one of my absolute favorite coffee recipes!

Those skeptical notions some folks have surrounding the combination of coffee and berries, that was me, I was right there. But two things completely transformed my thinking and turned me into somewhat of a Cinnamon Blueberry Crumble junkie.

First, I tried our Cinnamon Blueberry Crumble Coffee in simple cold brew fashion, over ice with just a touch of heavy cream. And, my taste buds were in awe!

But, as I was playing around with the notion of adding something special, something over-the-top, to this brew, I was absolutely blown away with this recipe.

If I had to describe this cup of joy? It’s a warm, sunny, summer afternoon combined with a cool breeze, aromas of sweet, berry, confectionery paradise, and smooth, iced coffee all in one.

Regarding that warning label? Go ahead and make a glass of this spectacular treat, enjoy, then let us know how tempting it is to sip this craveable cup daily!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces Lifeboost Cinnamon Blueberry Crumble, cold brewed
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 4 tablespoons blueberry syrup, plus 1 teaspoon (see recipe below)
• Ice

Instructions

• Add ice to a glass. Pour in 2 tablespoons blueberry syrup and cold brewed coffee. Stir to combine.
• Add heavy cream and the remaining blueberry syrup (minus the extra 1 teaspoon) to an electric frother. Froth on the cold setting.
• Pour frothed blueberry cream on top of the coffee mixture. Drizzle the remaining 1 teaspoon of blueberry syrup on top, and enjoy!

Homemade Blueberry Syrup

• 2 cups fresh, or frozen (thawed) blueberries
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup cane or coconut sugar

Place blueberries and water in a blender, and blend until liquified. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer over a small saucepan. Press the juice through the strainer into the saucepan, discarding any remaining pulp.

Add sugar to the blueberry mixture in the saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring to combine. Simmer for approximately 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Make sure the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (can be stored up to 2 weeks).

2- Blueberry Coffee Ala Mode

A true Italian affogato is made by adding a freshly pulled shot of rich, smooth espresso atop a perfectly rounded scoop of creamy, velvety vanilla ice cream.

Connoisseurs of this treat say it is best enjoyed by eating the ice cream first, then sipping the remainder, a now perfectly mixed combination of coffee and melted ice cream.

And, as we’ve just explored the wonder of adding tart blueberry flavors to our brew, we had to include a berry-inspired twist on this Italian classic.

Affogato means drowned, and if you’re looking for a cheat meal, a sweet treat, a less conventional dessert to enjoy with your cup of joe, you’ll actually get to drown a creamy scoop of ice cream in three fabulous flavors here, spicy cinnamon, smooth coffee, and sweet, tart blueberries!

*We think this is incredibly delicious as-is, but if you want to amp up the blueberry flavor here, simply add a drizzle or two of the blueberry syrup listed in the recipe above.

Ingredients

• 4-6 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Cinnamon Blueberry Crumble Coffee
• ½ cup (or 1 packed, rounded scoop) vanilla ice cream
• ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1-2 teaspoons of blueberry syrup, optional for topping

Instructions

*We recommend making your coffee a bit stronger than usual for this recipe.*

• Add a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream to a glass.
• Lightly dust the ice cream with ⅛ teaspoon of ground ceylon cinnamon.
• Freshly brew 4-6 ounces of coffee, then pour directly onto the scoop of ice cream.
• If desired, drizzle with a bit of blueberry syrup, and enjoy!

3- Blueberry Pie Latte

So far we’ve kept things pretty chilly, with an iced coffee and an affogato, but if you’re looking for a warm brew reminiscent of a fresh slice blueberry pie and a hot cup of coffee in one tasty package, look no further!

Our Cinnamon Blueberry Crumble Coffee, in and of itself, whisks you away to grandma’s kitchen, with aromas of smooth coffee patiently awaiting the oven to birth a culinary masterpiece of warm cinnamon and sweet, yet tart, blueberries bursting as they bake.

And, this latte accentuates each and every flavor of one of our favorite brews, amplifying the berry flavors in the coffee as it collides with a compote that rests underneath creamy, silky milk.

Warm, smooth, sweet, and delicious.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Cinnamon Blueberry Crumble Coffee
• 3 tablespoons blueberry compote (see recipe below)
• 4 ounces milk (dairy or non dairy)

Instructions

• Add blueberry compote to the bottom of a mug and set aside.
• Add milk to an electric frother and froth on the heated setting. Or, warm milk and froth with a handheld frother.
• Add frothed milk directly on top of the compote in your mug.
• Brew coffee and pour on top of the frothed milk, enjoy!

* The flavors in your mug should collide upon each sip, mingling the milk, compote, and coffee beautifully. And, if you’d like to try this iced, simply cold brew or brew and chill the coffee and set it aside as you add *chilled* compote to the bottom of a tall glass. Add a bit of ice to the compote, then froth cold milk on the cold setting of an electric frother. Pour over the compote, then top with chilled coffee, and enjoy!

Blueberry Compote

• 1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen then thawed
• 1 teaspoon honey
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Combine ingredients into a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat for approximately 5 minutes or until the blueberries have broken down. Remove from heat and slightly cool before adding to a blender, blending until smooth.

Use immediately if making the hot latte, or allow the mixture to cool completely if using as part of the iced latte.

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Cinnamon Blueberry Crumble.

References:

https://crazycups.com/blog/why-coffee-and-berries-make-the-perfect-pairing/#

https://www.coffeeandhealth.org/coffee-and-caffeine/nutrition-information#

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/coffee/

https://drjockers.com/best-cinnamon-use/

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-cinnamon/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-blueberries

https://draxe.com/nutrition/health-benefits-blueberries/

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-k/#

https://yestoyolks.com/2017/03/24/fresh-blueberry-cold-brew-lattes/

https://www.insidetherustickitchen.com/italian-affogato-recipe/#

https://athome.starbucks.com/recipe/blueberry-swirl-iced-coffee