☕ Coffee with Walnut Milk, Please!

I have drunk milk my whole life. I could almost say that yogurt and cow's milk are part of my identity. But that has changed.

I no longer drink milk — not even in my coffee, where it lasted the longest. Half a year ago I couldn't imagine black coffee at all. I had tasted it by accident as a child, thinking it was cocoa, and that taste of disappointment stayed with me every time I tried drinking it black.

I learned to drink coffee at 15, when a friend bought me a coffee that was half milk. It tasted wonderfully good and from that moment on I always drank coffee with at least a splash of milk.

You have probably heard someone say that since we are not calves, we shouldn't be drinking cow's milk. I always fought against that idea — because my coffee simply didn't taste good without it. I still don't love black coffee, but I can drink it now, after adding a few things:

Ceylon cinnamon:

• Balances blood sugar and may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes over time

• Supports digestion and reduces inflammation

• A better choice for daily use than regular cassia cinnamon — it doesn't contain coumarin, which can strain the liver

MCT oil:

• Provides quick energy without a blood sugar spike — it's absorbed directly by the liver

• Supports brain function and helps keep you full longer — a great choice especially in the morning

• Start with a small amount, about one teaspoon — too much at once can cause digestive discomfort

When brewing my coffee I also add a small amount of either cloves or cardamom directly into the coffee grounds. You can use these together or separately. Cinnamon and cardamom are a gentle combination — cloves are stronger and work best in small amounts. All three together remind me of a spiced chai coffee.

Cloves:

• Rich in antioxidants and eugenol, which has shown promising results in inhibiting cancer cell growth in laboratory studies

• Also supports blood sugar management and digestion

• Use in small amounts — the flavor is strong

Cardamom:

• Supports digestion and reduces bloating

• Contains antioxidants and has a calming effect on the nervous system

• Traditionally used to ease nausea and stomach discomfort — and it makes coffee wonderfully aromatic

And on top of all that — a splash of homemade walnut milk!

I have tried all kinds of milk alternatives.

Coconut milk felt too watery to me, and hemp milk was very thin too. I like oat milk the most in terms of flavor, but it contains a lot of emulsifiers — and like many other plant milks, sweeteners too.

Eventually my daughter and I discovered pistachio milk and macadamia milk, which tasted good and felt richer. But then my daughter suggested we make our own nut milk at home.

We didn't want to make cashew milk because it contains a lot of lectins. We tried pecan milk first but it tasted too watery. Then we tried walnut milk — and it was just right. Slightly sweet and nicely thick. We have been making this for half a year now and we are really happy with it.

Walnut Milk

Ingredients:

• 1 cup walnuts

• ¼ tsp salt

• water

Equipment:

• bowl and wooden spoon

• strainer

• cheesecloth

• blender

• bottle and funnel

Walnut milk keeps well in the fridge for 3–4 days.

You can use the leftover pulp in oatmeal or baking. I use it myself to make crackers or muffins.

You can use this same recipe with other nuts too.

Coffee and milk belong together in my opinion — but the milk in your coffee doesn't have to be cow's milk, and coffee can be flavored in so many ways while getting health benefits at the same time.

Which nut milks and spices do you like in your coffee? Let me know in the comments below!

Did you know?

Mushroom coffee has become a popular wellness trend in recent years. Adaptogenic mushrooms like lion's mane, reishi and chaga are added to coffee as a powder or extract. Lion's mane supports brain function and focus, reishi helps with stress management and sleep, and chaga is packed with antioxidants. You can find these at health food stores or online. I personally enjoy Ryze mushroom coffee, but I keep it to just one cup a day.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”

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“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” 〰️

See my other Nutrition articles:

https://scandyandhandy.com/nutrition

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