My secret to surviving summer in the South is to keep everything as cold as possible. I finish my showers with a blast of cold water, carry ice water with me when I run errands, set the thermostat at 68 and only turn on the oven when absolutely necessary. I’m serious about staying cool in the summer, y’all. The other secret to my summer survival is a constant supply of cold brew coffee!
To brew my coffee concentrate, I use the Toddy Cold Brew system. I love it! It takes so much less time and produces coffee that isn’t the least bit bitter or acidic. The whole process takes 24 hours, but only a few minutes of that is hands-on time. Watch my video below to see how easy it is!
When I make my iced coffee in the morning, I fill my glass 1/4 of the way with creamer, 1/4 with coffee concentrate and then the rest of the way with refrigerated water (tap water is not cold enough). Every so often I make my coffee just a little more special and dessert-y. Here’s how I make my favorite dark chocolate iced coffee:
- 1/3 Cup Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
- 1/4 Cup Creamer (my favorite is International Delight Almond Joy)
- 1/2 Cup Refrigerated Water (no ice)
- A few drizzles of Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup
Pour into a mason jar and screw the lid on tightly. Shake until blended. Top with Cool Whip and a few more drizzles of chocolate syrup. Pop in a fun straw and enjoy!
On The Menu
Breakfast:
- Date Breakfast at Chick-Fil-A 🙂
- Peanut Butter Toast with Fruit
- Eggs & Bacon
Lunch:
- Leftovers
- Egg Salad Sandwiches
- Seafood Salad with Crackers & Fruit
- Creamy Bacon, Tomato and Avocado Pasta Salad
Supper:
- Roast Chicken/Corn on the Cob/Watermelon
- Texas Toast Pizzas/Tossed Salad
- Hot Dogs/Potato Salad/Corn on the Cob (July 4th!)
- Taco Mac & Cheese/Tossed Salad
- Nachos/Fruit
- Chicken & Rice/Garlic Green Beans
- Leftovers
Come Home For Comfort 
Omg this looks fantastic!!! Just followed your blog 🙂 xo, CaitlinCooks.com
Thanks for the follow, Caitlin!
Oh how I love this! I have some cold brewed coffee in the fridge now and will enjoy this in the morning. YUMMMERS! Thanks for sharing. Right up my taste bud alley.
You’re so welcome! I hope you enjoyed it!
This sounds so good. I’ve been having green tea more than coffee lately to cut back on calories but an iced coffee wouldn’t hurt from time to time.
I cannot function without at least one cup of coffee in the morning! 🙂
I would love to see a youtube video on how your new cold brew system works!
Oooh that’s a good idea! I’ll try to film it next week when I make another batch.
Thanks for the coffee details! Sounds awesome! 🙂 What’s best at Chick-Fil-A for breakfast? Haven’t been there for that meal before!
Chicken Minis are my favorite, but the Chicken Biscuit is great too 🙂
They both sound fun. Thanks!
That cold coffee looks delicious! I will have to give it a try!
It is the best iced coffee I’ve ever made at home!
This looks like a tasty treat!! Every afternoon when the kids are napping/having quiet time, I treat myself to a glass of iced coffee and a little me time. It’s one of the highlights of my day. Your menu looks tasty as always with nachos, texas toast pizza and all of your summer produce! Happy 4th 🙂
That sounds like a perfect afternoon treat! It would be a highlight of my day, too!
What is the benefit of the Brew system over just making regular coffee? Your dessert coffee looks delicious!
There are several benefits! For one, I drink iced coffee almost every day in the summer. It’s so much easier to have it already made and chilled instead of having to brew coffee and then end up diluting it with ice. Another benefit is the taste. For me, regular brewed coffee that is chilled tastes acidic – this method completely avoids it. So there you have it! 🙂