Missing Iced Coffee? Here’s How to Hack a Great Cup at Home

There’s a lot we’re missing out on while social distancing, from personal activities like seeing our family and friends in person to the little things like leisurely strolling the aisles of Target. We’re also missing the indulgences that fall in between those big and small things — like a great cup of iced coffee.

So, until you can savor your favorite iced coffee made by a barista that knows the secrets to making each delicious cup just right, you’re going to need to improvise and DIY your own cup.

Since simply brewing a cup of Joe and tossing in some ice won’t do, here’s how to hack your own iced coffee.

First let’s start with what you’ll need. When it comes to your choice in coffee, don’t skimp on your beans and blends. Opt for a great tasting, rich roast coffee. Depending on what type of coffee maker you have, you can choose between whole beans or ground coffee. For this recipe, you’ll need one pound. You’ll also need whatever dairy you usually add, like half-and-half, skim or almond milk, and granulated sugar.

To make the coffee, start by grabbing a large container and mix the ground coffee with 8 quarts of room temperature water. Cover it, and let the mixture sit at room temperature overnight. Give it a quick shake several times before use.

The night before is also a great time to whip up a simple syrup to sweeten your coffee. To do this, combine equal parts granulated sugar with water in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved and, when cool, pour into a bottle or mason jar and refrigerate.

The next day, strain the grounds with a coffee filter and discard both. Fill a tall glass with lots of ice, pour in the coffee, and add dairy and simple syrup to taste. Place unused coffee in the fridge and enjoy it later.

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy your rejuvenating iced coffee. You earned it.