Coffee Like a Professional Barista: What Product to Add to Your Mug

Even if you don't have a thousand-dollar coffee machine, you can still make coffee that will make your guests gasp.

Everything you need is already in your kitchen.

Don't believe me? Then remember: the secret is in a pinch of... cocoa powder. Yes, the same one you use for baking.

Half a teaspoon added to a Turk or directly to a cup of ready-made drink will turn your coffee world upside down. Cocoa will not make coffee chocolatey – it will enhance the depth of roasting, smooth out bitterness and add velvetiness, like espresso from an Italian bar.

But there is a nuance: cocoa must be mixed with coffee before brewing, otherwise sediment will form.

If you are drinking Americano, add a pinch to your mug, pour boiling water over it and stir with a spoon for exactly 10 seconds.

The aroma will unfold like in a perfume pyramid: first nutty notes, then sourness, and the aftertaste is like an expensive cappuccino.

And don't be afraid to experiment: cocoa + cinnamon will turn your morning ritual into a trip to Starbucks, but for pennies.

Here's a bonus for those who like cold coffee: add a pinch of cocoa to the ice before freezing. When the ice melts, the drink won't be watery — instead, you'll get a layered flavor with hints of caramel.

And don't throw away your coffee grounds! Mix them with cocoa and cinnamon, grind them in a mortar and use as a body scrub. The smell of coffee will invigorate you in the morning better than the drink itself.

But back to the mug: if you drink coffee with milk, whisk the cocoa directly into the foam. This will give you the effect of a "mochaccino" without syrups.

And the last secret: a drop of vanilla extract on the bottom of the cup before pouring coffee will turn everything upside down. Vanilla can turn instant coffee into an expensive exotic variety.