I am a gourmet coffee NUT! Espresso, mocha latte, iced coffee, cappuccino…if it has the noble bean, water and some form of cream, I’m on it.

This is a very simple, very decadent coffee drink featured in the NewKosher vegan cookbook. I have made a small change by making it an espresso drink instead of traditional coffee, because I found that the crema (the oily brown foam that rests on top of a well made espresso drink) is enough cream that one does not need to adulterate the drink with cream, milk or soy.

In fact, most coffee drinking outside of the United States is not coffee as we know it. While traditional coffee that Americans drink is a rough ground coffee bean and slow filtered water, the Americano is more or less a watered down espresso: about double the water of an espresso “shot”. This makes a small, powerful cup of coffee with enough caffeine to bring you to life, without having to make an entire pot.

The flavor in this drink comes from cardamom pods and sugar. In theory, you could make a cardamom simple syrup with equal parts sugar and water, simmering the green pods until they impart their Indian citrusy flavor, but I feel that my method saves time and actually uses less sugar.

Cardamom Americano

One shot of strong, high quality espresso (don’t skimp on this — buy something that is not instant, and ideally not from the United States. The Swiss and Italians know what they are doing)

One shot glass full of hot water

Three green cardamom pods

One teaspoon sugar

Place three cardamom pods in a small espresso cup. Pour in hot water and sugar, stirring well. It helps to lightly mash the cardamom pods when they are fully soaked, but do not crush the pods as swallowing or biting into whole cardamom is really unpleasant.

Add the coffee and stir. Serve with biscotti, a hookah, or whatever your pleasure is.