Iced coffee, it's easy to make right? Not so fast, there are some tricks to know...
Ahhhh, summer, the warm sun, water fun and vacation. What better time to sit down and enjoy a delicious cup of freshly brewed coffee. What? Who thinks coffee on days like this? If you love coffee, but something hot just won't fit the bill, try making some iced coffee. It's a great way to start the day or relax on a hot afternoon.
Making iced coffee is easy, right? Not so fast¦ There are some tricks of the trade and we are offering you some full proof tips to make the perfect cup of iced joe.
Tip #1: Start with making stronger coffee: As a general rule, you want to make your iced coffee brew double the strength of your normal coffee. We recommend using the same quantity coffee you normally use and reducing the amount of water in half. Ice will significantly dilute the final cup, so you need to start with strong coffee in the first place to allow the flavor to stay strong and fresh. This is where My Cafe® comes to the rescue! My Cafe's technology and the pod format allows you to have a more authentic coffee or tea experience- enjoy the aroma before the brew and extract more flavor than other single-serve systems. You can easily customize your flavor and make the coffee or tea stronger, perfect for your iced drink of choice. You can select from an incredible variety of coffee or tea pods. Plus, you can adjust brew strength by the amount of water you use- try starting with 4 ounces of water and a 10 gram pod. For stronger coffee or tea use My Cafe's pulse brew option! Voila, coffee strength as you like it!
Tip #2: Add sugar while the coffee is hot: Sweeten the coffee while it's hot, or the sugar won't dissolve and will end up in a clump at the bottom of the glass. While it's still hot, stir in your desired sugar amount. When you're making your different variations of iced coffee, try adding spices such as cardamom or cinnamon to the coffee after it brews. A dash is all that you need! You can also consider adding almond extract, vanilla, chocolate or raspberry syrup after the coffee has brewed for even more flavor. Or, just keep it simple but remember it's your life, your coffee.
Tip #3: Chill carefully: Most drinking glasses cannot withstand large temperature variations. So pouring hot coffee into a glass and putting it in the refrigerator can actually cause the glass to crack! We suggest using a travel mug, as it's more durable than glass and coffee cups.
Tip #4: Brew coffee the night before: For frosty morning coffee, make it the night before and chill it overnight.
In the morning, pour your chilled coffee over a lot of ice and wait, letting it sit for a minute to allow the ice to slightly melt. You remember that saying, all good things come to those who wait? Now, add a splash of cream if you prefer and stir very well! Remember cream or milk is just fine but if you're making iced coffee for guests, consider whipping up some heavy cream and adding a little confectioners' sugar and cinnamon for a special touch. Add a generous dollop to each guest's glass and they'll be calling you Julia!
Tip #5: Serve over coffee cubes: Use coffee cubes instead of ice cubes so you don't dilute the rich coffee flavor. Simply pour left over regular brewed coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze.
Give it a final stir, and enjoy your weekend and your iced coffee!