Iced Coffee Tips for Summer

Single serve coffee machines are all the rage right now, especially for smaller households that don't want to brew an entire pot.

With summer in full heat, here are some tips on making the perfect iced cup of joe with full proof tips below, especially good for entertaining.

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. My Café’s technology allows you to 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 Café’s pulse brew option to make the 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.

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.

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.

Do you have any other iced coffee making tips?