But spices in coffee are nothing new. Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, or chili—for the truly adventurous—pair perfectly with your favorite espresso drinks. We’ll show you what’s behind the Swizy Coffee trend, which spices go best with your coffee, and how you can make spiced coffee at home.
Which spices go well with espresso?
Warm, robust spices—which are also popular at Christmas—are the best match. They complement the chocolatey and nutty notes found in many roasts without overpowering the coffee:
Cinnamon
A classic—sweet and warm, and especially good with milk.
Cardamom
Fresh, with a hint of lemon, and a staple of Arab coffee culture for centuries.
Nutmeg, cloves, and allspice
Strong, so it's best used as part of a gingerbread spice blend.
Ginger, chili, and cayenne pepper
They add an edge to the look and form the basis of the Swizy trend.
Spices in ground coffee or in milk?
There are several ways to make spiced coffee. You can run the spices through the Portafilter along with the ground coffee, or add them to the coffee or milk later.
AI-generated imageIn the ground coffee
If you sprinkle a small pinch of ground spice directly onto the ground coffee in the Portafilter, the aroma will infuse into the espresso as it’s brewed. However, never put the spices in the grinder, because the aromas will get trapped there. You can read more about how to flavor ground coffee yourself here.
However, adding flavoring to the coffee in the " Portafilter " can interfere with the water flow, which is why we recommend adding flavoring to the coffee or milk afterward.
In milk or in espresso
If you heat milk in a pot with a cinnamon stick or a few cardamom pods and let it steep for a few minutes, the flavor will be especially well-rounded. If you’re frothing the milk with the steam wand or want to enjoy your espresso black, it’s best to stir the ground spices into the espresso with honey or syrup beforehand, since they tend to settle at the bottom of the milk pitcher.
If you want to add flavor with no effort at all, flavored coffee is a good option, since the flavor is already in the bean.
Swizy Coffee: The Sweet-and-Spicy Coffee Trend
Swizy Coffee is a coffee with a sweet note and a hint of spice. The name is a combination of the English words “sweet” and “spicy,” and that’s exactly how the coffee tastes: first comes the sweetness, followed by a mild, spicy tingle. Typical ingredients include honey, chili, cayenne pepper, and ginger.
"sweet"
Honey or syrup
"spicy"
Chili, cayenne pepper, ginger
Swizy Coffee
Sweet with a spicy tingle
Swizy refers more to a flavor profile than to a single drink, and that’s exactly what makes this trend so exciting for home use: With an espresso, syrup, or honey and a pinch of spice, there are so many possibilities to explore.
You may already be familiar with cinnamon or cardamom in coffee, but they have different effects: They provide a gentle warmth and blend seamlessly with the sweetness, while the spiciness in Swizy Coffee deliberately creates a contrast. We’ll show you recipes for both options.
Coffee Recipes with Spices
The quantities listed are just a starting point; you can adjust them to your taste after taking your first few sips.
Tahini Espresso
Tahini, or sesame paste, gives the espresso a nutty and creamy flavor, and adding a pinch of chili turns it into a "Swizy" variation.
You'll need
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 1 fresh espresso
- Optional: 1 teaspoon honey or syrup, to taste
- Optional: 1 small pinch of chili
Here's how it works
- Mix the tahini and honey in a cup until you have a smooth paste.
- Pour the espresso and stir it in as you pour.
- Continue stirring until the coffee is creamy and smooth, then add a pinch of chili to taste.
- The Tahini Espresso is best enjoyed warm and right after it's made.
Tahini made from 100% sesame seeds that’s as creamy as possible is the easiest to stir in. With a little warm, frothed milk, you can also serve the Tahini Espresso as a tahini latte.
Gingerbread Latte
You'll need
- 1 double espresso
- 200 ml of milk or a plant-based alternative
- ½ tsp gingerbread spice
- 1–2 teaspoons of honey, brown sugar, or caramel syrup
Here's how it works
- Mix the gingerbread spice and honey in a large glass, then pour the espresso over it.
- Froth the milk, pour it in, and sprinkle a pinch of gingerbread spice on top of the foam.
You can find more ideas in our recipes featuring syrup.
Honey-Chili Flat White
You'll need
- 1 double espresso
- 1–2 teaspoons of honey or syrup
- 100–120 ml of milk or a plant-based alternative
- 1 small pinch of cayenne pepper or chili flakes
Here's how it works
- Put honey and cayenne pepper in a cup, pour the espresso over it, and stir until the honey has dissolved.
- Foam the milk until it's light and fluffy, then slowly pour it in.
- If you'd like, you can sprinkle a few chili flakes on top of the foam at the end.
Swizy works even when cold: Make your cold brew with ginger, a cinnamon stick, and a pinch of chili, and sweeten it with syrup, which dissolves more easily in cold coffee than honey.
Which coffee goes well with which spice?
Chocolatey and nutty, medium-dark
For cinnamon, cardamom, gingerbread spice, and honey-chili, a chocolatey, nutty, medium-dark roast like our Espresso Perfetto Bar Gusto Blend is the best choice because it nicely complements the spices.
Fruity and fresh with Arabica
For a fresh, fruity flavor with ginger and cayenne in a cold brew or espresso tonic, try fruity Arabica beans like our Espresso Perfetto Abruzzo 100% Arabica.
Our beans for spiced coffee
Espresso Perfetto Gusto 1000g
Coffee blend: 60% Arabica beans from the best growing regions in Central America and 40% excellent Robusta beans from South East Asia. Roasting: gentle long-term roasting Degree of roast: Medium strength Packaging: Square PET/AL/PE bag with aroma protection valve, coffee packaged in a modified atmosphere Best before: 18 months
Espresso Perfetto 100% Arabica 1000g
Coffee blend: 100% Arabica beans from the best growing regions in Central America. Roasting: gentle long-term roasting Degree of roast: Medium strength Packaging: Square PET/AL/PE bag with aroma protection valve, coffee packed in modified atmosphere Best before: 18 months
* Savings compared to our previous price.
Three Tips for Seasoning
Start small
Start with just a pinch—especially with chili, cloves, and nutmeg. You can always add more, but it's hard to take it away.
Use syrup instead of powder
A spiced syrup distributes the flavor more evenly, because powder can settle at the bottom of the drink.
Milder ones with milk and honey
If the first sip is too strong, adding an extra splash of milk or a little more honey will help.
Give it a try: Spiced coffee with Espresso Perfetto
You don't need any special equipment to make spiced coffee. A good espresso, a little something sweet, and a few spices from your kitchen cabinet are all you need. At Espresso Perfetto , you'll find the right setup, including portafilter machines, espresso grinders, beans, and accessories.
Stop by our online store or one of our retail locations and pick up everything you need to make your favorite winter coffee!
Everything You Need for Your Spiced Coffee
* Savings compared to the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) or, in the case of "Instead of" prices, compared to our previous price.
* Savings compared to the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) or, in the case of "Instead of" prices, compared to our previous price.
* Savings compared to our previous price.
* Savings compared to our previous price.
Espresso Perfetto Glass, 0.33 L
The 0.33 liter latte glass with the Espresso Perfetto logo combines elegance and functionality for an outstanding coffee experience. The slim design of the glass offers space for a generous latte, while the striking Espresso Perfetto logo on the glass emphasizes the love for the perfect espresso.
Inpetto Glass
The latte macchiato glass was specially designed for the popular coffee classic. With a generous capacity of 400 ml, it offers enough space for milk, espresso and foam to show off the characteristic layered design of the drink to its best advantage
Mami's Caffe Latte Glass (New)
Latte Macchiato Glass
* Savings compared to our previous price.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spices in Coffee
What spices go well with coffee?
Warm, robust spices—which are also popular at Christmas—work best: cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice, ideally as part of a gingerbread spice blend. Ginger, chili, and cayenne pepper add a kick.
What is Swizy or Swicy Coffee?
A coffee with a sweet note and a hint of spice. The name is a combination of the English words “sweet” and “spicy”; typical ingredients include honey, chili, cayenne pepper, and ginger.
Can I add spices directly to the ground coffee?
A small pinch sprinkled on the ground coffee in the Portafilter will be drawn into the espresso as it’s brewed, but spices should never be added to the grinder. Because adding spices in the Portafilter can interfere with the water flow, we recommend adding them to the coffee or milk after brewing.
Which coffee goes well with spices?
For cinnamon, cardamom, gingerbread spice, and honey-chili, choose a medium-dark roast with chocolatey and nutty notes; for ginger and cayenne in cold brew or espresso tonic, choose fruity Arabica beans.
What can you do if the coffee is too strong?
An extra splash of milk or a little more honey. Next time, start with just a pinch—you can always add more later.