The Golden Maple Glow Up is an iced coffee built around contrasts: bright citrus, real maple syrup, bold Lioness Espresso and a silky vanilla-maple foam.
It looks elaborate in the glass, but the method is simple. The layers are mainly about pouring slowly and keeping the coffee cold.
Why Lioness works here
Lioness is Urban Calm's espresso roast, pairing specialty Colombian Arabica with Lion's Mane and Cordyceps fruiting body extracts. The deeper roast profile is useful in a layered iced drink because the coffee does not disappear once milk, ice and flavour are added.
The functional mushrooms are part of the coffee blend, but this recipe is about flavour, not a promise that one drink will create a particular health or performance outcome.
Golden Maple Glow Up ingredients
Makes 1 drink
Coffee layer
- 1 strong serving of Urban Calm Lioness Espresso mushroom coffee, chilled
Golden citrus base
- 1 tbsp fresh orange juice, strained
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tsp pure maple syrup
- Small pinch ground turmeric for colour
- Tiny pinch fine sea salt
Maple cloud foam
- 60 mL oat milk or 2% milk
- 1 tbsp heavy cream or barista-style oat milk
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
To serve
- Ice, ideally larger cubes
How to make it
1. Prepare the citrus base
Combine orange juice, lemon juice, maple syrup, turmeric and salt in a small jar. Seal and shake for 10 to 15 seconds until evenly blended.
2. Build the bottom layer
Fill a tall glass with ice and pour the citrus mixture over it.
3. Add the Lioness coffee
Slowly pour the chilled coffee over the back of a spoon. This slows the pour and helps create a more visible layer.
4. Make the maple foam
Combine milk, cream or barista oat milk, maple syrup and vanilla. Froth until thick but still pourable.
5. Finish the drink
Gently pour the foam over the coffee. Serve right away and stir before drinking if you prefer the flavours fully combined.
Tips for better layers
- Chill the coffee before assembling the drink.
- Use a full glass of ice.
- Pour each layer slowly.
- Do not over-froth the milk. It should be silky enough to pour.
- Taste your orange juice before making the drink. Very tart citrus may need slightly more maple syrup.
Can you make it less sweet?
Yes. Reduce the maple syrup in either the citrus layer or foam. Keeping a small amount in both layers preserves the flavour without making the drink dessert-like.
Can you make it dairy-free?
Yes. Use a barista-style oat milk for the foam. It generally creates better texture than a very thin plant milk.
Shop Lioness Espresso mushroom coffee or see more ideas in 5 Easy Mushroom Coffee Recipes for Busy Mornings.
