Summer Iced Coffee...
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I'm a coffee lover...pure and simple! Though I still drink my first cup of coffee black early every morning...out on the front porch or out on the deck when weather permits...by the afternoon I sometimes need a little pick me up. During the other seasons of the year, a tall hot cappuccino is a my drink of choice (usually from Starbucks!) or hot tea. But, when summer comes, hot drinks in the afternoon hold no appeal for me.
What is a coffee lover to do?!! I switch to a tall iced vanilla latte...usually. But, let's face it, I have a hard time justifying the expense of a Starbucks drink every afternoon...nor is it necessarily very healthy for me to do so. So, browsing around on pinterest one day, I came across a recipe for a home version of a creamy iced coffee. I just had to try it! The process takes a little time, but it was so worth it. I know, I know...when you read the ingredients, you will think...so much for healthy! But, boy, is it delicious!
Summer Iced Coffee
1 gallon of water
1 lb. of good coffee
1 can evaporated milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Pour the gallon of water in a large bowl, and dump the ground coffee in, then stir. Let sit overnight or 12 hours.
Strain the coffee mixture using cheesecloth or coffee filters through a fine mesh sieve into a container. If using coffee filters, you may need to change them several times. This is a slow process...lots of coffee ground sludge to strain out! Refrigerate coffee concentrate.
Mix the can of evaporated milk with the can of sweetened condensed milk and refrigerate. This is the sweet, sweet cream!
To make an iced coffee, fill a glass with ice. Pour the sweet cream in the bottom of the glass...the amount will vary according to taste. Pour coffee concentrate over the top and stir. Ummm, ummm, good!
I also experimented with adding a little cream of coconut to the sweet cream...oh so good, if you love coconut like I do! Starbucks used to sell Toasted Coconut Frappuccinos, but they are no longer on the menu...so sad. I just have to make my own now! Have a wonderful June weekend, friends :).
