Scrumptious Sundays: Is it iced coffee weather?

Well, at least here is Arizona it is! Is it Iced coffee weather where you live (via Howaboutorange)? 

The real question is, does it matter? Iced coffee is wonderful, and I've been known to partake in the beverage during less-than-ideal conditions, i.e. rainstorms and blizzards.
Maybe that's a little too extreme for you, but when you are ready to indulge in some icy goodness, why not make some yourself? 

Purchasing coffee from your barista gets expensive if you start indulging more often and not just as a treat (a predicament I found myself in recently, which is also something I used to chide others for a little... I see where you're coming from now!).

Soooo, a long while back I read about a recipe for cold-brew iced coffee (also at Howaboutorange). Could cold-brew really be that amazing? Well I must say I was not disappointed. 

The coffee comes out smooth and not bitter in the least. AND you can add sugar/cream/flavoring to your exact tastes without feeling like a yuppy freako (yes, could I have that venti with two pumps of hazelnut, sweetened, with cream, light actually, like, extra milk, if you wouldn't mind?).

So here is the recipe and a fun little article from The New York Times about the perks (harhar) of cold brew.

Cold-Brew Iced Coffee
1/3 cup ground coffee (try fair-trade or shade-grown coffee)
1 1/2 cups water

Optional: sugar, flavoring, milk

Combine coffee and water in a jar, cover and soak overnight or 8-12 hours at room temperature. 

In the morning, strain coffee twice through a filter or sieve... 

Into a container of your choice. 

Pour one part coffee concentrate and one part water over ice. Add milk and flavoring (amaretto or hazelnut = yum!) if desired. I mixed in a little sugar directly into the coffee concentrate after straining.  ENJOY!

(I doubled this recipe and kept some in the fridge for a few days for a quick morning coffee to-go)

BONUS: I found that awesome travel cup at target (dishwasher safe and bpa free!)I was not keen on the idea of drinking coffee from a water bottle, which I had resigned myself to because I needed something reusable and durable to bring to work (and something I wouldn't spill all over myself during my 4:30 am scramble). 

While rooting through water bottles at target (which are located in at least five areas of the store... Good! Because I need a camping bottle and a workout bottle and a general purpose bottle AND a driving water bottle!), I stumbled upon the holy grail of reusable cups, complete with thick, washable, non-chewable straw, twist on lid, and clear, cup-like design! I swear I'm not getting paid for this, I just really like my new cup.

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