I love coffee. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest (Portland, OR to be exact) and from the time I was 12 years old, you couldn't walk a block without encountering Coffee People, Starbucks, Boyds, Seattle's Best or some other local shop. Because of the availability, I started drinking coffee younger than most. The Christmas when I was 14 years old, I asked for and received my very own espresso maker. I spent all of Christmas morning making lattes and cappuccinos for my relatives. In the summer, I really appreciate good iced coffee. Coffee that is made strong enough to hold up to the addition of milk and a fist full of ice cubes and still taste like coffee. A while back, I discovered a coffeehouse here in Philly that even takes their iced coffee one step further. They make their own coffee iced cubes. So that the coffee never waters down. I fell in love with the concept on the spot and started turning my own leftover coffee into ice cubes. I now keep an ice tray just for this purpose. The only trick to it is to remember to turn the cubes out into a plastic bag or container once they are frozen solid, otherwise they start to evaporate and develop a funky flavor.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-20-2007 @ 2:39PM
Buy Fresh Seafood Online said...
Very enjoyable post to read. This idea could probably be applied to any kind of soft drink including soda. The possibilities seem limitless.
Fisherman
http://www.allfreshseafood.com
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7-20-2007 @ 3:49PM
Matt said...
So which coffee shop was it? There are a few of us out here who live in Philly too...
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7-20-2007 @ 3:56PM
Ryan said...
I think you mean eSpresso. Expresso is a Portuguese newspaper.
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7-20-2007 @ 4:08PM
Rachel said...
What a great idea! I used to work at Starbucks...would have been fairly easy to do with all the leftover coffee that gets thrown out at the end of every hour during the slow times....
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7-20-2007 @ 4:17PM
Andrea said...
I read this tip on about.com some time ago but I don't think they mentioned what to do after the cubes were frozen. Maybe they assumed that the cubes would all be used immediately. I tried coffee ice cubes myself after that but left the cubes in the tray and they got concentrated and funky. Next time I'll put them in a bag.
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7-20-2007 @ 7:38PM
Rob O. said...
So, how about a recipe for using these coffee cubes when frozen? Like, how many cubes to how much milk, etc... Inquiring minds want to know! :-)
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7-21-2007 @ 7:15AM
penthilisea said...
Now thinking back, don't forget to use your cold press coffee to make the cubes. If you try and cool hot coffee it will get bitter. It's coarsely ground coffee, room temp filtered water, 24 hours, strain x3 and voila! If you pour the cubes when you strain the coffee and put it in the fridge by the time they're frozen the coffee is cool too!
(there's also a shop in Lambertville NJ that does this.)
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7-21-2007 @ 7:49AM
bdw said...
I make coffee ice cubes. In addition to the obvious used, I have discovered that if you put them in the blender with sweetened condenses milk or chocolate syrup, you have a really nice summer afternoon drink that you can share with your nieces and nephews to punish your sister in law.
Actually we all loved them. Now to find a puppy...
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7-25-2007 @ 9:33AM
Andrea said...
I love Iced Coffee and a new drink really impressed me. Iced'Spresso. Lower calorie than most coffees.
Check it out at www.icedspresso.com
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7-27-2007 @ 2:29PM
Sherrill said...
I'm off to Hawaii to do some field testing and gourmet coffee research...
I've jus dropped a new coffee myself...premium connoisseur peaberry and I wanted to let someone know that if they're in any position to review my great tasting coffee...that I'd send them a review sample...this stuff is light years smoother and tastier than any kona I've ever had...
I was lookin for a worthwhile blog to let someone know about my new blog...gourmet coffee snob...
~~Sherrill~~
Always Drink Better Coffee
SpotaJava Coffee
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10-13-2007 @ 3:22PM
cryingeyezz said...
WOW Ive been reading your blog for well over a year now and just caught on that your from Philly! Thats so cool. Im also from Philly and a coffee junkie. If you havent been tp the Regency Cafe yet check it out. They have really good coffee and very yummy cookies and stuff. Its right outside Philly. Xoxo
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