How to Make Great Iced Coffee at Home

By Tanya Ryno

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who drink coffee and those who drink tea. I drink coffee, and lots of it.

What? It's summer. Yes, but that doesn't mean you have to abandon the dark side -- in fact -- it's time to embrace it. It's the perfect time to try an iced coffee. You still get the great kick of a coffee (hello caffeine) but is far more refreshing. Like a regular cup of coffee, iced coffee is incredibly diverse. If you've ever stepped foot into a Starbucks, you already know that there are numerous ways to create a number of iced coffee beverages that will suit the particular tastes of anybody ... unless, of course you are a tea drinker!

These drinks are simple to make and even simpler to drink ... the problem however; I can't find a good iced coffee recipe online, which is extremely surprising considering it's popularity. So here's how I make mine:

1. Make strong coffee. Ice will significantly dilute the final cup, so you need to start with strong coffee to get a good flavor. A rule of thumb that I use is to double the normal amount of grounds. Example: If you are brewing 4 cups of coffee, put in enough grounds for 8 cups. If you don't do this your iced coffee will taste like bad water.
2. Add sugar. I don't use sugar, but if you do, this is the time to add it -- while it's still hot -- stir in your desired sugar amount. Sweeten slightly more than usual. The main reason you add the sugar now is simply because sugar won't dissolve in cold water. You don't want sips full of crunchy sugar granules and otherwise unsweetened coffee do you?
3. Chill. Don't add ice! Just put it in the fridge and leave it there overnight preferably. If the coffee is still warm, it will melt the ice, making it too watery. Try to plan ahead, it will be worth it.
4. Pour over ice. Serve over a lot of ice. I suggest a bit of cream too. Milk and skim milk are fine, but cream will give you the best flavor and if you're going through this much trouble to get a good cup of iced coffee, go for the cream. Stir very well.
5. Flavor. Instead of using sugar, you can sweeten and flavor each cup with flavor syrups such as hazelnut or vanilla. Unlike sugar, they mix perfectly in cold liquids so you don't need to add it when it's hot. However, I don't suggest doing both (adding sugar and syrup), as it will be too sweet ... not to mention it will be loaded with calories.
6. Enjoy! Let it sit for a minute to allow the ice to chill the coffee further and melt slightly. Then give it a final stir, and enjoy.

As mentioned, there are many versions of iced coffee ... mine is for basic good iced coffee with no frills. For a different version, check out Bob Sassone's post over at Slashfood.