Beat the heat with Ice Coffee on the Cheap

The Dallas area is experiencing one of the hottest summers on record. It’s so hot that even the most dedicated coffee drinkers are trying their favorite java on ice. That can get expensive, though, if you’re visiting your local coffee house every day. Here’s a way to beat the heat without breaking your budget. The whole process takes no longer than it would to fix a hot cup of coffee.

· Start with leftover coffee. That’s right…leftover coffee. Every time you have coffee left in the pot, don’t pour it down the drain. Pour it in a pitcher and store in the refrigerator.

· Purchase your favorite creamer from the grocery store. You can get an entire quart of regular or fat free half and half for about $2.50, and it doesn’t go bad as fast as milk does. Half and half can last in your refrigerator up to month. Flavored creamers may be a bit more in price, but you’re still getting a lot of creamer, and those last even longer, because they are non-dairy.

· When you’re ready for ice coffee, fill the cup of your choice with ice. Crushed is best if you have an ice maker with that option. Fill the cup about ¾ full of coffee, than add your creamer to taste. This may take some adjusting the first time you make it.

· If you like your ice coffee sweet, add whatever sweetener you keep in the (sugar, Splenda, Agave nectar).

· If you like your ice coffee flavored, use a flavored creamer, or you buy flavored syrups at many local grocery stores. Target and Wal-Mart sell vanilla and sugar-free vanilla. Albertsons and Tom Thumb sell the same brand of syrup Starbucks uses in several different flavors.

· To make your ice coffee taste like a flavored ice coffee from McDonald’s, use five pumps of flavor and a ¼ cup half and half for a 20 oz. drink, and 10 pumps of flavor with a ½ cup of half and half for a 32 oz. drink.

Your initial investment to buy creamer and flavored syrup will be under $10, and you’ll get at least 10 cups of ice coffee out of that investment – maybe even more. The best part, aside from saving money, is having ice coffee right there whenever you want it, and being able to control the fat and calories. Try it. You may never buy another cup of ice coffee from you local coffee house again.