3 Delicious Ways to Enjoy Iced Coffee

Iced coffee, cold brew, and ice cream are the best summer choices. Iced coffee is a coffee drink served cold and sometimes with ice. It is prepared by brewing coffee with ice or cold milk, so iced coffee is usually brewed higher than normal coffee because it is served with ice diluted to make the perfect taste. Mostly, “Iced coffee” is a packaged coffee-flavoured and sweetened milk beverage.

Cold brew coffee is made by soaking the coffee ground in cold water or room temperature for 12-24 hrs. Soaking coffee for a day will produce a very concentrated coffee, so it’s also served with milk and ice cubes. Coffee ice cream can be the best choice if someone doesn’t want to drink coffee as a beverage but enjoys it in a creamy, icy way.

Generally, coffee is rich in antioxidants that may be beneficial for health. Coffee not only stimulates the brain due to its caffeine content; many use it to be more active and alert. Some studies have also shown that coffee may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and type 2 diabetes. Plus, other benefits include supporting brain health, helping in weight management, decreasing the risk of depression, and supporting heart health and increased longevity. So, whether hot or cold, coffee has many lovers worldwide for stimulating the brain, health benefits, and delicious taste.

How is Iced Coffee Served Around the World?

Iced coffee is a cold brewed beverage with milk or ice cubes; there are many ways to make it, so here is how people make it in some countries:

1. Australia: Iced coffee is usually made with espresso and served with cream, syrup, coffee beans, or cocoa powder.
2. Chile: Iced coffee is called café helado; it is made of espresso or coffee powder with ice cream and additives like vanilla, cinnamon, or dulce de leche. It is served in summer at breakfast and parties, sometimes with added whipped cream or chopped nuts.
3. Germany: Eiskaffee (coffee with ice cream) is popular in Germany; it is made of hot brewed with cooled coffee and vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top.
4. Greece: Iced coffee is known as Frappe in Greece. It is usually made of instant coffee, water, and sugar, using either an electric mixer or a shaker to create foam. The most popular cold coffee beverages in Greece are “Freddo cappuccino”, which is topped with cold milk foam, and “Freddo espresso”, a double shot of espresso blended with cubes and served over ice.
5. Italy: Italian coffee bars usually serve “Cafè Freddo”, espresso preserved in a freezer and served as icy slush. In many places, it is served by brewing the espresso freshly, adding almond milk or the desired amount of sugar and pouring it into a glass filled with ice cubes right before serving. Affogato (espresso with a scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream) is served as a dessert.
6. Japan: Iced coffee is served with gym syrup and milk in Japan but is not as popular as cold tea. Cold-brew coffee is also very popular.

What are the Differences Between Iced Coffee and Cold Brew Coffee?

The difference is in terms of the following:

1. Brewing process.
2. Length of time that coffee is soaked.
3. Taste.

Cold brew coffee is made by soaking the coffee ground in cold water or room temperature for 12-24 hrs. Soaking coffee for a day will produce a very concentrated coffee, which is very intense with a high level of caffeine. Cold brew coffee is served with added water or milk for its intensity.

Cold brew is stronger in taste but tends to have a smoother and less acidic taste. It is because the coffee is extracted more slowly and with cold water.

Iced coffee is brewed as regular coffee (with hot water); however, it is served with ice. So it is less concentrated than cold brew, with a finer taste. The difference between iced coffee and cold brew is clear now, So here are some recipes to make both at home with less effort, good taste, and saving money:

How to Make Iced Coffee at Home?

It is recommended to brew coffee for at least 1 hour. To make this type of coffee at home, here are a few simple steps:

1. Brew coffee: Brew the coffee with half the water to make a strong concentrate.
2. Cool the coffee down: Set it until it’s cooled to room temperature, put it in the fridge, or put it into an ice cube tray and freeze it.
3. Serve it over ice: Fill the glass with ice, then pour the coffee over it. Note: The best thing about making iced coffee at home is customising it, like adding your favourite milk, syrup, or flavours.

Recipes for Iced Coffee

Italian Iced Coffee:

Ingredients:

2/3 cup of espresso or strong brewed coffee or regular decaf

2 tablespoons of sugar or maple syrup

1/3 cup of whole milk (full cream)

Unsweetened cocoa powder

Ice cubes

Directions:

1. Put hot coffee and sugar in a cup until the sugar dissolves.
2. Add milk, then pour the mix into a blender.
3. Add ice cubes into the blender and mix until smooth and creamy.
4. Add cocoa powder on top of it after pouring it into cups.

Iced Coffee with Dark Chocolate and Chile de árbol:

Ingredients:

1 cup of whole milk

60 grams of dark chocolate

2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar

1 whole Chile de árbol

3 cups of brewed intense coffee

Chocolate for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix the milk, sugar, chopped chocolate and Chile de árbol in a saucepan to simmer over low heat.
2. Stirring until the chocolate melts and the sugar dissolves.
3. Add the brewed coffee, then let all this mix cool.
4. Put it in the fridge for at least 2 hours (up to a day) until it gets gold.
5. Serve in a tall glass (without the chile, remove it), and add some chocolate to garnish.

Sparkling Iced Espresso

Ingredients:

2 shots of espresso

2 tablespoons of simple syrup

Lemon or orange peel

115 to 170 grams of sparkling water

Directions:

1. Put the 2 shots of espresso in a tall glass, and add the syrup.
2. Add ice cubes and lemon peel, then fill the glass with sparkling water.

Note: serve (this beverage) immediately.

Fresh Mint Iced Coffee

Ingredients:

4 fresh mint leaves

1 tablespoon of simple syrup

1 cup of brewed intense coffee

1 tablespoon of heavy cream

Ice cubes

Directions:

1. Put ice cubes in a large glass with the mint leaves.
2. Pour in the coffee, simple syrup, and heavy cream, then give it a swirl.

How to Make Cold-Brew Coffee at Home?

Making cold-brew coffee at home is easy, saves money, and is healthy. Plus, making a large amount of it and then keeping it in the fridge (ready to make) will save time. In addition, cold brew is smooth and does not have the bitter flavour of other coffee drinks. Customisation is another plus of making cold brews at home.

Some studies have shown that cold brew is good for the immune system and has lower acidity than other coffee drinks, making it not strong for the stomach. Here are simple and easy steps to make cold-brew coffee:

1. Grind the beans: Use a coffee grinder to grind the coffee to a coarse grind.
2. Steep the coffee: Add coffee grounds to water, stir this mix, cover with a lid, and leave the coffee at room temperature for 12 hours or overnight.
3. Filter the coffee: Strain the coffee through a coffee filter.
4. Serve it: Pour the coffee into a cup, then add ice cubes, syrup, and cream to enjoy it.

Many people enjoy coffee with ice cream; it is called affogato. Affogato is first made in Italy, a mix of coffee and gelato. So here is how to make affogato:

Ingredients:

1 scoop of gelato

1 shot of espresso coffee

Directions:

1. Put a scoop of ice cream in a glass, then store it in the freezer allowing the gelato to harden.
2. Make a shot of espresso, then pour it into the glass with gelato. Then serve immediately.

How to Make Ice Cream with coffee at Home?

Coffee ice cream may be a great way to consume caffeine, but most of it is made with real coffee, instant coffee, or an extract. Here is how to make coffee ice cream in simple, easy steps:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of instant coffee

1/4 cup of water

2/3 cup of condensed milk

2/3 cup of evaporated milk

250 ml of whipped cream

Directions:

1. Dissolve the instant coffee in ¼ cup of water.
2. Stir the condensed and evaporated milk, then set aside.
3. Whip the whipped cream till it’s light and creamy, then fold it into the coffee mixer for 3 mins.
4. Put this mix into a serving container and freeze overnight.
5. Scoop it, then serve.

Ice coffee, cold brew, and coffee ice cream are amazing every time; who doesn’t enjoy any of them? It is easy and simple to enjoy them at home and save money, and it is easy to customise them into healthier versions if they are made at home.

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