Simple Summer Coffee

I used to be able to make it into the office before I needed my morning cup of coffee. But these days (really, ever since my daughter was born four years ago) I can barely make it out of the shower before I require my daily jolt.

In the dog days of summer, though, my morning coffee just isn’t as pleasurable as usual. Even with the air conditioning, my apartment feels sticky post-shower, and a hot cup of joe can be hard to swallow. This summer, the simple solution dawned on me: Brew several cups of coffee and refrigerate them to drink over a few days.

The solution was so jaw-droppingly perfect and so obvious that I can’t believe it’s has taken me this long to figure out. Now, I don’t even have to wait for brewing. An icy cold cup is waiting in the fridge. I’ll just top it with milk, add sugar–

Oops. No, you can’t just add sugar. Anyone who’s ever tried to stir grainy sugar into a cold drink–be it coffee, iced tea, or a cocktail–knows that the sweetener settles at the bottom. Useless.

The solution is to make a simple syrup, and I do mean simple. Simple syrup is literally syrup simply made from sugar and water. It keeps in the fridge for weeks, and a spoonful or two in iced coffee will dissolve perfectly. Now that first sip of sweet, cold coffee gives me a little thrill, every single morning.

Simple Syrup (makes 1/2 cup)

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

1. Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and boil until the sugar is fully dissolved, about three minutes. Remove from the heat.
2. Once the mixture is cool, the syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month.

–Jenna Helwig, Rosaberry