So recently, I heard my friend’s grandma use the term “coffee klatch” while on the phone with one of her friends. And as a coffee addict, I was genuinely surprised when I learned there was a coffee term that I was not familiar with.
Simply put a coffee klatch is a meetup between friends for a cup of joe and something small to eat. I’ve been unknowingly partaking in coffee klatches my whole life.
A coffee klatch is an old school way of meeting up with friends to gossip and share a cup of coffee. It is an old pastime now associated with grandmas and the older generation. However, there has been a resurgence of coffee klatching among the younger generation.
Origins of the Coffee Klatch
The word coffee klatch actually comes from the German word Kaffeeklatsch literally translating to coffee chat. This turned into “coffee klatsch” which is a more sophisticated way of saying the same thing. Now we have the coffee klatch which is a retro term that is coming back into our vernacular.
Many people have anglicized the word to “coffee clutch”, but that is the incorrect term.
Coffee Klatches were common in the 50s and 60s, since many women were enjoying peace after the end of World War II. During this time marriages and home ownership rates surged and Americans were pursing the “American Dream” consisting of a happy family and suburban house.
Due to suburbanization at the time and the rise of automobiles this allowed for commuting into urban areas for work. This allowed people move out and live in their own homes with more privacy. Along with this privacy came more gossip and meetups between the wives that were left at home while the husbands worked.
During this time coffee klatches were a common occurrence to catch up with friends, neighbors, and family. This usually happened when the spouse was working and children was at school.
The old school coffee klatch was held at one of the homes and they provided coffee and desserts.
The Modern-Day Coffee Klatch
Many readers may have unknowingly done a coffee klatch with friends or family. Many times coffee dates can even be considered coffee klatches.
Today we have cafes on every corner and for the price of a latte you can sit there and enjoy the atmosphere to talk with friends for hours. However, even with cafe locations at an all-time high according to the National Coffee Assn. in New York, coffee consumption has been decreasing since its peak in the 1960s. Why do you think that is? Americans used to throw back an average of three cups a day. Now, coffee drinkers drink less than two cups a day on average. Those are rookie numbers!
The difference between us now and historically is now we are constantly connected to thousands of friends. However, we can learn to slow down and talk with friends that really matter and have our own coffee klatch once in a while.
How to Host Your Own Coffee Klatch
Over this coming weekend you can easily host your own coffee klatch with a few friends and have a great time. Spending time with friends and just talking is severely underrated. To host your own coffee klatch you just have to do these few steps:
1. Host your coffee klatch like an event
It might be hard convincing your friends to come over to your house to sip coffee and gossip so you will have to put in some effort to entice them. Lets be real, they will probably “busy” lounging around in their underwear and watching Netflix.
You will have to prepare a theme or dinner for you coffee klatch and send out events like you’re holding a party. You can use physical cards or use a calendar invite, but make sure they confirm! You don’t want your efforts to be in vain.
2. Plan out the details
You can be creative at this part! If you have a gathering idea that you’ve had in mind that you’ve wanted to try this is the perfect time to set it up.
Here are some ideas that I’ve tried and have great feedback with:
- Food tastings with Miracle Berry (turns sour foods sweet due to miraculin inside the berry). You can buy some of this on Amazon and it is a unique experience that will blow your mind!
- Cheese tastings with many different types of cheese and coffee.
- Dessert day and it can also be baking day. Get your friends involved in the baking!
You will also have to prepare the coffee and the cups. What I like doing for my coffee klatches is preparing some freshly roasted coffee from a local roaster and preparing a large amount of cold brew and then freshly brewing drip coffee just as the guests arrive. This way we can enjoy coffee while we enjoy our activities.
Make sure you have all the additives that go with coffee. While I usually like my coffee black I have to be considerate for the others. Keep some tea just in case someone gets coffeeied out and wants a different drink. Of course have sugar, milk/creamer, and even flavor syrups if you want to go all out!
If you hold these events often it will be great to designate cups to your friends. This way they have a personal connection with their cup and there could be an inside joke or story behind the cup you get them.
3. Prepare your famous dish
It won’t be a coffee klatch without something to snack on. This is the time to whip out that secret recipe that you’ve been waiting to use. Many times this is when the grandmas bring out their signature dish; imagine the best cookies, the fluffiest cake, and an umptious pie.
If you don’t have one this is when you will practice and perfect your dish. Don’t worry your friends won’t judge you! This is how all the best secret recipes are developed. You should alternate with your friends hosting coffee klatches at each others houses.
My Secret Coffee Klatch Dish
In my opinion, the best snack to go with coffee is Stroopwafel, two layers of thinly baked dough with a caramel filling making a crisp cookie. You can place this on top of a mug of warm coffee and it will heat up your cookie and soften the caramel filling giving you a heavenly combination of cookie, caramel, and coffee.
To make this you don’t need any special equipment. All you need is:
For the Dough
- 1/2 cup of warm water
- 1 packet of yeast
- 4 cups of flour
- 1 cup of salted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 2 eggs
For the Filling
- 1 cup of salted butter
- 1 and a 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 3/8 cup of dark corn syrup
Instructions
- Mix the warm water and yeast in a bowl.
- In the bowl add flour, softened butter, cinnamon, sugar, and egg.
- Whisk the mixture until everything is combined into a dough.
- Kneed the dough until it is smooth and set it aside for later.
- In a pan combine the butter, brown sugar, and dark corn syrup for the filling.
- Put this mixture on medium heat and stir until it is bubbling and all the sugar has dissolved.
- Using a separate pan put it on medium heat and drop a golf ball sized ball of dough on the pan.
- Place a weight on the dough or use a grill press and cook for around 60 seconds until golden brown and then flip.
- Once both sides have been browned let it cool and slice it in half.
- Lastly, spread the filling inside the wafel and create a sandwich.