Iced coffee is hot
Iced coffee is the summer's trendy drink. I wouldn't know this except when Gailor moved in for the summer the first night she brewed coffee to have iced the next morning.
OK, I said to myself, hot new trend.
Sure enough, when I got to work that day there was an e-mail from the National Restaurant Association announcing that iced coffee is hot. Not only that, USA Today did a trend story on the drink.
In the past year, iced coffee has become so popular it's overtaken iced tea as a breakfast drink in restaurants. Wow, who knew anyone drank iced tea for breakfast? I missed that whole trend. ...
The best thing about iced coffee is watching the cream slide down past the ice cubes in delicious rivulets.
My favorite version of iced coffee is an iced latte, but the milk has to be steamed first or it doesn't taste right. You can't just put espresso and cold milk together and call it an iced latte. (I'm talking to you, Starbucks.)
When I was into iced lattes last summer I would get a regular latte and bring it home. By that time it had cooled off enough to pour over ice and not get too watery.
(Gene Sweeney Jr./Sun photographer)
Comments
One variation I like is to brew the coffee with about a pod's worth of crushed cardamon, the smallest pinch of clove and a few shakes of cinnamon (Southern Indian-style, basically). If you put dairy in your coffee, hot or cold, this is quite nice.
A tablespoon or so of a good quality cocoa can be nice, too, especially if you are doing this by making espresso, dissolving the cocoa in it, dump over ice then add dairy (if you must).
Posted by: Lissa | June 26, 2009 7:40 AM
Here is how you make great iced coffee:
Make a full pot of coffee but use 50% more coffee.
Take a tall glass and pour a little milk or half and half or skip the dairy.
Fill with ice.
Pour hot coffee on top.
Throw in a straw.
Relax.
(Add sweetener if you must)
Posted by: CDoubleIPA | June 26, 2009 8:05 AM
Sofi's does it right by making the ice cubes out of coffee, too, so the drink doesn't become diluted. Also, I think we have Nancy Botwin to thank in part for the resurgence.
Posted by: Amanda | June 26, 2009 9:00 AM
Who is Nancy Botwin?
Posted by: Amanda C | June 26, 2009 9:12 AM
Cold-brewed iced coffee is the best, IMHO. Mix 1 cup of coffee grounds with 4.5 cups of water (filtered is better) and let it sit overnight (8hrs or so). Then strain or press in the AM. Dee-lish.
Posted by: sean | June 26, 2009 9:13 AM
Amanda (sans C) AT LAST! Another Weeds fan! Welcome- I'm watching this past week's episode on demand later today!
Posted by: Joyce W. | June 26, 2009 9:37 AM
I agree with Sean. When I want iced coffee, cold brew is best. (I too make it 1C coffee to 4-4.5 C water.) The flavor isn't muted and hasn't picked up bitter overtones. Unfortunately, it requires forethought and pre-planning. But usually we make it by the pitcher and have it stashed in the fridge at the ready during hot spells.
Posted by: Maggi | June 26, 2009 9:38 AM
Yes a characheter on a TV show that 1% of the country watches caused the resurgence of iced coffee? Is it a resurgence if there has never been a surgence before?
Competely off topic, but saying that reminded me of Michael Scott, which reminded me as I watched a season 2 episode recently in the backround of a couple scenes were Geek Squad adds, very small, but no doubt placed.
Reffering back to owls old post of course.
Shall I keep rambling? NO I'll stop now
Posted by: i got my new shows on tonight.. | June 26, 2009 9:40 AM
I heard that Michael Jackson really liked iced coffee
Posted by: Trenn D | June 26, 2009 9:51 AM
best iced coffee = thai iced coffee. :-)
best iced tea = thai iced tea :-)
let DD overwhelm their coffees with waaayy to much sugar. the sweetness of the condensed milk in extra strong coffee... yummm. there's a party in my mouth :-)
Posted by: Matt | June 26, 2009 10:00 AM
hey, i got my new shows on tonight, put your teeth back in and grab your cane and go hang at the mall.
Weeds is one of the hottest shows in the country right now.
Oh, and could you get these damned kids off my lawn?
Posted by: Joyce W. | June 26, 2009 10:18 AM
For once, I was trendy without even knowing it. I've been drinking iced coffee drinks for years, even in the dead of winter. No hot drinks for me. I'm sure I'll revert to my usual less than trendy status momentarily.
Posted by: Amy | June 26, 2009 10:50 AM
Lets say that the countrys population is roughly 305 million people? OK?
what is 1% of 305 million people? 3.5 million people?
Accoridng to ratings the season premeier had 1.3 million viewers.
I guess I was wrong, it is more than 1% of the country.
DVDs and DVRs you ask?
Yes, the Character Nancy Botwin is the source for why people all the sudden love iced coffee.
And Silas Botwin is why the whole country loves weed and milfs.
We all want to emulate TV Criminals.
Posted by: i decided to put on some older shoes because I was tired. | June 26, 2009 3:51 PM
Could I suggest that, as much as we may hate the concept, it was McDonald's adoption of iced coffee that popularized the current fad/trend?
Posted by: Alexander D. Mitchell IV | June 28, 2009 2:03 PM
No, eet was my fren Nancy Botwin
Posted by: sucio | June 28, 2009 2:36 PM
Sorry, I just can't abide coffee that isn't hot. Don't get the iced coffee thing.
Posted by: Kate | June 29, 2009 9:47 AM
I've loved iced coffee for years!! We bought a Kuerig coffee maker back in February and picked the one with the iced coffee setting. AMAZING. Quick iced coffee any time. Yum!
Posted by: Holly | June 29, 2009 1:32 PM