Personally, I have never been a fan of the chains, and found it far better for my sanity, schedule and wallet once I got into the habit of making iced coffee at home. Through experimentation I have also developed a whole new appreciation for the cold coffee drink. Sure I knew that coffee was a stimulant, but with some added fruit it became the power packed pick-me-up I needed before heading to the gym. And two tablespoons of yogurt made it a healthier liquid breakfast or evening snack than I had grown accustomed to.
If you want to avoid long lines and save dollars daily, here are some basic brewing lessons gleaned from my taste testing adventures in the kitchen:
Iced Coffee Tips
1. Iced coffee is best with darker-roast coffee blends. The coldness dilutes the taste, so stick to a dark roast and brew your coffee on the strong side.
2. Place room-temperature coffee in an ice cube tray and freeze it. Frozen coffee cubes, unlike ice, will not water-down your beverage.
3. Partially melted ice makes for a creamier smoothie. Throw in a few extra cubes and let them sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes, then drain the water and use the amount of ice called for in the recipe.
4. Never put a pot of hot coffee directly in the refrigerator. The rapid change in temperature can crack the glass.
5. To reduce brewing time and clean-up time, try a Keurig® Single Cup Coffee Brewer. Their K-Cups® are portion packs that come in a variety of flavors and brands so you can enjoy your favorite name blends including Caribou Coffee, Green Mountain, , Timothy's and Van Houtte at home in less than a minute.
6. To enhance flavor, add a splash of vanilla, a cinnamon stick or flavored syrup to your freshly brewed coffee.
7. For a decadent version of iced coffee, stir Irish Cream or Condensed milk into warm coffee before pouring it over ice. To do the same minus the calories, add-in some non-fat dairy creamer.
8. If you're conscious about calories, you may want to avoid over-the-counter frothy
concoctions. The average eight-ounce cup can set you back over 400 calories! To make healthy substitutions swap out whipped cream and creamer for the fat free kinds and use light syrups and sweeteners rather than sugar.
9. Invest in a blender with multiple speeds, preferably one with a glass canister that allows you to see what's going on inside. The best blenders let you blend smoothly and also pulse in quick shots.
Cold Coffee Recipes Sponsored by Keurig®
Mocha Frappé
Ingredients
18-22 ice cubes
7 oz coffee, chilled; double strength
1/4 c chocolate syrup
2 tablespoon vanilla syrup
1 whipped cream
Instructions
Place ice, coffee, chocolate sauce, and syrup in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a large, tall glass. Garnish with dollop of whipped cream or scoop of your favorite ice cream.
Creamy Chocolate Iced Coffee
Ingredients
3/4 cup brewed coffee, room temperature
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons half-and-half cream
2 teaspoons white sugar
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon sweet chocolate liquor such as creme de cacao
Instructions
Combine cooled coffee, milk and half-and-half. Stir in sugar, vanilla and liquor and chill until ready to serve.
Banana Coffee Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup of coffee chilled
1 teaspoon of sugar, honey, or chocolate syrup
1 banana cut into chunks
1/2 cup of whole milk
Directions
Blend the milk, coffee and bananas until smooth. Add the sugar, honey or syrup and blend until desired flavor.
Cold Hazelnut Cappuccino
Ingredients
1 cups ice cubes
1/2 cup coffee
2-3 tablespoons Hazelnut flavored Coffee Creamer
Sweetened cocoa
Instructions:
Place ice, coffee and creamer blender and process until smooth. Pour mixture into a tall glass and sprinkle with cocoa.
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