Magical Coffee
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Author Notes: This recipe was inspired by a drink I love at a local cafe. (Theirs is "magic coffee.") After my first taste, I went home and immediately started tweaking a recipe. They brew the coffee hot, but since it was summer and I am lazy, I wanted to use a cold-brewed coffee base, and I started with a recipe from the Times. There's lots of room for variation depending on what flavors you like--I did a Scandinavian version with white sugar, almond extract, and crushed fennel seeds too. - ErinH
Food52 Review: One of those recipes that's a great concept rather than a precise formula, ErinH's iced coffee takes inspiration from both her local coffee house and the New York Times. Adding a teaspoon of cinnamon and a few spoonfuls of dark brown sugar to the coffee as it cold-brews gives it a lush sweetness and a hit of warmth. After a night in the fridge, you strain the coffee and pour it over ice cubes. Then comes the cream. (Or milk, depending on your mood.) And then, as ErinH says, you "die of happiness." We loved this iteration and think her "Scandinavian version" (using almond extract and fennel) sounds like a winner too. - A&M - A&M
Serves 2-4
Coffee Base
- 2/3 cups coarsely ground coffee
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- Put ingredients in a quart jar and stir.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
The Finished Drink
- milk, half and half, or cream
- ice
- Pour the coffee base through a sieve or strainer into a bowl, then strain back into jar for easy storage.
- For each drink: Fill a tall glass halfway with ice. Pour in coffee until glass is about 3/4 full, and add milk/half and half/cream to taste.
- Die of happiness.
- This recipe is a Wildcard Contest Winner!
Tags: Easy
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15 days ago Grainy
for real decadence on a hot afternoon by the pool,substitute milk/half and half/cream with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream and serve with a cinnamon stir-stick.
28 days ago rjfk926
This is absolutely fantastic I make 3 jars a day and it is gone by the end of the day!!! Coffee junkie!!! :)
29 days ago Mitch Fagans
I used Baileys instead of cream,and also threw in a shot of crown royal for an excellent after dinner cafe.
about 1 month ago maeveoh
How deliciously I started my morning today!! Inspired by a cup of coffee I had repeatedly on a 2010 SF trip at Philz Coffee (Philosopher's blend), I added 5 cardamom pods (crushed slightly) to my doubled recipe. Extra magical!
2 months ago ErinH
So glad many people are enjoying this! Pureun, I dont know the Food52 policy on putting things on your blog, but you'd probablybe okay if you share with an attribution and link. Thanks!
2 months ago Pureun
Yes, of course!I'll put the source of this recipe. Thank you :)
2 months ago Pureun
I also just made this! I can't wait tomorrow. Can I share this recipe my blog?
3 months ago Jazziered
I just made this. The cinnamon took over the coffee taste for me. Going to try again without the cinnamon and a little vanilla extract instead.
3 months ago Jazziered
I forgot to add: I ran it through my mesh strainer to get rid of the big stuff. Rinsed out strainer put paper towel in the strainer and strained again for the smaller stuff. A coffee filter did not work for some reason.
3 months ago GailP
This recipe is absolutely perfect.
3 months ago casandmatt
So good! I've made it the last two days. Love it.
3 months ago dekjuz_cool@yahoo.com
HI all i want to make 10 coffee recipe in 100 ml cup hot or cold..any ideas??
5 months ago Barbarella LovesDanny Duvall
OMG this is simply amazing. I used ground coffee and it was a little bit of work bus SO amazing. I will used coarsely ground next time.
7 months ago The Cooking of Joy
I just made a pumpkin spice latte version of this! http://the-cooking-of-joy...
7 months ago Asma
The recipe calls for 2/3 cup as in two thirds not 2 cups! Don't repeat my mistake :p
7 months ago Asma
The recipe calls for 2/3 cup as in two thirds not 2 cups! Don't repeat my mistake :p
10 months ago KyleandMorgan
Instead of using regular milk we put milk and white chocolate chips in a double boiler until smooth and added to the coffee mixture.... Amazing
10 months ago Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice
Sounds delish I'm going to use Vietnamese cinnamon for a little extra yum factor when I make this over the weekend
10 months ago tasty chick
I would like to know what kind of coffee everyone used that they thought it was so good. I made it with Starbucks Dark French Roast and it was horrible - very bitter no taste of cinnamon or sweetness. I dumped a lot of French Vanilla creamer in it in order to drink it. Apparently no used that coffee????
10 months ago Frangra
I would recomend either Starbucks Espresso Roast or their Verona. French Roast is way to smokey for this type of iced coffee beverage. If you still want something lighter, their Guatamala is excellent too. I sometimes you it in my home espresso machine. Hope that helps! Can't wait to try this myself.
11 months ago EmilyC
My mom made a big batch of this for my visit, and I can't stop drinking it. I'm surprised how much I like the cinnamon here. Great, great thing to have hanging out in the fridge!
about 1 year ago ReneKrine
I make a large batch of cold brewed coffee every 2-3 weeks using an entire pound of coffee... Then I stir in a little half and half, and about a tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk -I saw it called thia iced coffee once... It is amazing!
I'm going to try your method today and see how the additions are, then maybe adjust my current recipe!
over 1 year ago madebylis
I used a french press to make this last night and had it this morning. Truly magical!
over 1 year ago Rhonda35
I love step #3 - so funny!
over 1 year ago Lemongrass
Ok just made this with Trader Joes 'winterblend coffee' which has ground red and green peppercorns , cloves and cinnamon to the coffee. Oh ya can't wait till morning!
over 1 year ago growinggourmand
this is sooooooooooooo super delicious.. What a great way to save money and enjoy a silky smooth delicious coffee!
over 1 year ago petrichor
I cant wait to try this. I love watching the cream swirl through iced coffee
over 1 year ago Ashleigh Clark
LOVE this! Just made it last night and enjoying it this morning :) I only added milk and it is just delish! Definitely a staple to my morning now!
almost 2 years ago danitagday
This is a great recipe. I've been sending it to all of my friends and making it for a couple of months now. It's so hot in Texas that iced coffee is the way to go. I only use 1T of brown sugar.
almost 2 years ago Nithya
This was so delicious, I even blogged about it. I wouldn't change a thing. I'm even reluctant to experiment with other spices.
almost 2 years ago hobbybaker
Simply delicious! And, since it's about our 32nd day at 100 degrees or hotter here in Oklahoma, this is the ONLY coffee I'm willing to consider...till cooler weather prevails. Definitely a keeper!
almost 2 years ago ashleyamore
Expect my long commute and even longer class tomorrow will be much improved with a carafe of this magical coffee. Is it morning yet?
almost 2 years ago AlizaEss
Going camping next weekend in Montana for 10 days... this will be a great way to get starting in the morning without having to start a fire or cookstove. Yum!
almost 2 years ago Joanie3030
I just tried my first glass which I brewed last night and I have to say it was the best
Iced coffee I have ever had.I am originally from N.Y. Where we drink a lot of iced
coffee in the summer. I now live in Florida so I will drink this all year round
almost 2 years ago mbj913
I've ade the Times recipe using the French press bu am intrigued to try your version with fennel. I'm a bug fennel ice cream fan.
almost 2 years ago Maxxwellong
Served this for brunch this morning to a non-coffee drinker. She loved it, as did I. I may start making it for myself as a morning treat.
about 2 years ago MeghanVK
Enjoying the fennel seed & almond version as I type - so delicious!
about 2 years ago Cincysue
I made this a few days ago and thought it was really good! However, if you are like me and prefer drinks a little less sweet, I would start off with 1 Tb. brown sugar and go from there. The cinnamon was a really good addition. I also used coffee beans that I roasted myself so that made it extra delicious.
over 2 years ago Spork
delicious! even in the winter I love a good iced coffee.
over 2 years ago KimA
When I make this hot do I put the brown sugar and cinnamon right in with the grounds?
LOVED the cold version.
over 2 years ago KimA
Oh yummyness! I made this up last night and will have it at work today. :)
almost 3 years ago Sandy Castle
I made this for my daughters (17 and 14) and they loved it so much that they are now making it themselves every evening so they can have it in the morning. They prefer it over the coffee house drinks! Thank you.
almost 3 years ago ErinH
Thanks! I just bought an ice cream maker (finally!) this weekend, so I'm now thinking about an ice cream or gelato recipe based on these flavors.
almost 3 years ago dymnyno
I have been making this coffee since I read about it in the NYTimes and then you reminded me again about how much I love this coffee. The SF Chronicle reminded me all over again. Still, I go back to your instructions because Food 52 is where I can see it immediately. Thanks again for such inspirational coffee....magical!
almost 3 years ago MissGinsu
Seems like the perfect thing for brunching. I'm putting this on the "keepers" list for the next time I entertain. :)
almost 3 years ago Teri
How did I miss this first time around? What a great drink for summer brunch. And if someone adds some Bailey's or amaretto, who am I to complain?
almost 3 years ago AppleAnnie
This is definitely delicious. I made it in the french press also, and had no problem with residue from the ground cinnamon in final "brew.". Have enjoyed it every morning this week, a great incentive for getting out of bed on a workday morning.
almost 3 years ago Kitchen Butterfly
Made this, drank it, enjoyed it...thoroughly and I'm not a coffee drinker. Wow, magically good coffee! I'm going to make it again with crushed cardamom seeds and maple syrup!!!!! Thank you for introducing me to the world of cold brew - which i didn't know existed
almost 3 years ago hennef7
Erin,
I drink iced espresso every morning in the warmer weather. Made it with the cold brewed method this morning and it was much less bitter.
Thanks,
Audrey
almost 3 years ago hennef7
Erin,
I've been drinking an iced espresso every morning for several weeks now, but used your cold brewed method this morning and it is much less bitter.
Thanks, Audrey
almost 3 years ago ted
Delicious. I pour it back through a coffee filter to get rid of the sediment, but the powdered cinnamon clogs up the filter, so I use 2 cinnamon sticks instead.
over 3 years ago ErinH
I'm glad you all are enjoying this recipe. I don't know why I never thought of booze--what a good idea.
over 3 years ago Annelle
Erin, I had to do an exhaustive search in my 'history' to find you and this recipe...I came across it last week while scrolling through blogs and made a mental note. On New Year's Eve, I mixed a double batch. While we were recovering the next morning with Bloody Mary's, I strained the coffee, and later in the afternoon, I mixed a batch of drinks using the Magical Coffee, Vanilla Infused Vodka, a little Bailey's Mint, and milk, all over ice. It was a wonderful afternoon pick us up!! And a fantastic drink!! Just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed it! Thank you!
over 3 years ago liamoran
I made it! It is so good. The combination of cinnamon and brown sugar is delicious. I don't usually take cream in my coffee, but I had a little half and half, so I added that. Divine. Magical Coffee has changed my morning routine, if not my whole life.
over 3 years ago mariaraynal
Very cool, and so pretty. Great idea on the brown sugar. My dad runs espresso through a traditional coffeemaker and adds a healthy dash of cinnamon to the grounds before brewing, and people love his coffee.
over 3 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
This sounds wonderful! Thanks for the recipe Erin.
over 3 years ago dymnyno
I live on ice coffee all summer and keep the cold brew method recipe in my fridge . I love your additions. Congratulations
over 3 years ago AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
Okay, I'm still here. I've made this, both versions (several times), and I didn't die of happiness. But I did feel like I'd died and gone to heaven!! I can see this becoming the ace in my morning rotation, with experimentation and new versions forthcoming, especially next spring when the mornings are warmer on a regular basis. Thank you so much, ErinH, for sharing this gem with us!!
over 3 years ago liamoran
I just mixed up a jar of this. I can't wait to try it tomorrow. It sounds delicious and the picture is beautiful! And I love the cold brew method. I work at a coffee shop and we brew our iced coffee hot and then shock it into submission with ice.
over 3 years ago AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
Thanks, Erin. That sounds so good!! If you don't hear from me again, it will certainly be because I have, indeed, died of happiness ;o)
over 3 years ago ErinH
Antonia, for the Scandy version, leave out the cinnamon and brown sugar; instead, use 1/4 tsp. almond extract, 1/2 teaspoon crushed fennel seeds, and 3 tbsp. white sugar. Enjoy!
over 3 years ago AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
Yum, this looks, well, magical!! I'm going to try the Scandinavian version tonight. But I'm not sure about the third step . . . I'd like to be happy when I die, but I'm not quite sure I'm ready to go just yet.