I don’t know about you, but no matter how hot it is, I don’t miss my hot morning cup of coffee. But alas everyone is not like me. In fact, most people won’t go near a hot beverage or a hot meal when the temperature begins to rise. So here are a few ways to enjoy your favorite beverage when the temperature is rising without raising yours.

At Home-

Over Ice:
*Brew your coffee as usual.
*While it’s hot, add your sweetener.
*Fill a large glass with ice
*I like my coffee very milky so I only fill half the glass with coffee and the other half with cold evaporated milk.
*Add a straw and stir.

Looks so inviting and tastes great too.

Coffee Smoothie:
*You will need a blender for this one.
*Brew your coffee and pour into a cup as you normally do.
*Add milk and sweetener to taste.
*Pour into blender.
*Add ice.
*Cover, hit the switch and pour.

Don’t forget to add a straw.

For variations on this theme, experiment with your favorites:
*Vanilla extract
*Banana, berries, peaches.
*Flavored creamers
*Chocolate syrup
*Ice Cream-Try coffee ice cream for a double dose—makes a great dessert!

Starbucks will have nothing on you!

Stock up and let someone else do the work:
*If the heat’s got you beat and you don’t feel like working that hard, you can find coffee drinks to have on hand in your local supermarket. Starbucks has a Frappuccino four-pack and a new Italian Roast but there are many others. Just look around, stock up and break them out just when you need them most.

While you are out-

Get it your way:
*If you are running around town or late for work, anyplace that makes coffee will be glad to serve your coffee cold. Just request it the way you like it over ice.

Heaven on ice:
*Most every store or chain will offer you a basic iced coffee at the very least but Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins, just to name a few, will make you feel like its Christmas in July with so many choices. My favorites are Starbucks’ Caramel Macchiato, Dunkin Donuts’ Coolata and Baskin Robbins’ Cappuccino Blast (a great accompaniment to an afternoon of power shopping I must say).

So remember, your cup of java is best served icy cold on a hot day. Enjoy!