Tip of the Day - Make Your Own Coffee Drinks
Once it gets warm, the temptation to buy a delicious frozen beverage is hard to overcome.
But there are several issues involved in buying a frozen coffee drink, if you aren’t getting it from your awesome local eco-friendly coffee shop.
- The coffee probably isn’t fair trade organic
- The dairy involved probably isn’t organic
- It may contain high fructose corn syrup or other icky ingredients
- Most chain places will serve your drink in a plastic cup even if you’re getting it “for here.”
- There are a gazillion calories in a lot of those drinks
So, pull out your blender and make your own. Gourmet Sleuth has a list of copycat recipes that you can make at home, using ingredients you control and served in your favorite glass or reusable “to go” container.
Here are some better options for your ingredients:
- Coffee — Newman’s Own Organics Fair Trade Coffee can be found at many major grocery stores, and many of the grinding stations carry plastic free coffee bags. I really like Equal Exchange products too.
- Chocolate Syrup — Dagoba makes organic fair trade corn syrup free chocolate syrup. AH!Laska makes chocolate syrup too.
- Chocolate Chips — Sweet Earth is a good option for chocolate chips.
- Caramel Syrup — We have a bottle of Santa Cruz Organic Caramel Syrup in the fridge that it totally calling my name right now.
- Whipped Cream — Natural by Nature makes organic whipped cream, Soyatoo makes a soy whipped topping, or you can make your own.
Enjoy!
May 1st, 2008 at 3:15 pm
i’ve definitely taken to making my own iced coffee when summer rolls around. make one pot in the morning on Monday, stick it in the fridge, viola, there’s iced coffee for the next three days!
i thank my beau’s sister for this idea. she got me hooked over a mini vacation at a lake house last summer.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:38 pm
A little sprinkle of cinnamon in the grinds before brewing makes it super yummy!!
May 1st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Yeah, we add pumpkin pie spice to the grounds before we make the coffee and it’s pretty excellent. NEED COFFEE!
May 1st, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I like the cinnamon idea, Nicole. Even in the summer, I love a good hot cup of coffee. I’ll have to try that.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I’ve discovered the best homemade iced mocha is made with spoonfuls of 100% pure cocoa powder, a little sugar (or agave syrup), dash of cinnamon and lots of vanilla flavored soy milk mixed with a concentrated coffee brew (I use a French press and add little water) makes the most FANTASTICAL and yummy drink. Yes… that’s what I’ll be putting together right after this post… pure coffee/chocolate bliss.
The trick to a lumpless mixture is to add the hot coffee to the cocoa first.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Why do I always leave your blog craving food or drinks? Oh, caffeine. I could use you right now.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Ha! Sorry! I think it’s because I’m usually hungry when I sit down to write.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I’m loving everyone’s recipes! Totally taking notes!
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:56 pm
We experimented with iced coffee last summer. It worked out okay, but I think we’ll have to give some of these a try this year.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:04 pm
The trick is to make it stronger than you make your regular coffee — the ice waters it down. Or make coffee ice cubes with your leftover coffee and then use those to make iced coffee and shakes.