Coffee is no doubt one of the most popular beverages globally. It may be the fuel that keeps hospitals buzzing both day and night. Nurses and other medical practitioners work night shift or regularly rotate in and out of night shifts, so how will it be without the wonderful bean?[no_toc]
In a survey dated back 2010, nurses and doctors — compared to other professions — depend most on the buzz of coffee to perform their best on the job. But for some workers, it’s not that simple. As they fight against a natural sleep schedule, they often face the problem of staying awake at work in the nighttime and keeping alert in the daytime.
But health professionals aren’t alone. Researchers found 43% of coffee drinkers say they’re less productive if they don’t drink coffee on the job. And about a third of workers say they need coffee just to get through the workday.
With these, Nurseslabs collected some coffee drink recipes that will spice up your plain old boring black coffee and give nurses much more extended energy throughout the day and night shifts. The idea might also be a sort of a “special” coffee break within the nurses’ station or while relaxing at home on day-off.
Bring out the inner Barista in you and try these recipes!
1. Easy Iced Coffee
Sweet, mellow or bright, this iced coffee is very easy to make and very good in providing the perfect flavor when chilled.
Ingredients
Original recipe makes 1 serving
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 3 tablespoons warm water
- 6 fluid ounces cold milk
Directions
- In sealable jar, combine instant coffee, sugar and warm water. Cover the jar and shake until it is foamy. Pour into a glass full of ice. Fill the glass with milk. Adjust to taste if necessary.
Recipe by Christy Grigor
2. Cappuccino Mix
A frothy drink that’s perfect for morning, afternoon and night shifts.
Ingredients
Original recipe makes 3 1/2 cups
- 1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
- 1 cup instant chocolate drink mix
- 3/4 cup instant coffee granules
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Directions
- In a medium sized glass jar, combine the non-dairy creamer, chocolate drink mix, instant coffee, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg; mix well.
- To prepare, place 2 tablespoons mix in a mug, pour in 3/4 cup boiling water, and stir until dissolved. Serve hot.
*Cappuccino contains less steamed or textured milk than Latte.
Recipe by Git
3. Cafe Latte
This is for all nurses who are coffee drinkers. Buying lattes can be pricey. So here’s a recipe so you can make your own.
Ingredients
Original recipe makes 4 lattes
- 2 cups milk
- 1 1/3 cups hot freshly brewed dark roast espresso coffee
Directions
- Heat milk in a saucepan set over medium-low heat. Whisk briskly with a wire whisk to create foam. Brew espresso and pour into 4 cups. Pour in milk, holding back the foam with a spoon. Spoon foam over the top.
*Lattes contain more steamed or textured milk as compared to cappuccino.
Recipe by Mary G. Cadwell
4. Brown Sugar-Caramel Latte
Sometimes coffee is a dessert in itself. This flavory morning treat will make a Monday seem less intimidating.
Ingredients
Original recipe makes 1 latte
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 cup half-and-half
- 1 tablespoon caramel ice cream topping
- 3/4 cup hot, brewed coffee
Directions
- Stir brown sugar into half-and-half until dissolved. Whip with a milk frother or small whisk. Pour coffee into a mug, and stir in caramel sauce until dissolved. Pour frothed half-and-half into coffee, and serve.
Recipe by bjergins
5. Hot Mocha Drink Mix
A nice creamy hot drink mix for coffee lovers! A snap to make!
Ingredients
Original recipe makes 4 cups
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup dry milk powder
- 1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1/4 cup instant coffee granules
Directions
- In a large bowl, combine sugar, milk powder, creamer, cocoa and instant coffee. Mix together until well blended. Store in a sealed container.
- To serve, Heat a cup of water per serving (or milk, for a creamier taste.) Stir in 2 to 3 heaping teaspoons of cocoa mixture.
*Mocha is a variant of a cafe latte. Like a latte it is typically one third espresso and two thirds steamed milk, but a portion of chocolate is added.
Recipe by Rebecca
6. Fire Side Coffee
A cold weather may sometimes affect your mood. This coffee drink recipe will provide warmth and turn your low mood and muddled thinking into the exact opposite!
Ingredients
Original recipe makes 80 servings
- 2 cups powdered non-dairy creamer
- 1 1/2 cups instant hot chocolate mix
- 1 1/2 cups instant coffee granules
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Directions
- Sift together creamer, hot chocolate mix, instant coffee, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour into a jar and seal with a lid.
- To prepare: Stir 3 teaspoons of mixture into 1 cup of hot water. Adjust to taste.
Recipe by Catharine the Great
7. Thai Coffee
Try this Thai coffee recipe — fantastic on its own day or night!
Ingredients
Original recipe makes 2 servings
- 2 tablespoons ground coffee beans
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- water
- 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
Directions
- Place coffee and cardamom in the filter of your coffee machine. Place enough water to make 2 cups of coffee in the machine. Turn on the coffee machine.
- Pour brewed coffee into 2 coffee cups, and stir 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk into each cup. Serve.
Recipe by GODGIFU
8. Funky Monkey
A great coffee drink that has protein powder which helps restore tired muscles!
Ingredients
Original recipe makes 4 servings
- 4 cups hot, brewed dark roast coffee
- 1 large banana
- 1/4 cup fat free sweetened condensed milk
- 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
- 1 1/2 scoops vanilla flavored whey protein powder
- 20 cubes ice
Directions
- Place the hot coffee, banana, condensed milk, chocolate syrup, and protein powder into a blender. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the coffee moving before leaving it on to puree until smooth. Divide ice cubes into 4 large glasses, and pour coffee mixture over the ice.
Recipe by Jen K.
9. Coconut Oil Coffee
This blend of coconut oil and unsalted, grass-fed organic butter in your coffee is definitely a must-try!
Ingredients
Original recipe makes 2 servings
- 2 cups hot coffee
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Directions
- Blend coffee, coconut oil, and butter together in a blender until oil and butter are melted and coffee is frothy.
*Use unsalted grass-fed butter. Preheat your blender with hot water to make sure your coffee doesn’t start out cold.
Recipe by The Gruntled Gourmand
10. Spiced Coconut Coffee
The ingredients may scare you off, but this coffee has a bit of a kick that is just right for warming up on those cold winter days.
Ingredients
Original recipe makes 2 cups
- 2 tablespoons ground coffee beans
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 2 whole cloves
- 1/2 (3 inch) cinnamon stick
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons honey
Directions
- Combine the ground coffee, red pepper, cloves, and cinnamon stick in a coffee filter set into a drip coffee brewer. Pour the water into the brewer’s water reservoir. Set the coffee brewer on to brew.
- While the coffee brews, gently warm the coconut milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the honey until the honey is dissolved. Pour the brewed coffee into the mixture; stir. Divide the liquid into two mugs to serve.
Recipe by Heather
Bottom line, if you’re a coffee fan, you’ll love, love, love these simple yet coffeelicious recipes! Share this with your friends!