Once in a while I stop at Dunkin Donuts on my way to work and treat myself to an iced coffee. Today I stopped and discovered that the price for a medium iced coffee has gone up to $2.45. This is silly, especially since I have a coffee maker at home.
Can anyone recommend a good off-the-shelf coffee that's yummy cold? Dunks iced coffee is double brewed as far as I know, so something that will give me a good kick in the pants in the morning is preferable ;D
brew coffee, mix with sugar and cream, pour over ice?
I always assumed it was the sugar and milk that really gave it the flavor.....
TiAvenger is about spot on.
If you want the same taste as DD, then buy their brand coffee and make.
If you want really good coffee, then find some Cubita (producto of Cuba).
Quote from: TiAvenger on July 07, 2008, 06:54:17 AM
brew coffee, mix with sugar and cream, pour over ice?
I always assumed it was the sugar and milk that really gave it the flavor.....
Eh... there's a big flavor difference between, say, Kona and Folgers. Also a big difference in price... which is why I asked for a recommendation on a store brand. I'm too cheap to buy Kona :P
I've had Dunks brewed at home. It's not nearly the same. I think it's the 5 pounds of sugar they add and the cream that make it. I'd rather have a coffee that's tasty enough on its own to not have to add a ton of crap to it. That's another reason I'd like to get away from Dunks in the morning... that's 200 some odd extra calories I just don't need to add to my diet...
edit:
Every now and then I do. I usually just forget where I put it and by the time I find it I've got iced coffee [cheeky]
JM
I like to make whatever coffee I have a bit stronger than usual. Fill glass with ice add coffee, extra sugar and cream and then shake it up bartender style so it gets all frothy.. yum. Or just toss it back and forth between two glasses to make it frothy. :)
I used to (more) addicted to coffee in my college days and would make iced coffee regularly. I was also extremely cheap/poor. My solution - make a pot of coffee with a medium/dark roast maxwell house (or whatever was on sale) have my cup of hot coffee for the morning before I had to get to class. The extra I'd pour into a pitcher with some store brand vanilla creamer, I prefer the sugar free. Quick stir and Viola: Iced Coffee that'll last me a few days with breakfast. By the next morning it was cold and awesome. Repeat when pitcher empties.
I realize you didn't want to use the creamer, but the sugar free or fat free options will at least lower the calorie count. With crappy coffee it's really the creamer that makes it tasty.
I don't use store brand coffees. One thing to keep in mind is most store bought coffees turn bitter when brewed strong. Also, for years now, the coffee can has stayed the same size but the weight has been decreasing, you are now no longer getting a pound. Another is, hey, with the money you are saving you can buy better coffee and still be spending less. In terms of store brands, try Chock Full O Nuts if you can get it up there or even Dunkin Donuts, or any Italian or Spanish Espresso. If you have a Trader Joe's up by you they have good prices. You can blend them. All a matter of personal taste. You want extra strong for ice coffee, yesterday's left overs work too. Have fun!
My .02:
You don't want to pour hot coffee over ice. It should be brewed strong to taste and then immediately chilled (not diluted). A quick chill will take a lot of the bitter edge off and result in a sweeter, mellower finish product. After the coffee is cold, you can sweeten and pour over ice.
IMO: COLD BREW put 1 lb of good grounds in 1 gallon of water lid up and set on counter for 12-24 hours. strain VERY well and chill. mix with sugar and milk to your level and enjoy.
the difference is lovely with no bitterness.
as an extra treat make a batch and freeze in cube trays. your coffee will not get all watery.
Quote from: Grio on July 07, 2008, 07:48:00 AM
It should be brewed strong to taste and then immediately chilled (not diluted). A quick chill will take a lot of the bitter edge off and result in a sweeter, mellower finish product. After the coffee is cold, you can sweeten and pour over ice.
Okay, I'm a little clueless here. How do you quick chill the coffee? Would putting it in a pitcher in the freezer (sans ice) work?
I may try the cold brew method. I would imagine a french press would strain it well enough.
I have used a french press to do the cold-brew method.
Basically, I triple the amount of coffee I'd normally put in the french press, I add cold water then let it sit in the fridge for over 24 hours.
I then press out the grounds. What you have here is a cold brew concentrate of sorts.
I generally fill a big glass with ice, pour in the concentrate, add in milk and sugar to taste, and mix.
The ice will melt enough to dilute the concentrate to something closer to regular coffee but still really, really rich.
Also - I tend to use Peets coffee. Other fresh ground (ground for french press) coffee will do wonders.
There's a coffee shop around my house that has a "cold brewed" coffee, which tends to be stronger than "hot brewed" coffee. I can't remember what it was that was different, so there's my useless information of the day.
Slightly related, but not saving any money -
Anyone try this?
http://www.bibicaffe.com/
Mmm... Bubbly tasty. It's really good over ice, with a splash of 1/2+1/2 or cream.
Quote from: Fresh Pants on July 07, 2008, 09:28:09 AM
There's a coffee shop around my house that has a "cold brewed" coffee, which tends to be stronger than "hot brewed" coffee. I can't remember what it was that was different, so there's my useless information of the day.
Well I'm no Alton Brown but the reason that espresso is less bitter and has less caffeine than regular coffee is that hot water is highly pressurized and more rapidly forced through the ground coffee when making espresso. The water leaches more flavor and less oils/acids- or so I've been told. So it stands to reason that cold brewed DRIP coffee, which is bound to be more expansive between molecules would more readily saturate with caffeine making it more 'powerful' as the cold water more slowly passes through the coffee grounds. Ask your coffee dewds though- I'm really curious to know what they say!
Slightly related, but not saving any money -
Anyone try this?
http://www.bibicaffe.com/
Yes- I think they're **yucky** but my wife loves them. To each their own though! I've only found one canned/bottled coffee that I enjoyed and that was in Tokyo from a vending machine on the street. I think anything would have tasted good there though as I'm not into typical Japanese cuisine. /shrug
Mmm... Bubbly tasty. It's really good over ice, with a splash of 1/2+1/2 or cream.
Quote from: Fresh Pants on July 07, 2008, 09:28:09 AM
There's a coffee shop around my house that has a "cold brewed" coffee, which tends to be stronger than "hot brewed" coffee. I can't remember what it was that was different, so there's my useless information of the day.
Slightly related, but not saving any money -
Anyone try this?
http://www.bibicaffe.com/
Mmm... Bubbly tasty. It's really good over ice, with a splash of 1/2+1/2 or cream.
Interesting... Where did you see this? I must try it!
Could it be a replacement for my Cola Bear addiction?!!!
Quote from: hangin_biposto on July 07, 2008, 06:52:02 AM
something that will give a good kick in the fresh pants in the morning is preferable ;D
This is very neccesary! [laugh]
Quote from: Bick on July 07, 2008, 10:37:26 AM
Interesting... Where did you see this? I must try it!
Could it be a replacement for my Cola Bear addiction?!!!
This is very neccesary! [laugh]
[laugh]
Oww! [cheeky]
I've seen it at a few coffee shops, but it's easier to find at Whole Foods or Marczyk's Foods here in Denver.
try trader joe's organic coffee's
they aren't that pricey...
oh, and grind your own!
Quote from: Kyna on July 07, 2008, 08:58:15 AM
Okay, I'm a little clueless here. How do you quick chill the coffee? Would putting it in a pitcher in the freezer (sans ice) work?
Yup...hot coffee in the fridge of freezer if you can remember to bail it out before it freezes...
Quote from: yamifixer on July 07, 2008, 08:55:27 AM
IMO: COLD BREW put 1 lb of good grounds in 1 gallon of water lid up and set on counter for 12-24 hours. strain VERY well and chill. mix with sugar and milk to your level and enjoy.
the difference is lovely with no bitterness.
as an extra treat make a batch and freeze in cube trays. your coffee will not get all watery.
+1
I have one of these:
http://www.allannbroscoffee.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=151&category=16 (http://www.allannbroscoffee.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=151&category=16)
...which rocks! Make the extract weekly, keep it in the fridge in that glass container, and mix with cold milk and sweetener (if you roll that way) in seconds.
(Basically, there's the plastic container for the grounds and water, with a removable and washable filter, and a rubber cork. Fill with coffee, fill with water, let sit, remove cork, drain goodness into glass carafe. Discard grounds. Wash filter and cork and plastic container. Done.)
Thanks for all the tips guys!
I had forgotten about freezing coffee into cubes to prevent that nasty watery taste. That's one thing I hate about the last few sips of an iced brew!
I will have to check out one of the cold brew systems. The price is reasonable enough- a couple weeks of avoiding the drive through and it's pretty much paid for itself.
I love the taste of Starbucks, but when brewed at home it's bitter.
Fresh grind the beans on the 'espresso' setting ( or 'fine' setting). Mix the Starbucks 2 to 1 with a decaf vanilla (or other flavor you like on fine setting also) and percolate (Yeah, I know - old school, but I LOVE percolated coffee - drip coffe is too weak). USe metal spoon that won't dissolve in that acid bath!! [laugh]
For iced coffee, refrigerate the leftovers. Never heard of freezing it in ice cubes, I'm gonna do that with the leftovers, so I can have fresh iced coffee without the container clean up!!
I like the idea if the fresh brew. Like you said, BP it's inexpensive enough to give it a shot!! Let us know if you like it!
Quote from: Grio on July 07, 2008, 07:48:00 AM
My .02:
You don't want to pour hot coffee over ice. It should be brewed strong to taste and then immediately chilled (not diluted). A quick chill will take a lot of the bitter edge off and result in a sweeter, mellower finish product. After the coffee is cold, you can sweeten and pour over ice.
Forgot to mention that.
Oh, this is the best:
granita di caffè con panna:
4 cups of freshly-brewed espresso
Add the sugar to the coffee while still hot. Mix well. Pour into two ice-cube trays and freeze for several hours or overnight
Gradually dump into food processor while pulsing until you get the desired consistancy
Top with whipped cream
I use a (very) cheap brand called Cafe Aurora Italian Blend/Roast or some-such. It's in a vacuum-pack with an Italian flag color scheme.
(http://www.foodtown.co.nz/ImageServer/product_images/big/9310631001101.jpg)
I make it in a Bialetti...
(http://www.bialettishop.com/Pictures/EasyCaffeLarge2.jpg)
...and pour over ice, or enjoy hot.
It's seriously strong (almost espresso strong), so it doesn't take much to get a good kick, and it is still plenty strong when some ice melts into it while cooling it down.
I'm addicted man. It's my only vice! ;D
Being here in land o coffee. ie Japan.
Giergia coffee is the bomb cold. It's a coke product and you can find it in many japanese markets. about a buck a can.
there was a rumor that it had nicotine in ti but I had a friend who can read japanese look att he label and got the big negative ont eh nicotine...though I probably would not have cared.
55spy is right. The shit here is wonderful. Georgia is good. Emerald is good. Blendy is sold by the carton black, sweet, light, etc. And, it goes for cheap from vending machines to grocery stores. There's probably 30-45 varieties too.
Before I came out here, I worked night shift work. I kept a pitcher at work and a bag of sugar. I'd dump the leftover pot into the pitcher when I came in and add sugar. Throw the pitcher in the fridge and just repeat daily. I'd spend the night drinking from the pitcher and it would get refilled daily. I'd bring in a carton of milk every once in a while and it would keep a nice rotation.
I had to stop at a Starbucks in Madrid today after doc appointment, the left hip is well make the beast with two backsed according to him. Can't ride a bike for a LONG time, apparently.
To cheer me up I bought a White choco mocca frappuccino and a slice of banana bread... well actually, it was an excuse to sit next to two lovely, young ladies and have a chat. ;D
Quote from: NuTTs on July 08, 2008, 02:48:29 PM
I had to stop at a Starbucks in Madrid today after doc appointment, the left hip is well make the beast with two backsed according to him. Can't ride a bike for a LONG time, apparently.
To cheer me up I bought a White choco mocca frappuccino and a slice of banana bread... well actually, it was an excuse to sit next to two lovely, young ladies and have a chat. ;D
just as long as you don't have a gasoline fight with your buddies in a jeep afterward (ala 'Zoolander'). Did you crash again btw- or is this from when your RS sprouted angel wings?
Quote from: c_rex on July 08, 2008, 03:00:17 PM
just as long as you don't have a gasoline fight with your buddies in a jeep afterward (ala 'Zoolander'). Did you crash again btw- or is this from when your RS sprouted angel wings?
I loved that movie..
I was run over on 30th May, new BMW HP2 is kaput. http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=3521.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=3521.0)
Sorry to hear about the slow mending! :(
Mayhaps the Starbucks ladies can help with stretches, massage, and other "back work" to help your recovery.
coffee press (bodum); after cools; put in fridge or over 2 icecubes in beer mug (max time sitting 5 hrs) 1 large scoops of good bryers natural vanilla icecream ..... voilla!
only to be made in afternoons when really hot and humid outside; tanning or in the shade your choice; OH spoon to stir in the icecream .... chocolate icecream works for a different kick....enjoy!