Iced coffee drinks classic coffeehouse staples, but did you know you can make them at home for a fraction of the price? Here’s a look at five of our favourite warm weather sippers that are guaranteed to help keep mom cool and caffeinated this summer.
5 DIY Iced Coffee Drinks
Cold Brew Coffee and Tea
Why cold-brewed? Experts state that while you could easily make a pot of coffee (or tea) and cool it over a glass of ice, the cold-brewed version (steeping coffee grounds in cold water for 12 hours) has lower acidity and less bitterness than warm-brewed coffee. Plus, it takes no special equipment to do it this way, making the process incredibly simple. Here’s our recipe; I make a litre of coffee and tea almost every night, and between me, my husband and our two teenage sons we have no problem polishing off both jars of cold brew.
Simple Frozen Chocolate or Mocha Milk
Our neighbourhood coffee shops offer frozen hot chocolates this time of the year, and while tasty and refreshing, they are also extremely pricey at more than five dollars a pop. This makes them more of a luxury treat than an afternoon snack, but like most things we enjoy eating out, I’ve taken to making a healthier version at home. To infuse this drink with coffee flavour, add a teaspoon of espresso powder to the mix before blending.
Frozen Coffee Protein Smoothie
This drink combines caffeine, protein, and fruit so you can certainly slurp it for breakfast, but we like to enjoy it in the afternoon instead of reaching for something sweet to snack on. To start, you need to freeze coffee in ice cubes trays. I like to buy a few extra specifically for this purpose and anytime I have leftover coffee in the pot I add it to a tray to be frozen. In a blender, combine coffee ice cubes (as many as you like), protein powder, a banana, and almond or regular milk. Blitz on high until combined and you’ll have a crave-worthy caffeinated drink that’s low on calories and high on flavour.
Skinny Chai Tea Latte
I love an iced chai tea latte and think they’re ridiculously easy to make at home. To start, buy a brand of chai tea that you know you’ll like. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and pour over three chai tea bags. Steep 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags and cool the tea in fridge. Fill a glass with ice, pour in the tea, sweeten with agave if desired, and add a generous splash of cream, milk or almond milk until the drink reaches the desired colour. Enjoy!
Skinny Iced Maple Vanilla Latte
This iced coffee drink is a favourite in our house. Pour ½ cup espresso or double-strength brewed coffee into an ice filled glass. Top with 1 ½ cups milk of choice, a splash of vanilla extract and a solid drizzle of maple syrup. Stir, sip, and enjoy. So good and SO easy.
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