10 Homemade Coffee Syrup Recipes That Beat Store Bought Hands Down

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A fresh cup of coffee can be one of the best ways to begin the day. But when your morning brew begins to bore your tastebuds, motivation to take on the day without your daily cup can be more of a challenge. Of course, you can grab a to-go order at your nearest coffee shop, but these excursions can become pricey…fast.

Instead, try your hand at making your own barista-approved coffee at home. Many coffee shops give your beverage that magical taste that’s so addicting by using a pump or two of a plethora of different simple syrups. While you can find these syrups at your grocery store, it’s just as easy to make your own right at home.

What Is Simple Syrup?

Simple syrups are really just that, simple. In its most basic form, a simple syrup is an easy-to-make mixture of equal parts sugar and water–most recipes typically follow a 1:1 ratio. With such a simple recipe, these homemade coffee syrups allow you to have fun and get creative with your combinations. In the summer, you can pick fresh fruit and turn them into a delicious concoction for cocktails, mocktails, and lemonades. If you want to experiment with the spice cabinet, you can create a delicious simple syrup for your hot or iced coffees, or, you can drizzle some over pastries. 

Because of their simple nature, most syrups can often be made in around 20 minutes. However, more involved recipes that require you to steep ingredients for maximum flavor can take between 30 to 45 minutes to create.

Essentials You Need To Make Simple Syrups

Most simple syrups for your coffee can be made using ingredients already found in your pantry. However, there are a few essential tools that you will need to properly make and store your syrups. 

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Image: Amazon

Mesh Strainer Set

Cuisinart

Most infused simple syrup recipes that you’ll make for your coffee will require you to strain herbs, nuts, and other add-ins, so your syrup will have a smooth texture. When doing so, you’ll want a tool made with a fine weave that can catch all of the spices and herbs you’ve infused your syrups with. 

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Image: Amazon

Glass Swing Bottle

Bormioli Rocco

When stored properly in an airtight glass jar or bottle, your simple syrup can last up to three weeks in your refrigerator. If a glass bottle isn’t your style, you can put those empty pasta sauce jars to use and pour your simple syrups in them!

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How To Make Your Own Homemade Coffee Syrup

Now that you’ve collected all of your essential tools, it’s time to get started on making your own simple syrups. We’ve gathered some of the best recipes that are sure to mix up your morning brew. 

Classic Vanilla Syrup

There’s a reason vanilla is such a classic flavor. This vanilla-infused simple syrup adds just the right amount of sweetness to your coffee, without being too overpowering for your tastebuds.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 vanilla bean (can substitute for 1 tablespoon vanilla extract)

How To Make It:

1. In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar. If you opt for a vanilla bean, split it open and scrape the seeds into the mixture.

2. Over medium heat, bring the syrup to a simmer, consistently stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.

3. Remove the mixture from heat. If you opt for vanilla extract instead of a vanilla bean, this is the time to stir it in.

4. Let the syrup cool, then strain it with a fine mesh strainer to remove any vanilla bean remnants.

5. Pour the syrup into a bottle or jar and store in your refrigerator. 

Cinnamon Infused Syrup

Adding cinnamon syrup to your coffee not only brings a sweet-meets-spicy flavor to your palette–it also brings the taste of warmth to your morning cup that’s perfect for the colder seasons ahead. When making this syrup, it’s best to use cinnamon sticks rather than substituting for the ground spice, so that you can enjoy a more intense cinnamon flavor.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 2-3 cinnamon sticks

How To Make It:

1. In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, and cinnamon sticks.

2. Over medium heat, bring the syrup to a simmer, consistently stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.

3. Remove from heat and let the mixture steep for 20 minutes to infuse the cinnamon flavor.

4. Remove the cinnamon sticks and strain the syrup with a fine mesh strainer.

5. Pour the syrup into a bottle or jar and store in your refrigerator. 

Hazelnut Coffee Syrup

Hazelnut is known for adding depth and complexity to your beverages, and this coffee syrup recipe is no different. With a balanced flavor of sweetness and nutty, this rich syrup warms your spirit, and satisfies your sweet tooth, too.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts

How To Make It:

1. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast your hazelnuts for five to eight minutes, or until they’re fragrant and slightly golden. 

2. In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, and toasted hazelnuts.

3. Over medium heat, bring the syrup to a simmer, consistently stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.

4. Remove from heat and let the mixture rest for 20 minutes to infuse it with maximum hazelnut flavor. 

5. Strain the syrup with a fine mesh strainer to remove the hazelnut pieces.

6. Pour the syrup into a bottle or jar and store in your refrigerator. 

Note: Prefer almond coffee syrup? Swap out the hazelnuts in this recipe for almonds!

Mocha Simple Syrup

Who doesn’t love chocolate-flavored everything? This comforting combination of coffee and chocolate is perfect for those cold, snowy days curled up in a blanket.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup cocoa powder

How To Make It:

1. In a small saucepan, whisk together water, sugar, and cocoa powder until well combined.

2. Over medium heat, bring the syrup to a simmer, consistently stirring until the sugar and cocoa powder are fully dissolved.

3. Remove from heat and let it cool.

4. Pour the syrup into a bottle or jar and store in your refrigerator. 

5. Shake well before using, as the cocoa powder may settle over time.

Lavender Honey Syrup

Although, for some, lavender has an acquired taste, this syrup gives your coffee a unique, herbal flavor, and it can even help you relax, too!

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender

• 1/4 cup honey

Raw Manuka Honey

Manukora

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Dried Lavender Flowers

Eat Well

How To Make It:

1. In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, and dried lavender.

2. Over medium heat, bring the syrup to a simmer, consistently stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved.

3. Allow the syrup to simmer for two to three minutes to infuse the lavender aroma.

4. Remove from heat and stir in the honey until well combined.

5. Let the syrup cool.

6. With a fine mesh strainer, strain out the lavender. 

7. Pour the syrup into a bottle or jar and store in your refrigerator. 

Brown Sugar Syrup

This elevated simple syrup swaps your typical granulated sugar for brown sugar to create a rich, caramel-like flavor that will have you dreaming of your next cup. 

Try this: If you’re a chai drinker, try adding a tablespoon or two to your next cup.

What You’ll Need:

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 water

• 2-3 cinnamon sticks

How To Make It:

1. In a small saucepan, combine water, brown sugar, and cinnamon sticks.

2. Over medium heat, bring the syrup to a simmer, stirring occasionally until the brown sugar is fully dissolved.

3. Allow the mixture to simmer for two to three minutes to infuse the cinnamon flavor.

4. Remove from heat and let it cool before removing the cinnamon sticks.

5. Pour the syrup into a bottle or jar and store in your refrigerator. 

Chai Spice Syrup

With this simple syrup recipe, you can combine the best of both tea and coffee to your morning routine. This syrup adds a complex flavor to your brew with its rich blend of spices.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 4-6 black tea bags (can be substituted for 2 to 3 tablespoons of loose black tea)

• 4-6 whole cloves

• 2-3 cinnamon sticks

• 6-8 cardamom pods, lightly crushed

• 1 small piece of fresh ginger, sliced (about 1 inch)

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

English Breakfast Tea

Harney & Sons

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Cardamom Pods

The Spice Way

How To Make It:

1. In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, sliced ginger, and ground nutmeg.

2. Over medium heat, bring the syrup to a simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.

3. Once the sugar is fully dissolved, reduce the heat to low and add the black tea bags or loose black tea.

4. Let the mixture steep for about 10 to 15 minutes, allowing the spices and tea to infuse the syrup.

5. Remove the saucepan from heat and let the syrup cool with the tea bags and spices still in the mixture for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.

6. After the syrup is completely cooled, remove the tea bags and strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer to remove the spices.

7. Pour the syrup into a bottle or jar and store in your refrigerator. 

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

It can be fall all year-round with a pumpkin spice coffee syrup. Another infusion that’s perfect for finding comfort on those chilly days, this syrup adds a familiar sweet and earthy flavor to your coffee.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

How To Make It:

1. In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, pumpkin puree, cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.

2. Over medium heat, bring the syrup to a simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. 

3. While stirring, slowly mix the pumpkin puree in. 

4. Once the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is well combined, let it simmer for five to seven minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

5. Remove the saucepan from heat and let the syrup cool with the spices still in the mixture for an additional 10-15 minutes.

6. After cooling, remove the cinnamon sticks and strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer to remove any remaining spices and pumpkin bits.

7. Pour the syrup into a bottle or jar and store in your refrigerator.

Brown Sugar Maple Syrup

If you’re tired of plain sugar and creamers, mix it up with a brown sugar maple syrup. This syrup has a warm, caramel-like flavor with just a hint of maple sweetness that creates a harmonious combination when mixed with the bitter taste of coffee.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup

How To Make It:

1. In a small saucepan, combine water, brown sugar, and maple syrup.

2. Over medium heat, bring the syrup to a simmer, consistently stirring until the brown sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is well combined.

3. Allow the syrup to cool, then pour it into a bottle or jar and store in your refrigerator.

Maple Pecan Syrup

Making this syrup will fill your home with just as many feelings of warmth as it will your coffee. It has a sweet and nutty flavor that pairs well with coffee’s natural bitterness without overwhelming your tastebuds.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup chopped toasted pecans

• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup

How To Make It:

1. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast your pecans for two to five minutes, or until they’re fragrant and slightly golden. 

2. Once toasted, roughly chop the pecans.

3. In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, and chopped pecans.

4. Over medium heat, bring the syrup to a simmer, consistently stirring until the sugar fully dissolves. 

5. Let the mixture simmer for two to three minutes to infuse the pecan flavor.

6. Remove from heat and stir in the maple syrup until well incorporated.

7. Allow the syrup to cool, then strain out the pecan pieces with a fine mesh strainer. 

8. Pour it into a bottle or jar and store in your refrigerator.

Once you’ve strained the mixtures and let them cool, it’s time to add them to your coffee. To sweeten your drink, add one to two tablespoons per eight ounces of coffee (the equivalent of your favorite standard-sized mug). Of course, this amount can be adjusted based on your taste.