3 posts tagged “coffee”

If you're unemployed like me (best of luck to you), you've probably changed your coffee-drinking habits from fancy to frugal. I used to LOVE going to coffee shops for blended drinks, but lately I'm all for avoiding Starbucks and making my own at home. Here's a tasty solution that's a better friend to your wallet than your waistline, but a friend nonetheless. Here is how you make such a friend.

For about $10, I think I could make at least 20 drinks and still have leftover ingredients. I'd peg the cost of each drink I make to be in the range of 30-40 cents, which means you're getting charged 900% more for a similar beverage at Starbucks.

Here is what you'll need to make one 8 oz. caramel iced coffee drink:

      • Instant coffee - 1 packet (as shown above) OR 1 heaping teaspoon (+ more, if you like your drink stronger)
      • Vanilla ice cream - Approximately 1 small scoop
      • Milk - 2 parts ice cream to 1 part milk for a shake-like consistency, or 1:1 for something more liquidy
      • Caramel sauce - One tablespoonful works for me, but if you like it sweet, don't hold back!

Stir the first three together in a cup, drizzle the caramel on top, and you'll get something like this:
 

I downed mine in less than 30 seconds (but I mixed the caramel sauce in first). It was that good.

Note: here is the source of inspiration for my iced coffee drink I stumbled upon through TasteSpotting. If you love extra toppings on drinks and are looking to make multiple servings, it's worth checking out. My desire to make a new recipe arose from the fact that I wanted one serving and also found the sugar, ice, whipped cream and extra caramel sauce unnecessary. I'm also not one for using (and cleaning) a blender if I don't have to :)

According to this NYT article on how to cold-brew coffee for a better iced coffee, cold-brewing allows for other flavors to come out in coffee while greatly reducing the bitterness produced when you brew it using hot water.

Though it pains me to admit, the difference was considerable. Without the bitterness produced by hot water, the cold-brewed coffee had hints of chocolate, even caramel.

Curious, I started 1 cup of cold-brewed coffee last night and added 2/3 cup water this morning (instead of the 1:1 ratio recommended by the article) and, although I couldn't pick up the chocolate tones, I could taste hints of caramel. Overall, I'd say it's a rather refreshing variation on the traditional hot-brewed stuff. If you can spare a few minutes in the morning, I recommend trying this at least once.

If you haven’t been to Grounds for Dessert in Iowa City... well, you know where this is going.  Sorry Caleb ;)

It's a comfortable coffeehouse with great waffles, organic coffees, panino sandwiches, and delicious desserts.  I tried the Apple and Sage and Banana Bread waffles last weekend, and they were both really yummy.  They also had a variety of desserts.  We tried the upside-down peach-pecan cake, but they also had blueberry-cinnamon, pineapple, and were baking a lemon-macadamia nut upside-down cake—the woman behind the counter said that she liked experimenting with the types of cakes she made while keeping the base batter the same, so there are probably going to be different cakes for sale depending on the day on which you visit.  The cake part, by the way, tasted like a moist, fluffy sugar cookie.  They also had giant cupcakes, but they probably look more delicious than they taste or cost.  There are local artworks and handicrafts on display that can be purchased, too.

edit [06.13.2007]: They changed their name!  The place is now called Fair Grounds Coffeehouse, and they have a new website as well.  I've also had the opportunity to try their Black Cherry Mocha and their Arizona waffle, which is made with sweet corn and apples and which goes great with FGC's special espresso syrup.  Yum.