With warmer temps on the rise, you may be wondering how to make a delicious Dunkin’ Iced Coffee from the comfort of your perfectly air-conditioned home. That’s why we sat down with Jim Cleaves, Research & Development Manager here at Dunkin’! Jim’s team is responsible for ensuring Dunkin’ provides you with an excellent cup of coffee every day, so we came to the right place.
Q: First, what exactly does it mean to be a Research & Development Manager at Dunkin’?
A: There are a lot of aspects to my job, but one that many people don’t know, is that sometimes I get to travel across Central and South America. While there, I taste countless cups of coffee to ensure that our guests are receiving the highest quality of coffee beans. I do something that’s called “cupping,” which is sort of like wine tasting for coffee. It’s all to make sure that our coffee beans brew a delicious cup of coffee every time, whether in store or at home.
Q: What sort of coffee should I use at home?
A: Dunkin’ offers a number of packaged coffee varieties that our guests can purchase in our restaurants. Flavors include Original Blend, Dark Roast, Dunkin’ Decaf®, French Vanilla and Hazelnut. All of our blends make a great cup of coffee, whether hot or iced, so there’s really no bad choice.
Q: So, how can I make a great cup of Dunkin’ Iced Coffee at home?
A: It’s easy to brew smooth and refreshing iced coffee! Just follow these five steps:
1. Store it Right
A great cup of coffee starts with how you treat your beans. To keep your coffee extra fresh, take out the amount of coffee you plan to use during the week and store it in a cool, dry place. Then store the rest in an air tight container in your freezer. Coffee absorbs the flavors and aromas of anything around it, so be sure to store it properly.
2. Clean the Brewer
This may seem like an obvious one, but be sure to clean your brewer and carafe regularly. As I said, coffee takes in the flavors around it, so if you have old coffee or other substances on your coffee brewer, your coffee won’t taste quite right.
3. Double those Beans
When you add ice to your freshly brewed cup, it starts to melt and dilutes the coffee. To keep that rich coffee taste, you should brew your iced coffee with twice the amount of coffee grinds you use for hot coffee. Try using 3 tbs. of grinds for every 6 oz. of water. That may sound like a lot, but that’s how we do it at Dunkin’, and guests love it!
4. Add the Ice
Once you have brewed your extra strong coffee, take the pot or cup off the burner and add enough ice to double your iced coffee’s volume for deliciously cool results.
5. Drink it Up
Now all you have to do is take a sip and enjoy! If you have any iced coffee left over, it is okay to store it in the fridge, as long as it’s in an air tight container. Left unrefrigerated, iced coffee is good for about eight hours after brewing.
And, just like that, you have a tasty cup of Dunkin’ Iced Coffee. Be sure to share your iced coffee creations with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
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