Iced Coffee

"Iced coffee" and "Alaska" together in the same sentence seems to be an oxymoron.

Don't you think?

I'm not quite ashamed to say that since I've moved here, I've developed a taste for Starbucks and all things espresso.  It's not so much that I need something caffeinated like that to start my day.

It's that I need something to warm both my hands and my stomach at some point during the day.

Even in the summer, stopping for a hot latte is just as likely here as it would be in the dead of winter.  Dead of winter means November through March.  In case you were curious. 

In fact, it was during the rainy, cold, and dreary season that was last summer that I first brewed and drank coffee.  At home.  It was a big step.

However, we no longer have a coffee pot.  Since we don't use it practically ever, Scott shipped it off with his belongings that are to be headed to Afghanistan a place slightly far away from here.  He'll use it there.

I won't use it here.  I'm holding out for a Keurig.

However, this iced coffee is a delightful little treat.  I need to get one of those cold travel mugs and this could possibly get me through the first month of school, during what Alaskans call "fall".

Known to the real world as "the month of August".

Sigh.

Perfect Iced Coffee
method adapted from The Pioneer Woman

-1/4 cup ground coffee
-1 quart (4 cups) cold water

-a large pitcher
-a sieve
-paper towels
-a large bowl

-ice

-milk, cream, sugar, assorted syrups, etc.

1.  Stir the grounds in the cold water and refrigerate in the pitcher (covered) for 8 hours or overnight
2.  Place the sieve, with 2-3 layers of paper towels in it, over the mixing bowl.  Carefully strain the coffee.  You may need to do this twice (i did because i'm pretty messy and i got grounds in the bowl). 
3.  Rinse out the pitcher well and then pour the now-strained coffee back into it.  Refrigerate for up to a week.

I mixed almond milk, chocolate syrup, and caramel syrup into my coffee because...well...that's the kind of person I am.  i.e.  I'm pretty high maintenance when it comes to coffee. 

Shared at