Anthony Carroll, green coffee expert for Starbucks, suggests entertaining at home with coffee.

“Served hot or cold, coffee is the perfect beverage for so many occasions,” Carroll says. “During the summer, nothing beats iced coffee.”

While many coffees taste great chilled, Carroll recommends high-quality specialty coffees like Kenya or African Kitamu from Starbucks. Both coffees make a wonderful option for serving cold because hints of citrus and floral notes become more pronounced when iced, and pair beautifully with favorite summertime treats.

African coffees are especially good over ice, with crisp, caramel notes that pair perfectly with fresh berries or a moist lemon pound cake.

After selecting your favorite coffee, brewing the perfect cup of iced coffee at home for guests is easy. To experience the complex flavors of the coffee, Carroll offers these simple steps to brew iced coffee to perfection at home:

* Brew coffee double strength, using one cup (2.5 ounces) of ground coffee to three cups of filtered water (24 ounces), in a coffee press to allow the coffee’s complex flavors to shine through.

* After brewing is complete, pour the coffee into a large pitcher, adding three cups of ice and let it cool.

* Serve the coffee in a tall glass over ice and sweeten to taste.

With Starbucks VIA Ready Brew, no coffee drinker will ever be without a great cup of iced coffee — simply brew it in cold water and ice. A perfected micro-grinding process preserves the naturally roasted flavors and produces the rich aroma and flavor of iced brewed Starbucks coffee.

“From the classic Iced Caffe Latte to the refreshing and simple Iced Caffe Americano, iced coffee beverages are easy to prepare and can be paired with delectable foods to match all occasions,” Carroll says. “Made with freshly brewed coffee, these thirst-quenching chilled beverages will ensure that you and your guests are kept cool in the summer heat.”

To put a twist on iced coffee, try serving one of these iced coffee beverages at your next summer get together.

Cafe con Leche
Coffee with milk, the perfect combination.
Makes four Servings

Ingredients:
1 cup (2.5 ounces) Kenya or Africa Kitamu ground coffee
3 cups (24 fluid ounces/710 milliliter) filtered water
1 cup (eight fluid ounce/236 milliliter) cold milk
Classic syrup

Directions:

Brew the coffee double strength using one cup of ground coffee to three cups of water. After brewing is complete, pour the coffee into a pitcher or carafe. Add three cups of ice to the pitcher and let cool. Fill four tall glasses halfway with ice. Pour 1/2 cup (four ounces) iced coffee over ice. Add 1/4 cup (2 fluid ounces/59 milliliters) cold milk to each glass. Sweeten to taste with classic syrup.

Citrus Iced Coffee
Tangy, tasty and tantalizing — a perfect afternoon drink.
Makes four servings

Ingredients:

1 cup (2.5 ounces) Kenya or African Kitamu ground coffee
3 cups (24 fluid ounces/710 milliliter) filtered water
1 orange sliced into thin wedges
1 lime sliced into thin wedges
Classic syrup

Directions:

Brew coffee double strength, using one cup of ground coffee to three cups of water. After brewing is complete, pour coffee into a pitcher or carafe. Add orange and lime wedges (put aside enough lime wedges to garnish glasses). Add three cups of ice to the pitcher and let cool. Serve in a tall glass filled halfway with ice and garnish with lime wedge. Sweeten to taste with classic syrup.

For more iced coffee ideas and recipes, visit www.starbucks.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent