Iced Coffee

Ever since I saw this post on this enviable woman's blog, I've been consumed with the idea of making my own iced coffee. Emphasis on "my own". I do not like iced coffee the same way I like normal coffee. Normal coffee has to be black, with half a tablespoon of sugar, and piping hot. Iced coffee has to be very strong, but with a lot of half-and-half.

This is how I made mine:

1) I brewed the coffee about twice as strong as I normally would, one heaping tablespoon of grounds for every cup of water. The coffee was a little strong, so I added a little bit of water later on. This part is kind of trial and error and really depends on how strong you like your coffee!

2) I poured the coffee into a pitcher and stuck it in the freezer. I wanted it to cool off quick, and I didn't have a lot of time.

3) After about 20 minutes (the coffee was still pretty warm), I poured the coffee over a LOT of ice. Don't scrimp on the ice! The coffee will probably melt a good portion of the ice, and you want your iced coffee to be cold!

4) To sweeten it up, I added a good portion of milk, some half and half, and a little bit of sugar. I also warmed up a tablespoon of caramel topping and stirred it in. All in all, my concoction was about 70% coffee, 20% milk, 10% half and half. You can mix it however you like!

I was really happy with the results! It turned out tastier than I expected. I was kind of getting ready for a trial and error thing. I really want to try out the cold-brewed coffee next time. Happy coffee-making!

P.S. - If you've been living under a rock and haven't been obsessively following her blog, you at least need to check out these cinnamon rolls. They are divine. Isn't she just precious, too?