How to Make The Best Iced Coffee At Home: A Brewing Guide for Ice Breaker

Iced. Coffee. The very notion of it is contradictory. The piping hot liquid gold we love that brews up from the beans we hold beloved didn’t originate on ice, but time changes things—and change is good. No matter what your grandpa says.

Ice Breaker is yet another step in the epic evolution of this year-round treat we honor, especially in the summer. We’re going to break down the best ways to brew it, but first let's talk cold—

A brief history of iced coffee from our dear friend Chat GPT:  

1. Early 20th Century: Iced coffee has been enjoyed in various forms for centuries, with early versions appearing in Algeria (mazagran) in the 19th century and in the United States as early as the 1920s. However, it remained a niche beverage. 
2. 1960s and 1970s: Iced coffee began to gain more visibility in the U.S., partly due to the influence of Japanese and European cultures, where cold coffee drinks were more common. The 1964 New York World’s Fair introduced many Americans to iced coffee.
3. 1990s: The real surge in popularity began in the 1990s with the rise of coffeehouse culture. The introduction of a variety of other coffee beverages made iced coffee a staple menu item.
4. 2000s and Beyond: The 21st century saw iced coffee become a mainstream beverage, fueled by the growing specialty coffee movement, advancements in cold brew techniques, and the increasing popularity of ready-to-drink coffee products. Social media and the desire for trendy, photogenic beverages also played a significant role in boosting iced coffee's popularity. 

Thanks, Chat GPT. Back to being a human.

Cafe Iced Coffee

Seeing as we are iced coffee drinkers of the 21st century, it’s fair to say cafe culture is what has shaped our understanding. But are you aware of the ways most cafes prepare that iced coffee you’re grabbing on your way to work?

1. Cold Brew – A term most of us are familiar with nowadays, this method features brewing coffee cold by steeping grinds in water, typically for 12-24 hours. Cold brew has a tendency to be less acidic than MOST iced coffees.
2. Hot Brew Chilled – This method is often most common and includes brewing coffee normally via a drip method, then chilling the coffee to be poured over ice as ordered. Because this is coffee meant for hot consumption, it can often taste very acidic.  
 

How to Brew Ice Breaker

Now for the reason you’re here—the resolution to paying $10 a cup for what is essentially acidic, day-old coffee poured over ice. Ice Breaker was designed to handle every temp to ensure a smooth, bright and non-acidic iced coffee every time. And you can make it at home, which means major savings & no guessing as to what’s in your cup. Let’s break down the best way to brew it.

1. Brew 3.5 tbs of Ice Breaker grounds per 6 oz. of water using your preferred drip method.
• Here are some tips & tricks for drip-pot brewing and pour-over brewing.
2. While your coffee brews, grab a heat-safe cup or glass and fill it with ice.
3. Once your coffee is done brewing, simply pour into your cup.
4. Revel in the ultra-bold & un-watered down iced coffee you just created yourself.  

Are you kicking yourself for reading this entire blog only to realize how easy this stuff is to make? Yeah, it’s pretty fool proof but we’re glad you stuck around til the end anyway. If you haven’t yet, get your hands on a bag of Ice Breaker now and see for yourself.