Tea cocktails are a topic I've been covering for the last few years. They are growing in popularity as people seek out new and unusual flavor profiles in their libations, as well as "healthier" ways to consume alcohol. Tea-infused liquors are showing up in innovative bars and major cities across the U.S., and they're a topic that has received a fair amount of buzz on my About Coffee/Tea Twitter account. You can make your own tea-infused vodkas as a base for more complex tea cocktails or as a delicious sipping alcohol. Here are three new recipes to get you started with tea cocktails:

• Green Tea Vodka Recipe
• Oolong Tea Vodka Recipe
• Black Tea Vodka Recipe (pictured here)

Do you have a favorite tea cocktail or tea-infused liquor recipe? Share it in the comments below!

Photo (c) Lindsey Goodwin

Great barista skills can take years to hone, but the basic concepts behind skillfully crafted espresso drinks are fairly basic. Looking at the basics (like pulling shots) step by step (such as techniques for tamping) makes the learning process less daunting. With that in mind, I'm working on a series of barista skills tutorials and recipes.

I'm kicking this project off with the essential elements of making great coffeehouse drinks: how to pull espresso shots and how to foam milk. Once you've mastered those two techniques, you can use them to make a variety of espresso drinks, such as cappuccinos and espresso macchiatos.

Over the next few months, I'll add to the linked recipes in this list of espresso drinks, so watch for more drinks soon!

Photo (c) Lindsey Goodwin

Looking for a last-minute coffee/tea gift? Gift certificates aside, here are some beverage-related gifts you can buy or make in time to cross those last few people off your list:

For the techie: A cool, new Coffee/Tea iPhone app
For the chocoholic: Coffee chocolate truffles
For the cocktail lover: Coffee-infused vodka, green-tea-infused vodka, black tea vodka or oolong vodka
For the office: Coffee cake, biscotti, Kahlua brownies or gingerbread scones
Extra goodies for the family: Hot chocolate, mulled apple cider, masala chai or egg nog

Photo (c) Lindsey Goodwin

Coffee pairings are getting to be a major trend. Cutting edge restaurants are venturing into new culinary realms by using coffee as an ingredient and as a foil to haute cuisine, while Starbucks is doing more of a Beta testing with their pairings. (Coffee with coffee cake? It's not very interesting, but it's a step in the right direction.)

Thanks to the increased availability of high-end coffee chocolates, you can go beyond classic coffee pairings with the decadent combination of coffee and chocolate (with or without cooking up a storm). I've collected my top-reviewed coffee chocolates, a few coffee chocolate recipes (including the brand new Coffee Chocolate Truffles recipe) and a general coffee-chocolate pairing guide in one article. I'll add to it as I create more recipes and review more products, but it's enough to whet your appetite (and perhaps even spark some ideas for holiday treats!) as it is. I can't promise that they're all cutting edge, but they are all delicious combinations of coffee and chocolate.

Do you have a favorite coffee-chocolate product or pairing? Share it below!

Photo (c) Marko Goodwin