Summer Iced Coffee

As the summer continues, the forecast remains the same. Today’s weather is hot, tomorrow’s weather is hot, and next week’s weather… probably hot?

Thank goodness for the genius who invented iced coffee! For those of us who need that morning pick-me-up but can’t imagine sipping piping hot bean water when it’s already 85 degrees at 7am, iced coffee is the perfect way to start the day. And since we shared our favorite fizzy wine beverage earlier this month, we thought we’d share an icy morning beverage to help keep you cool enough until it’s an acceptable hour to drink wine!

Where did the idea for iced coffee come from?

There are several theories about the true origin of iced coffee. The most accepted story claims that French soldiers drank a cold water and coffee syrup drink in Algeria called “mazagran” to
help fight the intense heat in the region. Upon returning to France, they introduced it to local café owners, who referred to it as Café Mazagran, and it became a big hit!

How is Iced Coffee Different from Cold Brew?

Iced coffee today is simple. You brew hot coffee, pour it over ice to cool it down, and there you have it; iced coffee! Remember that this is different from the other popular cold beverage, “cold brew,” which is coffee brewed with cold water and then left to steep for about 16-18 hours. Both drinks are enjoyed cold, but there is a difference in the brewing process and taste.

How Do We Enjoy Iced Coffee?

If you like black coffee, then your journey may stop after pouring your hot coffee over ice. However, there are many ways to flavor and jazz up a delicious cup of iced coffee. It all depends on your preference. You may want to add specialty syrups, creamers, or whipped cream to make it extra special. Today we will share one of our favorite ways to make iced coffee, using some  extra special Heart of the Desert Ingredients.

Coffee
We will start with one of our locally roasted coffees! It's no surprise that our favorite is the pistachio coffee, which marries the flavors of fair-trade, organic Arabica coffee with pistachios!

Creamer
The sky’s the limits with creamers today! You can use milk, half-n-half, heavy whipping cream, something sweetened, or even a non-dairy creamer like almond or coconut milk. If you need your coffee to be sweeter, you can try adding in some sweetened condensed milk.

Sweetener
For this recipe, we are using our cinnamon and sugar shaker. We call it “Christmas in a Jar” because it contains all your sweet baking spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and ginger.
We find that even when it’s not Christmas, we love the homey feeling of this shaker and love using it in baked goods and coffee all year round! Try sprinkling it on some buttered toast with
your coffee!

Iced Coffee Recipe:

1-1.5 cups of our specialty roasted coffees, freshly brewed (depending on how large your glass is)
A heavy splash of half-n-half
1-2 tbsp of our cinnamon and sugar shaker
*Whipped cream topping (optional)
*Sweetened condensed milk (optional, to taste—up to 3 tablespoons)

• Fill a jar with ice. We like using jars because we find shaking the ingredients is easier than trying to stir.
• Pour freshly brewed coffee over the ice.
• Add a heavy splash of your favorite creamer.
• Place the lid on the jar and shake.
• Add 1-2 tbsp of our cinnamon and sugar shaker blend to the jar. Replace the lid and shake again. Take a sip to see if you need to add any additional sugar, cream, or coffee to your liking.

Grab a tall glass and pour your delicious, iced coffee into the glass. Top with a dollop of whipped cream. Dust the top with more cinnamon and sugar. Enjoy!

Heart of the Desert is a working pistachio ranch and vineyard with four retail establishments in New Mexico. They are best known for their farm fresh pistachios and Award-Winning New Mexico wines. Each store offers wine and pistachio tastings. They offer worldwide shipping and produce attractive gourmet baskets that make great corporate and family gifts. The main store, on the ranch in Alamogordo, offers farm tours that showcases how pistachios are grown and processed as well as a stunning Tuscany themed patio that overlooks the groves and is available for weddings, private parties or enjoying a relaxing glass of wine.

References:
https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a11061/perfect-iced-coffee/
https://www.coffeemagazine.co.za/blog/1/5617/the-history-of-the-iced-coffee