Malta is a coffee-loving nation. Whether it's a mug first thing in the morning to get us going for a busy day, or a cup in the afternoon when exhaustion starts taking over, many of us can't live without coffee.

But instead of taking coffee for granted, how about giving it a Maltese twist? Here are some interesting ways to make your next cup of coffee truly local!

 

Brew it the Maltese way

 

Coffee isn't grown locally, but we've made it our own throughout history. There is a very special Maltese way of brewing coffee, allowing the different flavours to come together and produce a beautiful result.

 

And here's how to brew it! Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Lower the flame and gently sprinkle 4 tablespoons of traditional ground coffee mix (also known as 'Kafe Msajjar' in Maltese). After around 3 minutes, stir and brew the mix for another 5 minutes without bringing it to a boil.

Add another 2 cups of water, and stir every so often for another 5 minutes. Finally, remove the mix from the heat and let the coffee residue sink to the bottom, or filter it through a fine strainer. You can then add aniseeds or cloves to make the final brew completely local!

 

Add locally produced spices

 

Adding spice to coffee isn't something that usually crosses our mind, but it's surely worth trying! Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom and black peppercorns are all very popular coffee additions.

Most of these spices are produced outside our shores, but you will be able to find homegrown versions in any of these herbs and spices outlets.

 

Sweeten it with Maltese honey

 

 

Honey is less processed and more nutritious than white sugar, making it an ideal coffee sweetener. It also has plenty of healthy antioxidants and antibacterial benefits. And, of course, honey tastes amazing — especially when it's totally Maltese.

 

 

Combine it with something traditionally sweet

How about enjoying your coffee with a sweet, tasty local treat? When it comes to Maltese sweets, the options are endless. From 'imqaret' (small date-filled pastries) and 'pudina tal-ħobż' (bread pudding with carob syrup) to a 'sinizza' (sweet pastry with ricotta and candied peel) or a 'Marmurat' pie (almond-filled and topped with chocolate and icing), these are all equally perfect accompaniments to coffee.

Any of these bakeries will have a variety of fresh traditional sweets!

 

Top up with a dash of Maltese liqueur

Give your coffee that extra kick with a shot of your favourite local liqueur. Some of the best liqueur options to accompany coffee include almond, orange and anisette flavours.

This is quite a popular winter tradition in Malta, to combat our cold and humid temperatures. It's definitely not something to try with every single cup of coffee, but it's a nice treat to enjoy occasionally.

 

Replace your mug with a glass

And a transparent one at that! If you want to enjoy coffee in the most Maltese way possible, 'kafe fit-tazza' (coffee in a glass) is the way to go.

 

Making coffee is easy, but getting it made for you is so much more satisfying. Discover local coffee by trying out any of the Cafes and Coffee Shops listed on Yellow.

And don't forget to rate and review them by signing up to the Yellow Club for free! The more you rate and review, the bigger your chance of redeeming fantastic prizes.

Search anything you need in a matter of seconds — visit www.yellow.com.mt!