I don’t know what the closing of 600 Starbucks nationwide did to you, but here, in our small, coffee-loving community, the loss of our one and only is cause for disappointment and white-knuckled panic. Well, maybe not panic, but certainly thought.

So, whether it’s preparing for the disappearance of your favorite coffee shop or planning a quite morning coffee for you and your honey, below are some recipes to get you started. Be creative! Adapt these to your likes and get your own creative juices flowing.

Hot Coffees

Alpine Coffee

• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp water

1. Dissolve brown sugar in 1 Tbsp water, heat in a saucepan to boiling.
2. Add vanilla; add to coffee.
3. Stir well and serve.

Makes 2 cups.

Café’ Francais

• 1 cup heavy cream, chilled
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 cups hot coffee

1. Beat the cream until it can make soft peaks.
2. Mix in sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.
3. Split whipped cream between 4 mugs.
4. Add vanilla to hot coffee and pour over cream.
5. Do not stir. Serve immediately.

Arabian Coffee

(great for those Arabian nights …)

• 1 pint water
• 3 tbsp ground coffee
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp cardamom
• 1 tsp vanilla

1. Heat all ingredients until foam starts to form on top. Traditionally, this coffee is not strained through a filter (but I won’t tell if you don’t!)
2. Serve immediately.

Black Forrest Coffee

• 1 cup coffee
• 2 Tbsp chocolate syrup
• 1 Tbsp maraschino cherry juice
• whipped cream (see coffee whipped cream recipe below)
• chocolate shavings
• 1 maraschino cherry

1. Combine coffee, chocolate syrup and cherry juice.
2. Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and cherry.

Cold Coffees

Raspberry-Mocha Iced Coffee

• 2 cups coffee
• ½ cup chocolate syrup
• ½ cup raspberry syrup
• ice

1. Mix all ingredients in blender.
2. Garnish with mint leaves or chocolate bits.

Café’ le Lemon

• 1 Tbsp. lemon extract
• 12 oz coffee
• 1 cup lemon sherbet

1. Fill a 16 oz glass ice cream.
2. Add lemon extract.
3. Pour coffee over. Stir to combine.

Cafe Brulot

• ½ cinnamon stick, roughly broken
• whole cloves
• Tbsp each lemon and orange zest
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 1/8 cup Cognac
• 1 Tbsp orange liqueur
• 1 cup hot coffee

1. Combine cinnamon, cloves, orange and lemon zest, and sugar in a meduim sized saucepan.
2. Stir in Cognac and liqueur.
3. Using a long match, carefully light the mixture and slowly pour in coffee, stirring until flames subside. Serves two

Indian Cold Coffee

• 1 Quart cold milk
• 2 Tbsp instant coffee powder 
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• 3 Tbsp Sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 2 cups ice cubes

1. Mix all ingredients except ice in blender for 30 – 40 seconds.
2. Add Ice cubes and blend another 30 seconds.
3.  Top with whipped coffee cream, hazelnut bits and grated dark chocolate.

Coffee Bonus

Whipped Coffee Cream

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tsp instant espresso powder
• 3 Tbsps powdered sugar

1. Combine cream and instant espresso in deep bowl; refrigerate 10 minutes.
2. Beat cream, starting on the lowest speed of electric mixer, gradually increase speed to high as you slowly add pwodered sugar, until cream is thick enough to peak.

Serve over coffees, chocolate or mocha ice cream, apple pie or be creative and try something totally different!

Makes two cups

Try your hand at creating a new coffee recipe. Instead of lemon sherbet, try coffee with chocolate mint ice cream, perhaps, or try a different variety of spices for a hot coffee. And just think, sitting sipping a cup of your own creation as the sun rises on you and your sweetie: Starbucks may come and Starbucks may go, but you can always brew a great cup of coffee yourself.