Maca Coffee Recipe
Maca Coffee is a delicious drink that has potential health benefits including boosting libido, energy, and fertility. Learn how to make this easy Maca Coffee recipe that is naturally sweetened without refined sugars.
Why Maca Coffee?
A mug of freshly brewed coffee is excellent for a quick energy boost, but what happens when the caffeine wears off? You may want to consider making Maca Coffee for a multi-faceted approach to increase energy.
Maca is an ancient plant that grows in the Andean mountain range at high altitudes. Peruvians have been using this superfood for over 2,000 years as part of their culture.
Maca has scientific research on its medicinal properties that may help to treat health conditions like rheumatic disease and respiratory infections.
These days, maca plant is popular worldwide as a wonder root that boosts endurance and energy and increases sexual functions such as fertility and libido. It’s also a top choice to reduce menopause symptoms and boost energy and endurance.
If you’re thinking of trying this energizing drink, you’ll be happy to know that even though it’s a super healthy root related to radish, it doesn’t taste anything like it.
Maca has a unique taste that some people like, but others are not too crazy about it. With a good recipe (like this one!), it can taste like a dessert.
Maca Coffee Benefits
- Maca is a superfood that may boost your stamina, energy, and libido. So if you need help with any of these, this is a great drink to consider.
- Skip the packaged maca drink mixes and make this recipe. It’s super easy to make, low in calories, and has a great earthy flavor. It’s also naturally gluten free. Adapt it your dietary needs such as making it dairy free.
- Maca coffee may have a positive effect on energy and other potential benefits, making it great before hitting the gym.
Making Maca Coffee
This recipe is pretty straightforward and doesn’t require any fancy equipment. You can make it in minutes with a few basic things most kitchens should have.
Here’s what you’ll need:
1. Something to Make Coffee With
Whether you use a standard drip coffee maker, Moka pot, percolator, French press, or the pour-over method of making coffee, anything will work. As long as you can brew some fresh coffee, the method doesn’t matter.
2. Handheld Electric Frother
You can use any whisk or frother for this recipe. I prefer using a handheld battery-powered electric frother because it’s quick and easy and makes cleaning up a breeze.
If you don’t have a frother, you can use a matcha whisk or another small whisk to mix the ingredients well.
3. A Travel Mug
Maca coffee is an excellent on-the-go drink whether you like it hot or cold. If you don’t have a travel mug, you can use any other mug.
Ingredients and Substitutes
There is no standard way to serve coffee. It is one of those drinks that you can adapt to any flavor profile.
Some of us enjoy the pure coffee taste without anything added, while others prefer to have it sweetened, with milk, or both. The same applies to maca coffee.
Here is some information about the recipe ingredients and some ideas you can try.
Coffee
Start with coffee beans or ground coffee. You can brew your coffee with hot water in any way you prefer, as strong or mild as you like, and with any coffee-brewing method. Coffee is naturally low in calories and has fantastic health benefits.
I recommend using organic coffee.
If you’re making cold maca coffee, brew your coffee a little stronger, the ice cubes will dilute it slightly.
And, if you can’t tolerate coffee, you can always use a coffee substitute such as chicory root or herbal coffee.
Maca Powder
Maca root powder is known for helping resolve hormonal imbalance, erectile dysfunction, low libido (sexual desire or sex drive), low energy levels, and more. But, as with all “functional foods,” it really depends on whether or not it works for you.
And, of course, always consult your healthcare provider before adding any new supplements to your diet.
When you buy maca, make sure you get a high quality 100% maca powder without any added binders, fillers, preservatives, or sweeteners.
It’s also worth looking for GMO-free and organic maca powder grown in Peru. It not only supports local farmers who still use traditional growing practices, but it’s also where the original and most nutrient-dense maca comes from.
Cacao Powder
As with maca powder, only use premium cacao powder without any sweeteners and additives.
Cacao also has powerful health properties! It is packed with flavonoids which can help improve blood flow, reduce the risk of diabetes, and more. Cacao is raw cocoa that hasn’t been roasted.
It adds notes of luxurious chocolate to this latte recipe.
You can also use cocoa powder if you prefer. Or, feel free to use organic carob or organic chicory if you want a more herbal flavor.
Plant Milk
This recipe uses almond milk, but you can use any plant milk including coconut milk, oat milk, or cashew milk. Feel free to experiment with other types of milk to mix it up.
If you aren’t on a dairy-free diet, you can also use regular dairy milk, half-and-half, or cream. The milk makes the drink like a maca latte.
Sweetener
The coffee and cacao are both bitter, and the maca has an earthy butterscotch-like flavor which pairs particularly well with sweet flavors.
Honey complements this perfectly, but you can use any other sweetener like maple syrup, organic coconut sugar, agave, or stevia.
Cinnamon
The cinnamon brings out the maca flavor, but if you don’t have any, or don’t like cinnamon, feel free to omit it. Your maca coffee will still be delicious! You can also try vanilla extract for a great flavor.
Recipe Tips & Substitutions
- If you aren’t on a dairy-free diet, you can also use regular dairy milk, half-and-half, or cream.
- You can use any type of sweetener in this recipe. Instead of honey, you can use maple syrup, stevia, or your choice.
- Leave out the cacao powder and ground cinnamon if you want a plain version of this coffee drink.
Maca Coffee Recipe FAQs
No, maca and matcha are not the same at all! Maca is a powder made from the root of a plant grown in the Andes mountains in Peru, and matcha is a powder made from young green tea leaves that originates from Japan. Both are superfoods and have health benefits, but they are very different. See my recipe for Matcha Latte.
It tastes earthy and nutty with a butterscotch-like flavor. I also think that it has a mild malt flavor. Not everyone likes the taste of maca powder, but if you combine it with the right ingredients, you can enjoy a delicious maca-based drink.
Yes, but speak to your doctor first to make sure that it’s okay for you.
You may experience side effects including fluctuations in hormones, so it’s best to start with a small amount of maca to make sure it agrees with you. Speak to your healthcare provider if you have questions about whether maca coffee is right for you.
More Healthy Coffee Recipes You Might Like
- Pumpkin Pie Spice Coffee
- Dairy-Free Matcha Coffee
- Iced Coffee Recipe
- Butter Coffee
- Coconut Matcha Latte
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Maca Coffee Recipe
Maca Coffee is a delicious drink that has potential health benefits including boosting libido and fertility. Learn how to make this easy Maca Coffee recipe that is naturally sweetened without refined sugars.
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Ingredients
- 6 ounces hot, brewed coffee
- 2 teaspoons maca powder
- 1 teaspoon cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk (or your choice of creamer)
- 1 tablespoon honey or another sweetener
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Brew the coffee and pour it into a mug.
- Stir in the milk, maca powder, cacao powder, sweetener, and cinnamon.
- Use a hand-held electric whisk and blend for 1 minute.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- If you aren’t on a dairy-free diet, you can also use regular dairy milk, half-and-half, or cream.
- You can use any type of sweetener in this recipe. Instead of honey, you can use maple syrup, stevia, or your choice.
- Leave out the cacao powder and ground cinnamon if you want a plain version of Maca Coffee.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Coffee Maker
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Diet: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 84
- Sugar: 17.4 g
- Sodium: 28.6 mg
- Fat: 1.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 21.2 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.
Note: this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for recommendations related to your individual situation.
I love the malty flavor of Maca Coffee…it’s delicious!