The weather is getting warmer every day. While a hot cup of coffee can still get the morning started, nothing beats an iced coffee on a hot summer day.
Iced coffee has become one of the most loved beverages over the last few years - and for good reasons. Most people's morning doesn't even start without adding some caffeine to their system. Besides, the best thing about this drink is that it is readily available and easy to make. All you need is to reach out for it whenever you need to fill your hankering. You can store it in the fridge for several days. It will still be refreshing and instantly reduce your clumsiness.
You can consistently make coffee-shop quality iced coffee following a few tips and tricks in the comfort of your home. Once you get hold of your jam, you won't need to rush to a coffee shop for a cold latte ever again. You would be just grabbing ice from your pellet ice maker and brewing your perfect blend whenever you crave some. So keep scrolling to become an expert at coffee making.
How to choose your beans?
The more consideration you put into the roast degree, the better your coffee will turn out. Lightly roasted coffee will give a fruity essence, even a bit tea-like, since its sugar doesn't get caramelized inordinately during the roast. In that case, a medium roast is a much-preferred option because its sugars will yield enough to sport chocolate and caramel notes instead of burnt ones. A hot brew brings out the acidity of coffee, and the same medium-roast tastes lemony if brewed hot rather than cold. Dark roast coffee, on the other hand, normally tastes acrid and bitter when served over ice. But in the end, it is your call. Identify the needs of your taste buds and choose your roast accordingly.
Use freshly ground coffee beans
You might think this is a bit of an exaggeration, but we have our reasons. Freshly ground coffee tastes way better than pre-ground coffee. Let us tell you the science behind it to back our claim:
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Oxidation of the mix - You start oxidizing the coffee mix with air molecules when grinding the coffee beans.
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Air moisture - Humidity in the air degrades the quality of your coffee ground. Moisture in the air is an enemy for coffee beans, and that is why it is advised to store coffee in a dry, dark place.
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Carbon dioxide reduction - Grinding coffee creates room for carbon dioxide to escape into the coffee, and it transfers oil from the beans to the coffee. When you use fresh ground coffee, it preserves the taste of your brew.
Now that you know the three most important reasons for using freshly ground beans, you can use them and see how the quality and taste of your brew multiplies.
How should you brew the iced coffee?
The first thing to remember while making your coffee is that any coffee served over ice is iced coffee. There are four distinct methods for brewing iced coffee, namely hot bloom cold brew, cold brew, iced coffee, and flash chilled iced coffee. All of them are different versions of iced coffee, and the way they are brewed creates all the differences in their taste profiles.
However, you can literally use any technique you want while making the coffee. If you prefer brewing with a single-serve Keurig machine, simply grab your Keurig cup and start brewing.
Are you a fan of the French Press? With this technique, you can also steep coffee grounds and chilled water without plunging and set the French press in the freezer until morning.
A classic pour-over method will also do fine. So you don't need to hesitate while following this method. Remember, iced coffee starts its journey as regular coffee. Brew using your usual method, and set the coffee until the morning or at least for a few hours. Yes, that is it. There is no other secret to it or any special steps that the baristas have up their sleeves. Just pour it over some ice pellets and doctor it up to your preference, and enjoy your morning taking sips of this ultimate magic potion.
Ice cubicles
Store your leftover coffee by freezing it into ice cubes and pop them up the next morning. The best part about them is that they add more flavor to your coffee instead of diluting it. You can always get creative with your coffee by adding some chocolate or by sprinkling a little cinnamon on your iced coffee cubes before freezing them.
Double brew
When you are short on time, you can double brew or add double the amount of grounded coffee than what's normally needed. If you do this, it won't taste diluted when you pour it over the ice due to high concentration.
Be your own barista
Don't feel shy to add your charisma to the drink. Experiment with your taste buds by adding new flavors to your coffee. Make some homemade syrups since commercial syrups can be pricey as well as contain stuff you don't want in your coffee. Blending up your own homemade syrups is quite simple and is a great way to add your desired flavors to your iced drink. Here is a list of some homemade syrups you should try with your coffee:
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Mocha Chocolate Syrup - This variant of mocha syrup adds an elegant touch to your iced coffee.
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Honey Syrup - This is the perfect syrup to go with your drink if you are health conscious since it will naturally sweeten your cold drink.
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Simple Sugar Syrup - This simple syrup is what your local coffee shops use to sweeten your iced drink; now you know the secret too.
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Peppermint Syrup - This is a very refreshing syrup steeped in fresh mints.
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Chocolate Mint Syrup - Feel like having a mint mocha? Well, this is the syrup you should be adding to your drink.
Remember, these syrups should be kept in the freezer for at least a week. Keep their supply on hand to enjoy your coffee whenever you crave it.
Keep your drink in a double insulated cup
Summer is supposed to be hot, and there is no point in making this drink if you can't enjoy it during the hottest hours of the day without it getting warm. Use a vacuum-sealed double insulated cup to keep the drink cold and enjoy it to its fullest for a long time.
