Coffee or tea? Whichever you prefer, iced is the way to go during the hot summer months! There’s no need to shell out big bucks for fancy beverages at your local coffee shop, when you can make amazing iced coffee and tea at home! Stock your kitchen cabinets with a variety of beans and tea leaves, and let’s get pouring!
For a quick fix refresher, we suggest brewing a 12-cup pot of Joe and pouring it into a pitcher stored in the refrigerator for whenever you need a pick-me-up. You can do the same with a pot of tea, or try cold brew tea bags, fast steeped over ice. If you like a stronger tea that won’t be too watered down as your ice melts, double the tea bags when steeping. Pour some coffee into ice cube trays after brewing, and freeze for later use to keep iced coffee bold.
If you like your beverages sweet, melt in some sugar while your coffee or tea is still hot. Or keep things simple and unsweetened. You always have the option of adding a bit of simple syrup later, if desired. Just bring equal parts water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan to make a syrup, and chill.
Now that you know the expert tips to making a prefect glass of iced tea or coffee, try these fun and unexpected twists on our favorite summer beverage!
Iced Chai
Chai is a sweet, spiced tea from India, served with milk or cream. To make a 2-quart pitcher of Iced Chai, boil 6 cups of water, and steep with 6-12 chai tea bags. After 5 minutes, remove the tea bags and add 2 cups of whole milk, plus honey, agave, or sugar, and sweeten to taste. Chill in the refrigerator and serve over ice, garnished with fresh mint.
Salted Caramel Iced Coffee
Start with 3 pumps of caramel sauce (around 3 tablespoons) in the bottom of a tall glass. Add a shot of hot brewed coffee, and stir to melt. Add 1/8 teaspoon of coarse sea salt and fill your glass halfway with ice. Fill the reminder of the way with coffee and top with light cream to taste. Whipped cream is optional!
For vanilla iced coffee, add a half-teaspoon of real vanilla extract to the mix. Or try chocolate syrup! If you are craving an extra decadent summer treat, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to any of these beverage recipes and blend!
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