The secret to a good cup of iced coffee is preparation. Real iced coffee does not involve pouring hot coffee over ice. In fact, there's no hot water required. Rather, it just takes an inexpensive toddy coffee maker and time to have a cup of iced coffee that truly is iced coffee.

First, purchase a toddy cold-brew coffee maker. It is an inexpensive device that includes a plastic decanter, a carafe, a special iced coffee filter and a stopper. It costs less than $30 and can be purchased online. It is three pieces and takes about two minutes to put together. Pour one pound of regular ground coffee into the plastic decanter. Fill the plastic container with cold water to about one inch from the rim of the container. Let the container with the water and coffee mixture sit overnight or for about 10 hours. Remove the stopper from the bottom of the container and let the mixture, which is now concentrate, flow into the carafe. Add about two tablespoons of vanilla extract and refrigerate until cold. This should yield about six cups or glasses of iced coffee.

Fill a glass with ice. Pour one part of the coffee concentrate and add three parts water. Add more vanilla extract for taste if desired. Add milk. Sweeten. Stir. The concentrate will last for three weeks if refrigerated.

For an iced mocha, add chocolate syrup to taste. Do not use chocolate powder if making an iced mocha. The powder tends not to dissolve. Stick with chocolate syrup.

Learn more about this author, Lori Dreischmeier.
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