The Hazy Dayz of Summer...

Summer is definitely upon us. After having stayed indoors at work yesterday, in the frigid air conditioning, I finally decided to step outside. Big mistake. The air quality was pretty bad. It felt like an oven. 'Tis the case with summer. I think I'd much rather gasp for breath in the thick, humid New England air than trudge down the street in snow and ice, ruining a perfectly good pair of boots. A humid summer is the lesser of the two evils. Hazy summer days mean tasty, cold, icy drinks. I came across an article in the New York Times Dining In section, touting the joys of iced coffee. I don't generally make iced coffee at home, I usually just drink it hot and grab an iced coffee on the fly from a coffee shop, if I need to whet my appetite with one. Whenever I try to ice my coffee at home, I'm met with less than stellar results. Me being the impatient person I am, I try to get to icing shortly after having brewed a pot by using a trick I learned per Martha Stewart, using a spoon. Positioned at an angle in the glass, the spoon is supposed to deflect the heat away from the ice cubes, so that they don't melt right away. Fat chance. Either way, after having read the New York Times article, I discovered that there actually is a such thing called an iced coffee brewer. Who knew? I didn't. Apparently the journalist (Cindy Price) who penned the article didn't either. I seem to learn something new about food and drink every week. In any event, one could purchase an iced coffee brewer for about 30 dollars... if one were interested in having one. The one in the pic at the right costs a grip. A simpler method would be the following... **Side Note** I'm partial to Vietnamese iced coffee myself, which uses sweetened condensed milk (There is also a such thing as a Vietnamese coffee kit, by the way). I recommend using a nice, robust coffee to ice.

1/3 cup ground coffee (medium-coarse grind is best) Milk (optional).

1. In a jar, stir together coffee and 1 1/2 cups water. Cover and let rest at room temperature overnight or 12 hours.

2. Strain twice through a coffee filter, a fine-mesh sieve or a sieve lined with cheesecloth. In a tall glass filled with ice, mix equal parts coffee concentrate and water, or to taste. If desired, add milk.

Yield: Two drinks.

10 comments

Anonymous said...

I read that article and knew you had, too! I'm so thirsty now...

;) Cat

Melissa said...

nice! that brings back memories, as my parents used to have it when I was young. maybe it's a new york thing? LOL. maybe. anyway, it's been years since I've had it.

have a good weekend, t!

Bloody Whore said...

ohhhh, I want one!!! yes!!!

pricolatino said...

Ugh, I can't pass iced coffee. Or anything equal to or lower than room temperature. It sends my gag reflexes into a tailspin.

Brunhilda said...

I love iced coffe in the summer. Just love it. My mom always used to make it. Thanks for the how to. I just buy mine premade.

p.s. you've been tagged, see my blog.

Amadeo said...

Despite the fact that I get recipes from public televison...tips from Martha Stewart is still funny.

Anonymous said...

For some reason, I am craving lemon granita. I guess it's the ice discussion.

Unknown said...

i was an old school cat. i couldn't do iced coffee... until i worked at star bucks.

i finally got a formula at home. i go ahead and make my coffee the way i like it (raw sugar or honey with a shot of soy milk) . then i get two tall cups. one filled with ice. I pour the coffee into the cup of ice. then i pour it into the other cup. and BOOM. not too cold and not too warm.

TiffJ said...

@Cat: You know I read everything having to do with food, travel, and the arts in the good ol' NYTimes. ;-)

@Alosha: I usually don't like iced coffee unless I make it myself. It's better done that way!

@Bloody whore: Did you make one yet??

@Prico: Gag reflexes? LOL. Just joking. I usually drink coffee hot, and water as well... but in this weather, I can't fathom sipping on anything hot or lukewarm even.

@Coffee houses, and Star(mega)bucks always want to charge 3 effing dollars for some plain iced coffee! I would rather make it myself. Oh yeah, and I've since answered your tag challenge!

@Amadeo: Yeah, well that one iced coffee tip from Martha did NOTHING for me. LOL. The recipe from NYTimes works better.

@Jennifer/Kermit: I love granitas! Esp. the coffee flavored ones. I had a monster sized strawberry one whilst in Sicily! It was HUGE. Tasty too. Took a spell to drink it though.

@Bro Omi: I hear you on drinking coffee old school. Starbucks (and Dunkin Donuts) charge way too much for plain iced coffee! I LOVE putting honey in my coffee now. I usually drink it black or with creamer... but I started adding honey to it recently and it tastes great. I don't like coffee too sweet, so the honey gives it juuuust the right amount of sweet. I used to use your iced coffee method, but I'm digging the NYTimes recipe though!

Lola Gets said...

Ok, I cant see the NY Times article (mfers want me to pay), but I do have one confession. I actually like the iced coffee theyre selling at Burger King.
*cringes*
I know, I know, it isnt "real" or "authentic", its got high fructrose corn syrup in it, hell, its from BURGER KING! But I gotta admit, I likey.
:)
L