When it comes to coffee, I’m not too adventurous. I don’t like sweeteners, and rarely opt for milk or milk alternatives. I usually stick to iced Americanos or a cup of strong, hot drip coffee.
During a recent coffee date with a friend, I saw an orange espresso tonic on the menu (espresso, tonic or sparkling water, and a splash of orange flavor from syrup, bitters, or juice). I was immediately curious (these aren’t flavors I’d normally pair together) and also interested because it sounded more tart than sweet. After trying it, this new drink quickly became one of my favorites — and I wanted to replicate it at home in my own way.
In my search for recipes, I stumbled upon this coffee video on TikTok, where creator Sara Nash pours espresso directly into a nearly empty jar of jam. After watching, I remembered I had a nearly empty jar of my favorite orange marmalade in the fridge. In combining this coffee jam-jar trick with my love for my newfound orange espresso drink, I ended up creating the best one-ingredient coffee upgrade — all without the sticker shock of coffee shop prices.
Why Orange Marmalade Is the Perfect Addition to Coffee
This jam-jar trick, as I’ve been calling it, is not only convenient but also avoids wasting the last drops of your marmalade, jelly, jam, or preserves that usually get recycled with the jar. Plus, it’s a fun way to add a little sweetness to your coffee.
For my at-home orange espresso tonic, I used my favorite Bonne Maman Orange Marmalade. It adds a slightly tart sweetness to the bold espresso.
How to Make My Orange Marmalade Coffee
To avoid getting any seeds, you can strain your coffee and jam mixture using a strainer or cocktail shaker and pour it directly onto a cup of ice. I’m rarely in the mood to wash dishes, so I made my coffee right in the jar.
To make it, I pour a hot shot of Cafe Aroma Especial into the nearly empty jar, seal the lid, and give it a good shake to melt the last bits of marmalade. I add ice and top it with Trader Joe’s tonic water. The result is a refreshing, balanced, and citrusy drink that makes me look forward to warm summer mornings. The bubbly tonic water is invigorating.
Orange coffee might not be for everyone. The great thing about this trick is that the flavor possibilities are endless. A raspberry or blueberry jam iced latte would be the perfect late-spring drink.
If a coffee and jam pairing still isn’t convincing, there are thankfully a plethora of ways to use leftover jam. With just a few additional ingredients, you can make a jam-jar cocktail or mocktail, a yogurt parfait, an ice cream swirl, overnight oats, salad dressings or vinaigrettes, and tea or matcha drinks. No matter your concoction, this jam-jar trick is a creative and sustainable way to elevate your favorite sips (and bites).
Buy: Bonne Maman Orange Marmalade, $5.58 for 13 ounces at Amazon
What’s your favorite coffee upgrade? Tell us about it in the comments.
