In hot weather, nothing quenches the thirst like a tall, frosty glass of iced coffee. There are many recipes and suggestions for creating the best iced coffee ever, and it may take some trial and error to get your own favorite down-pat.

Try these tips when making your iced coffee:

Brew strong coffee. Iced coffee is not the time for weak, light, or blonde coffees; make strong-brewed coffee using bold-flavored k-cups, like Columbian or Breakfast Blend, for best results. A good rule of thumb is to brew your coffee slightly-stronger than you would if you were drinking it hot.  For a pitcher, brew approximately eight-cups of your favorite bean or k cup.

Give it some flavor. You will have to decide between brewing flavored coffee or flavored k cups and adding sweetened syrups to your beverage. The advantage of flavored grounds over syrup is that you have more control over the sweetness level in your finished result.

Allow the coffee to cool. After brewing, give the coffee time to chill. Sit it on the counter until it reaches room temperature and then cover before putting it in the fridge. Chilling too fast can give your coffee an off-taste and adding ice to hasten the process will dilute your drink.

Add a special ingredient. If you drink your iced coffee with cream and sugar, sweetened condensed milk is the secret ingredient that you want to add. This product also thickens the iced coffee slightly. Use a whole can of sweetened condensed milk – not evaporated milk – to a pitcher or a couple tablespoons to a single-serving.

Make a batch of simple syrup. If you are adding additional sweeteners to your iced coffee, know that liquid sweeteners dissolve best in cool beverages. Make easy-to-dissolve simple syrup by combining equal parts of water and sugar in a saucepan on the stove; heat the mixture until the sugar has dissolved. Take it off of the heat and allow to cool completely before using.

Try it vegan. Create vegan options by using plant-milk in your iced coffee. Try almond milk, coconut milk, or soy, and read the label to determine if it is pre-sweetened before adding.

Crush the ice. When it comes to iced coffee, cubes simply won't do. Crush your ice using a plastic bag and a rolling pin before filling your glasses.  

Drink for a couple days. Iced coffee maintains its bold flavor for a day or two in the fridge, whether you have added cream and sugar or not.

Make this the summer that you enjoy your best iced coffee ever! Try these tips to enhance your recipe and to experiment with some new flavor concoctions.