How to Make Your Own Iced Coffee & Save Money on McDonald's or Starbucks

Iced coffee can be created with your specific tastes and budget in mind.

Iced coffee can be refreshing on hot days or revitalizing as an afternoon pick-me-up. While McDonald's and Starbucks offer iced coffee prepared in just a few minutes, a simple at-home recipe can cut out the middleman and allow you to control the flavors and sweetness of your coffee. Iced coffee may seem like a mystery to novices, but once you discover the technique, you will save time and money on your daily coffee fix.

Things You'll Need

• Coarsely ground coffee
• French press
• Granulated sugar
• Glass pitcher
• Ice cubes
• Almond or vanilla extract
• Milk or half-and-half

Instructions

1. Place about 1/4 cup of ground coffee into the main body of the French press. Stir in about two cups of boiling water. Allow the coffee to brew for about 10 minutes, then add the top of the French press and push down on the handle to separate the coffee grounds from the brewed beverage.

2. Pour the coffee into a glass pitcher or measuring cup. Add two or three tablespoons of sugar to the hot coffee and stir until the sugar dissolves completely. You may adjust the sugar content of the coffee to your own tastes, or substitute with another sweetener.

3. Allow the coffee to cool overnight in the fridge. Take the coffee out of the fridge in the morning. Prepare a glass with about five ice cubes. Pour the coffee over the ice cubes.

4. Stir in a small drop of vanilla or almond extract to the coffee. Stir in two or three tablespoons of milk or half-and-half and enjoy. This recipe will make about two or three servings of iced coffee.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with the strength of the brewed coffee. Try brewing the coffee slightly stronger than you like it when it is hot.

References

• The Kitchn: How to Make Iced Coffee
• Small Notebook: The Secret to Great Iced Coffee