Hot Beverages How-Tos


How To: Don't Buy Vitamin Water—Make Your Own Healthier Version at Home Without All That Sugar
How many of us actually drink enough water? It's one of the easiest ways to improve your health, but most people don't get nearly as much as they should. We've grown so accustomed to soda, coffee, and sugary juices that water just seems bland by comparison. That's why drinks like VitaminWater are so popular. They're marketed as being just like water, but better tasting and with even more vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and antioxidants. Who wouldn't want all the benefits of drinking water a...

How To: Make Your Own Red Bull Energy Drink at Home—Minus All of the Chemicals
Most people need their morning pick-me-up to get the day started right. There's a Starbucks on every corner and caffeine "shots" are sold in convenience stores everywhere. Even Mountain Dew is getting in on the action with its new KickStart "breakfast" drink (whatever that means). With a whopping 5% real fruit juice!

How To: Make cinnamon ginger tea
In this video, we learn how to make homemade cinnamon ginger tea. You will need cinnamon, ginger root, a cutting board, knife, potato peeler, saucepan, water and pitcher. First, heat saucepan up and boil water (a water bottle full). Next, throw in your cinnamon stick. Leave this simmering and then grab your ginger root and potato peeler. Peel your ginger root and slice it into thin slices (like an onion). Once your water and cinnamon is boiling, add in your ginger slices and let it boil until...

How To: Freeze water faster
Are you sick of how long it takes for ice to freeze? Need to get cubes faster? This video will show you how to prepare water so that is freezes faster.

How To: Brighten Up Your Party with These Cool Glow-in-the-Dark Cocktails
If you want to start the party out right, you have to impress the crowd with your awesome bartending skills. While lighting cocktails on fire is a nice way to warm up the crowd, it's been done by thousands of bartenders across the globe. Plus, if you're not careful, you could end up like this guy:

How To: Pick nettle leaves and prepare nettle tea
If you're still drinking tea from water infused with a dinky little tea bag then you're not really drinking tea at all. In fact, drinking tea from a tea bag you get at Ralph's is equivalent to eating a burger and fries at a fast food joint and thinking it's real food.

HowTo: DIY Ginger Ale - But Does It Beat Vernors?
Ginger ale is an American classic, particularly beloved by native Michiganders, home of the popular Vernors Ginger Ale.

How To: Make a Starbucks-style Frappuccino iced coffee drink
Want to make a Frappuccino like a champion barista? There are few skills as sure to win you friends as being able to make a really excellent cup of coffee. And all it takes to make a really great cup of coffee is knowledge of the proper technique, knowledge that can be won by watching free video coffee making lessons like this one. For more information, and to get started making this coffee drink yourself, watch this video guide.

How To: Gather and make tea from Stinging Nettles
Would you ever consider willing spending an idyllic day in the countryside harvesting... Stinging Nettles? And, having done so, make those bothersome plants into tea or even wine? If yes, than Rick van Man of Container Gardening For Food is here to help. He explains here in great detail how to gather the nettles safely and efficiently, then how to dry them and make them into tea leaves. He assures us that it is tasty and nutritious, but the disclaimer at the beginning of the video is worrisom...

How To: Make a cappuccino on a home espresso machine
In order to prepare Cappuccino with your home espresso machine, you will need the following: milk, coffee, an espresso machine. Fill steamed milk container 2/3 full of milk. Submerge the milk underneath the spinner, before you turn it on. Allow it to steam the milk, until it is warm and frothy. Keep an eye on it, judging the consistency for your self. Remove, when the milk is warm and frothy. Turn the machine off, before you remove the cup. Clean your wand.

How To: Make a layered latte
Bob Doyle shows how to make a layered latte at home. You need an espresso machine, any brand, and milk. Skim milk foams better but whole milk tastes better, so choose which you prefer. First, steam about 3 ounces of milk until your glass is about full. Set it aside. Start the espresso. Plan for about 6 ounces of espresso. Use a container with a lip to control how you pour because the key to a layered espresso is how fast you pour your espresso into your milk. Pour slowly, alternating with a f...

How To: Make raw unpasteurized milk kefir
Luci Lock shows you the secret to making a great homemade milk kefir.

How To: Make distilled water at home
This video shows us how to make distilled water for your carnivorous plants, such as a Venus Fly Trap.

How To: Set Up a Coffee Station at Your Buffet
When having a large dinner party or family gathering, having a coffee station set up saves the Host/hostess a lot of busy work. Guests like getting their own beverages rather than having to ask for one, and the coffee station is the key solution. Plus, one can serve several kinds of coffee and even tea at the same station.

How To: Use salt to make milk stay fresh for longer
Milk has a notoriously short shelf life, but you need it for so many things! How can you make sure that it stay fresh for as long as you need it to? Well, you can only buy as much milk as you need as you need it, or you can do like they do in this video and put salt in it, which will make it last longer.

How To: Stop Glugging Liquids from Cartons for Smooth, Spill-Free Pouring
Opening a brand new carton of juice can be disastrous if you're not careful. The air pressure on the inside of the carton is waiting to exit, but does so in a vigorous force when opening a carton for the first time.

How To: Prepare Moringa Tea
Moringa oleifera is one of the most rich sources of nutrients and vitamins that our body needs. It is rich in calcium, potassium, beta-carotene, Vitamin C, and iron. Moringa can be prepared as a vegetable or included in soups, but mostly just the leaves and fruits are used. Others prefer to drink it as tea.

How To: Revive Flat Soda with a DIY Tire Valve Coke Cap
Save your soda from going flat. The last drink will be as good as the first, even with 2 or 3 liter drinks!

How To: Make a chai latte with milk and chai powder
Want to make a chai latte like a champion barista? There are few skills as sure to win you friends as being able to make a really excellent cup of coffee. And all it takes to make a really great cup of coffee is knowledge of the proper technique, knowledge that can be won by watching free video coffee making lessons like this one. For more information, and to get started making this coffee drink yourself, watch this video guide.

How To: Make home-brewed rooibos & hibiscus herbal iced tea
Rooibos tea alone is a treat, with its naturally sweet and slightly nutty taste. But think about adding hibiscus tea to the mix. How about a little bit of tea flowers? Now, think about turning that wonderful red combination into iced tea. Perfect for hot summer days!

How To: Make Vietnamese coffee in a French press
Coffee helps make the world go round. Well not exactly, but it does help add a bit of energy to those who are finding an eight hour work day to be a tad bit overwhelming. Out of all the different types of coffee out there, this particular video will focus on Vietnamese coffee. It will show you how to make it by using a French press. Enjoy!

How To: Make Indian butter milk from curd
Sanjay Thumma teaches the secret of making north and south Indian buttermilk from curd. For the south Indian type finely chop down some green chilies, curry leaves, coriander and a crushed piece of ginger. Use some roasted cumin and roll it down to powder it as shown. Blend a cup of curd with 2 cups of water and add a pinch of salt to it. Finally add all other ingredients to the buttermilk to complete it in south Indian style. Now for the north Indian style add some cumin powder and chaat mas...

How To: Make the double breve latte
A double breve latte is a delicious coffee drink that's easy to make. Watch our barista show you how in this video.

How To: Make a Great Banana Smoothie
This video will show you how to make a great banana smoothie. The ingredients include ice, sugar, bananas etc.

How To: Make Low Fat and High Protein Apple Cinnamon Soya Shake
Many of you may already know that Soy milk is low on fat but at the same naturally high in proteins, essential fatty acids, and fibers. But if you're like me and can't stand the taste of Soy milk alone then I'll show you how to make it delicious by adding apples and cinnamon powder in this Apple Cinnamon Soya Shake recipe. Average preparation time: 10 Minutes

How To: Make Delicious Horchata
You know how you can go to those little Mexican restaurants that have the refreshing drink machines full of that sweet rice drink, horchata? Did it ever seem like some kind of arcane powdered mix or a secret recipe you would never know? If you've ever found a recipe, did you imagine it needing all these crazy ingredients that you can't find for cheap at your local supermarket?

How To: Use a SodaStream
Today we teach you how to use a SodaSoda Stream!

How To: Froth Milk for Cappuccinos
Today we show you how to froth milk for Coffee or Cappuccinos. Frothing milk is So Easy A Guy Can Do It!

How To: How Wine Is Made
Go to the Seghesio Vineyard in Sonoma!

How To: Want to Make Hot Chocolate Taste Better? Choose Your Mug Wisely!
If you ask me, one of the best things about winter weather is drinking warm beverages to beat the cold. Coffee is my favorite, but hot chocolate is a close second. Whether it's the just-add-water mix from a pack or a spicy homemade Mexican variety, there's something comforting about sipping on warm, liquid chocolate. Looks delicious, doesn't it?

How To: Flavor Your Water Naturally, Encouraging Hydration
Through the hot summer months staying properly hydrated can be difficult and boring. Water is not a good "flavor" after your third or fourth glass of the day. There are store-bought re-hydration beverages available but they are expensive and generally packed with sugar. Here is a simple way to flavor your water with things you most likely have in the house.

How To: Mix a Vanilla Frappuccino Martini cocktail
If you like Starbucks Frappuccinos but want to add a little bit of an alcoholic kick to them, try adding some vodka. Pouring some vanilla flavored vodka over the top of some and serving it in a chilled martini glass is a great way to quickly create a dessert drink. Enjoy this clip for the full Vanilla Frappuccino Martini recipe.

How To: Make Pastry Dough Pie Crust with Hubert Keller
Ingredients For a one-crust pie:

How To: Make a Delicious Healthy Smoothie
You will need frozen fruit

How To: Make a Cappuccino with an Espresso Maker
Cappuccinos are Italian beverages that are made up of espresso, steamed milk and frothed milk. An authentic cappuccino tastes delicious—the warm, tasty beverage will melt you away. Now, let's learn how to make it.

How To: Make a classic English dessert, sticky toffee pudding
A sweet and delicious dessert! To make this English delight, you will need: 2 1/4 cups pitted dates, 2 cups cold water, 3 teaspoons baking soda, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 1/4 cups sugar, 3 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons salt, 3 eggs, 1 3/4 cups flour, 2 cups light brown sugar, 2 cups heavy cream and fresh berries to garnish. Make a classic English dessert, sticky toffee pudding.

How To: Make the classic chocolate milkshake like a malt shop used to do
A nostalgic throwback to the soda shoppes of yore. To make this delicious shake, you will need: 1 cup of whole milk, 8 ounces of chocolate ice cream, 2 tablespoons of dark chocolate syrup or fudge topping, whipped cream and a blender. Make the classic chocolate milkshake like a malt shop used to do.

How to Make Coca-Cola: The Secret Formula Revealed
The battle between Pepsi and Coke has been a grueling one, with both sides securing their secret formulas for great tasting, addicting sodas behind lock and key.

How To: Make Simple Homemade Grape Juice
Things You'll Need 5-20 lbs. grapes

How To: Make your own chai latte at home from scratch
Don't use any more expensive chai extracts or powders! You can make your own delicious chai latter at home. All you need is some black tea (English breakfast works well), a little milk and a few spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves or nutmeg.