Brewin’ with Brandi: Mango Lassi a la Giga
We aren’t personally big fans of mangoes, but when mixed up with yogurt into a refreshing drink and sipped along side a seriously serious vindaloo, we can appreciate its virtues. When Brandi revealed to us that the Jura Giga 5 had a recipe for a mango lassi that incorporated espresso into the mix, we were a bit, well, concerned. Watch her take this bad boy on!
Don’t have a Giga 5 but want to try this out? Here’s the situation:
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 teaspoons mango puree
- 4 1/2 teaspoons plain yogurt
- 1 oz espresso
Directions
In your serving glass, layer the mango puree and then the yogurt. Pull your shot and pour it over to float it on top. To enjoy it in all of its glory, dip your spoon to the bottom of the serving glass so that you get all three flavors in each bite.
Brewin’ with Brandi: Espresso Steak Rub
You know it’s summer when Brandi is breaking out the barbecue! We’ve had a wonderfully unseasonable warm front here in Seattle, and although we know that nature is teasing us and that we have a few months of rainy gray days until summer shows up for a couple of weeks in late September, we’re pretending it’s going to stick around.
Watch her whip up this delicious steak rub, grill on the ‘cue and then find out what one of SCG’s lovely carnivores thinks of the concoction.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup finely ground coffee — we chose Middle Fork’s Tough as Nails blend to give it maximum oomph!
Directions
Combine all ingredients together and mix until well incorporated. Thoroughly coat your steaks … you can either throw them right on the grill or let them hang out with the rub on them for awhile if you want a more powerful flavor. Cook to your desired temperature and enjoy!
Brewin’ with Brandi: Sweet Lullaby
If you’re able to watch this recipe and not leave it with Sweet Caroline in your head, you’re a better person than we are!
Check out Brandi’s delicious hot milk recipe that will help you start your evening shift on the snooze patrol.
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz Monin Vanilla syrup
- 1/2 oz Monin Honey Sweetener
- 7 oz milk
- Ground cinnamon
Directions
Combine syrups with milk and heat / steam. Pour into your serving mug and sprinkle with cinnamon. Enjoy!
Brewin’ with Brandi: Field Berry Tea
We’re longing for hot summer days right now, so Brandi has decided to channel them with a cool and fruity iced tea. Watch her craft this super simple recipe!
Ingredients
- 3/4 oz. Monin Blackberry syrup
- 7 oz. brewed iced tea (we used Dammann’s Darjeeling)
- Ice
- Slice of lemon (for garnish)
Directions
Brew your iced tea however you prefer (in the sun? Hot and then chilled in the refrigerator?), then pour 7 oz. of it over ice in your serving glass. Add blackberry syrup and garnish with a slice of lemon. Enjoy!
Brewin’ with Brandi: White Cool
We’re not really sure of the provenance of this drink and, truth be told, we were quite skeptical of it when we heard its ingredients. Surprisingly, however, it is refreshing and somehow works together! Watch as Brandi walks us through it on the Jura Giga 5.
Ingredients
- Carbonated lemonade
- 1.5 oz of espresso
- Ice
Directions
Fill a tall glass with ice. Add carbonated lemonade until it’s 2/3 full. Pull shot directly over lemonade and ice … enjoy!
Brewin’ with Brandi: Caffe Mocha Amoroso
When you’re talking coffee, chocolate and booze, you’ve got our attention, love. And … we’re pretty sure that we have yours, too!
Check out Brandi’s latest delectable-y-naughty recipe, featuring coffee and a trio of liqueurs.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz coffee liqueur
- 1 oz chocolate mint liqueur
- 1/2 oz brandy
- hot coffee
- optional garnish: whipped cream, cinnamon or cocoa powder and cinnamon stick
Directions
Combine liqueurs and coffee into serving cup; top with garnish. Enjoy!
Brewin’ with Brandi: Skinny Mudslide
Feeling naughty, but not too naughty? This sugar-and-fat-free drink from Brandi hits the mark! You can try it either hot or cold — we elected to shake it up and serve it up over ice.
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz Monin Sugar Free Irish Cream syrup
- 1/2 oz Monin Sugar Free Dark Chocolate sauce
- 1 shot of espresso
- 6 oz fat free milk
- ice
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake it well! Pour into a serving glass and enjoy.
Brewin’ with Brandi: Cinnful Irish Latte
Continuing on our theme of Irish-inspired (read: Whiskey and/or Irish cream-inspired) recipes this month, Brandi has selected a rather interesting latte that features both Irish cream and a little spice.
Watch her craft it on the Saeco Exprelia — we even made her use the steam wand this time!
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz Monin Cinnamon syrup
- 1/2 oz Monin Irish Cream syrup
- 2 shots of espresso
- steamed milk
Directions
Steam your milk to your desired frothiness (what?!). Combine both syrups into your serving mug, pull shots and mix them together. Fill with steamed milk and enjoy.
Brewin’ with Brandi: Four Leaf Clover
Continuing her Gaelic-inspired theme this month, Brandi crafts a delicious cocktail replete with green sprinkles! Looking for the go-to cocktail for your St. Patty’s Day bash this year? Pretty sure this is it, love.
Ingredients
- Monin Dark Chocolate sauce
- ice
- 3 oz half & half
- 1 shot espresso
- 1 oz rum
- 1 oz chocolate mint liqueur
- Whipped cream and green sprinkles for garnish
Directions
Decorate your serving glass with chocolate sauce then fill it with ice. Add the half & half, espresso, rum and chocolate mint liqueur, then stir well to combine. Top it off with whipped cream and green sugar sprinkles for a festive flair!
Brewin’ with Brandi: Irish Coffee, GIGA-Style!
It’s March and so you know we have to get on the ol’ Irish bandwagon. 
While Brandi previously crafted an Irish coffee that didn’t actually use Irish whiskey (blasphemy!), she wanted to make sure to incorporate Jameson’s into this version. And instead of doing any of the heavy lifting herself, she drafted her favorite new robot — the Jura GIGA 5 — to craft it.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons Irish whiskey
- 3 oz. coffee
- 1 1/2 oz. semi-whipped cream
Directions
Add the sugar to the bottom of your serving glass. Heat the whiskey a bit and then add to the sugar. Pour coffee into the cup and then topped with semi-whipped cream. Enjoy!