Simple And Delicious Frozen Coffee Drinks

Posted on 19th May 2011 @ 6:17 AM

Making frozen coffee drinks is not only fun but gets the creative mental energy flowing as well. Because of the virtually endless possibilities of flavors, add-ins, toppings, and extras, whipping up a batch of these delicious delicacies is easy and satisfying.

People who own coffee makers are well aware of the myriad recipes for cool concoctions. While some of the entries are old standards, newer, wilder varieties are popping up every day.

First things first. To begin, you will need a batch of your favorite coffee blend, made double strength. That's because nearly every frozen delight calls for strong brew. Coffee makers are an important tool for this first step, due to their precise measurements and automatic capability. While the coffee itself is brewing, you can prep all the other ingredients, thereby saving significant amounts of time.

Without listing all the frozen coffee permutations here, which would take at least five large volumes, the following should get you started, since nearly all cold coffee drinks have a similar foundation.

Mix your double strength, brewed coffee about three-to-one with milk, after having let the warm coffee sit for at least an hour. Of course, the milk is your call, whether you want to use skim, whole, organic, generic, goat's milk, you-name-it. Most amateur coffee chefs avoid skim, though, because it tends to weaken the final result.

Add real or artificial sweetener to suit your taste. In Africa and Japan, it is common to use no sweetener at all. Indeed, variety makes the world go around. As for ice, a good rule of thumb is to use about two-thirds as much ice as you use coffee. Now toss everything into a blender, along with one or two teaspoons of vanilla extract per quart. Again, this effort is always a matter of taste.

After mixing to a frothy smoothness, the real fun begins. Pick your favorite spices, fruits, soft candies, or something nobody else has ever thought of, and add them to the mix. Cinnamon and chocolate are widely popular. Whipped cream, flavored or not, is another winning idea.

In Asia, marshmallows and sweetened fruit slices are favorites of the business set, while African farmers prefer raw chunks of sugarcane or carob.

Caffeine avoiders can use decaf as the base liquid and still enjoy the countless variations of this timeless, and tasty, treat. Historians tell us that cold coffee has been a popular beverage for perhaps 4000 years. Therefore, maybe Stone Age people were actually the first "coffee makers."

I Love Coffee: Over 100 Easy and Delicious Coffee Drinks - Book Review

Before going to college the only way I really knew how to prepare coffee was just the regular automatic drip brewer with the pot. If I wanted anything else other than just a regular coffee at home I would just venture out to a Starbucks, Dunkin' Doughnuts, or a local coffee place. When I got to college and money got tighter, going out for coffee often was no longer a reality. So I figured that if I want a latte, an iced coffee, or a cappuccino it would be much easier, and more cost efficient, if I made it myself. After looking at some books and websites, and toying around with different things, I started to catch on how to make good coffee at home. I eventually got my grinder and French press and was able to make even better things; however I am still learning. I have reviewed a few things that you can read through so that if there is anything I am not really covering in my blogs or website, you can easily find what you are looking for.

The most valuable reading material that I have yet to come across is a book called "I Love Coffee: Over 100 Easy and Delicious Coffee Drinks" by Susan Zimmer. This book teaches you step by step how to make delicious drinks such as classics (such as a vanilla latte), holiday drinks (using things like peppermint and eggnog), and even some more unusual drinks (such as a Vietnamese Iced Coffee and a mocha with a twist of orange in it). Not only does this book cover different drinks, but it also covers different brewing methods, including ways to make things like a cappuccino without the big expensive equipment. It also teaches you about the different parts of things like an espresso maker and how to use them. Susan Zimmer doesn't just cover ways to make things based on her tastes, but she provides different ways to prepare her beverages to help suite your own personal taste.

Susan Zimmer, not only provides the basics, but she also goes in a little bit more depth in things such as latte art. If you have ever seen a latte with a leaf or heart shape inside of it, you know what I am talking about. Some other more advanced things she covers is the option to roast your own beans at home to create your very own fresh flavors. I really have no complaints about this book since it is extremely well rounded and a great wealth of information. So from the great colored pictures to her tips on everything to do with coffee, Susan Zimmer provides a great book for both newbies and coffee enthusiasts alike. So be sure to check this book out soon and I hope it will be as valuable to you as it is to me.