How to Make Iced Coffee at the Office

Inspired by conversations on the FOOD52 Hotline, we're sharing tips and tricks that make navigating all of our kitchens easier and more fun. Today, a hack to turn hot coffee into iced -- right at your desk.

Come summer, most of us make the seasonal switch to our morning caffeine. Instead of hot, we drink it fortified with ice cubes, another line of defense against wilting in the heat. Unfortunately, our offices don’t often make the switch with us. Hot coffee is a regular fixture, year-round, regardless of the read on the thermometer outside.

Next time, skip the long lines of the coffee shop on your way in, and turn your office’s steamy brew into iced right at your desk. All you need is a tupperware container and a bit of ice. Until your office starts cold brewing, this should keep you cool.

Start Off Steamy

If you’re the first one in the office, make your coffee. If you’re less of an early riser and arrive later: congratulations, you’ll probably get to skip this step.

Next, pour your coffee into a pint glass (any larger size glass will do), making sure to only fill it halfway. This is important -- you want all of the coffee in your glass to come in contact with the ice bath so it really gets a chance to chill.

Give Your Coffee a Bath

 
To make the ice bath, fill a Tupperware container with ice, one inch short of being full. Add enough cold water until your ice just starts to float.

Here’s the fun part. Put your coffee glass in the center of the ice bath, and agitate, gyrate, or move it around using another fun verb to help speed the chilling process along.

 
When the ice is mostly melted and your glass begins to feel cold and look frosty, you’re done! Remove the glass, add fresh ice, and doctor it to your liking. We use a bit of milk -- or cream if we’re feeling fancy -- and no sugar at all, but that part is up to you!