Iced Kopi Jahe (Indonesian Spiced Coffee)
Kopi Jahe (Indonesian Coffee) is a treat to have and is a delicious way to mix up your morning routine. Having it iced is even better when the weather is sweltering outside. Instant coffee makes this recipe super convenient and gives bold espresso taste without any fancy equipment. While not the traditional method, the rempah simple syrup is an easier way to control the sweetness and spiciness of the coffee and it lasts forever in the fridge for when you want another glass!
Ingredients
Rempah Simple Syrup
- 1 cup palm sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 stalk lemongrass
- 4 cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
- 1 inch inch piece of ginger
To Serve
- 4 tbsp instant ground Sumatra coffee (Nescafe is my go-to) This is to serve 4. If making one serving only, use 1 tablespoon of coffee.
- 1½ cups full fat coconut milk, or more to taste
- Crushed ice
Instructions
To Make The Rempah Syrup
- Lightly bash the lemongrass with the back of your knife to release the oils. Then cut into medium sized pieces.
- Lightly crush the cardamom pods with the side of your knife until they are slightly cracked.
- Peel and slice the ginger into thin rounds.
- In a pot, bring the water to a simmer and add the palm sugar, lemongrass, cardamom, cinnamon and ginger. Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes or until reduced by half and the syrup is amber brown.
- Remove from the heat and steep for another 10-15 minutes. Strain the syrup into a clean mason jar. At this point you can use the syrup immediately for hot kopi jahe or chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
To Serve (Iced or Hot Options)
- To serve iced, dissolve a tablespoon of instant coffee and 2 tablespoons of the rempah syrup in a glass with a tablespoon of hot water. Mix well until the coffee is dissolved.
- Pour in 1/2 cup of cold water and mix until combined.
- Top with ice and coconut milk to taste.
- To serve hot, dissolve a tablespoon of instant coffee and 2 tablespoons of syrup in 1/2 cup of hot water. A milk frother does the job well, but you can also just use a spoon.
- Gradually mix in the coconut milk until your desired flavor and color appear.
- Pour into coffee mugs and enjoy!