You know it's bad when the smell of coffee reminds you of Christmas commercials from your childhood. I may seriously be giving away my age on this one, but the Folgers commercial when the long lost brother returns home on Christmas morning and wakes the family with a pot of coffee brewing is one that still reminds me of home, Christmas morning, and coffee. For that reason I would say it's one of the most effective commercials I've ever seen. It connects the dots in my mind between a wonderful fragrance, fond memories, and happy moments. Brilliant if you ask me.

While it isn't quite Christmas time, Christmas is coming and many coffee makers are coming out with their fantastic brews, blends, and concoctions for the season. If you enjoy the convenience of having all those things in one package and are willing to pay the price for the privilege of convenience then all is well and good. For those of you who'd like a method for enjoying holiday flavored coffee without going to quite the extent of expense that these special blends will command there are options available to you as well.

First of all, it isn't all that difficult to add your own little bit of Christmas cheer to your cup of coffee and no it doesn't have to be 80 proof. Christmas year can be as simple as whipped cream, nutmeg, maple syrup, or a peppermint stick. It's all about combining sensations in order to achieve on underlying goal. In this instance it will be the combination of taste and smell that will remind you of long ago Christmases or serve to create a new memory and/or a new favorite flavor.

Other options that are a little more involved include making your own coffee spoons. By the way, these make excellent gifts for any coffee lovers in your life. Instructions can be found widely over the Internet and are quite easy to follow. The results are delicious and they aren't incredibly expensive to make. Coffee spoons are not limited to one flavor so they can easily accommodate a combination of flavors, which you can add to your coffee.

You can also elect to buy one of the less expensive coffee blends and jazz it up with any of the items mentioned above. You will be amazed at how much one simple addition can enhance the flavor of your coffee. You should also be aware that you need good quality beans to begin with or all the enhancement in the world isn't going to create a decent cup of coffee.

Good memories begin for many with good coffee. This is the drink that gets our days off to a good start and is for many, the best part of waking up (another clever coffee jingle). If you are looking for a little something to add to your morning cup of coffee as the holidays approach think of the things (smells, tastes, feelings) that remind you of the holidays and try to find flavors that will recreate these things for you. It's a great way to improve upon something that is nearly perfect already.