pinned it. did it. {with meg}

Today, Meg is sharing another "recipe" inspired by Pinterest. I love these posts! And this way of creating iced coffee sounds fun and pretty easy and delicious. I'm going to try it with my favorite vanilla soy creamer and see what happens.

Meg and I hope you enjoying these posts! And let us know how you've been inspired by Pinterest lately. Share in the comments today.

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I am a coffee lover. Almost ten years ago as a college student, I got a job as a barista at Starbucks. I was one of those baristas that started out drinking the very sweet drinks that resemble dessert more than a drink. To this day, they still hold a small soft spot in my life. However, as a barista, I learned to love black coffee. Really high quality black coffee (read: I’m a coffee snob). Still to this day I prefer my hot coffee black and unsweetened. Although I don’t drink it quite as strong as I used to.

 

However, in the summer, a hot cup of black coffee doesn’t always sound good to me. I want a cold, refreshing beverage on hot summer days. I have always liked iced coffee - sweetened a little bit - but after pinning various iced coffee recipes on Pinterest, I have decided to fall in love with iced coffee this summer. 

Iced Coffee Pins That Inspired This Post

Maple Iced Coffee
Totally Decadent Iced Coffee
How To Make Cold Brewed Coffee
Perfect Iced Coffee
Mexican Iced Coffee 

There are various methods for cold brewing coffee. Some involve fancy equipment, and others require very little. Some get left out on the counter over night, while some steep in the fridge. Some just let hot coffee cool down to room temperature. Some even go as far as making coffee ice cubes to keep it from tasting watered down. The possibilities go on and on. And I believe after doing some serious coffee brewing and testing, I am falling in love with iced coffee.

I basically took everything I learned from the pins linked to above and squished them all together into one ultimate recipe for iced coffee. I liked the idea of coffee ice cubes. I also loved the idea of sweetening it with condensed milk (yum!).  And the thought of finishing it with maple syrup put a smile on my face. There are so many possibilities for future cold brew coffees. 

I chose to brew the coffee in a glass pitcher on the counter for the day and then put it in the refrigerator over night. I didn’t care for the route that allows hot brewed coffee to come to room temperature as that made it bitter. I put about a cup of coarsely ground coffee and water went into the jar. I am terrible about following precise measurements in the kitchen, so I just eyeballed it. I stirred it a time or two during the day and then placed it in the fridge for the next day. Then in the morning, I strained it through coffee filters (paper and fine mesh from my coffee pot) and filled an ice cube tray. (Side note: The straining process was a bit tedious so I can see the appeal of brewing a cup of coffee and allowing it to cool to room temperature. If you’re pressed for time, it’s the route to go). 

Then came the finale. Ice cubes, cold brewed coffee, and sweetened condensed milk. And as an added fancy treat, just a touch of maple syrup. What I ended up with was smooth, divine, bold iced coffee. I had to resist the urge to top it off with freshly whipped cream and a sprinkle of coffee grounds for garnish. The barista in me really wants to go the whole nine yards. But this time it was really just about the brew itself. So I kept my focus. Cold, refreshing, and smooth perfection. And the melting coffee ice cubes pushed this over the top from good to amazing. No watered down coffee? I think I need to put in a call to Starbucks and find the market to get that on their menus. Seriously. 

Do you make your own iced coffee? Which method do you prefer? I would love to hear about it and add it to my cold brewed coffee repertoire. 

Not A Coffee Drinker? Try These Iced Drinks Instead

Chai Tea Iced Cubes in Almond/Soy Milk
Maple Iced Tea
Lemonade Ice Cube in Tea “Arnold Palmer”

Meg Brothers is an artist, photographer, mama, and dreamer. She loves cooking, tattoos, and sporadic dance parties in the kitchen. She prefers dark chocolate, black coffee, and flip flops when weather permits. She is a lover of Pinterest and truly believes in integrating ideas and inspiration - big or small - into normal life. Meg lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dustin and son, Julian. Meg writes about photography, family, and creative inspiration at megbrothers.com. Find her on Pinterest here and on Twitter here. 

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Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.