Vanilla Cardamom Cold Brew
The Vanilla Cardamom Cold Brew first appeared in a small Copenhagen café run by a former perfumer. She approached coffee the way she once composed fragrances — focusing on top notes, base notes, and the emotional texture of aromatics.
During an unusually warm Scandinavian summer, she began experimenting with cold brew layered with spices she encountered during her travels through Istanbul. Cardamom gave a cool, minty lift; vanilla added softness; cold brew provided the deep base note.
Locals began calling it the “Nordic Summer Chai.” Its balance of clarity and warmth turned it into an instant signature — refreshing, aromatic, and quietly addictive.
Ingredients
250 ml cold brew concentrate
150 ml cold water or milk of choice
1 vanilla bean or ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1–2 lightly crushed cardamom pods
Ice
Optional: 10 ml vanilla syrup for sweetness
Method
In a tall glass, combine cold brew and water or milk.
Add the crushed cardamom pods.
Split a vanilla bean and scrape in the seeds, or add vanilla extract.
Add ice and stir gently.
Sweeten to taste if desired.
Notes
Cardamom intensifies with time. Remove the pods after a few minutes if you prefer subtle spice.
Using milk creates a creamier, softer profile; using water gives you a sharper coffee expression.
