How to Make Your Favorite Café Coffee Drinks at Home

(StatePoint) During the school year, the family schedule can be jam packed. The morning schedule may not always accommodate homemade breakfasts or a leisurely read of the day’s headlines, and you may not find the time to stop by your favorite coffee shop for that delicious cup of Joe.

Those who have mastered the art of brewed coffee at home are on the right path toward self-sufficiency. But what if you are one of the millions of Americans who are supplementing their love of brewed coffee with cool, refreshing frozen coffee drinks from their favorite barista?

The popularity of frozen blended coffee drinks is at an all-time high with U.S. sales surging to $4.3 billion in 2012, according to Study Logic data. However, very few of us believe we have the barista skills to make a perfect frozen blended coffee at home.

Luckily, coffee companies are paying attention to the blended coffee trend and making it easier to recreate the café experience from the comfort of your kitchen. For example, Seattle’s Best Coffee Frozen Coffee Blends arrived in grocery store freezers last month and are simple kits that take the guesswork out of making a perfect blended coffee drink at home. Consumers simply add milk and blend to create a café-worthy treat on the go.

“It may seem like magic, but making a delicious frozen coffee drink at home is within reach for anyone,” says Sue McCown, a classically train chef and R&D manager for Seattle’s Best Coffee. “If you have a blender and a little imagination, you can create your own blended masterpiece at home.”

McCown suggests adding milk, peanut butter or even frozen fruit to give your drink some sweet pizzazz.

“It’s all about striking the perfect balance between rich coffee flavor and chocolate or other sweet flavors,” says McCown.

With that in mind, here are some fun ideas for topping off your frozen coffee:

• Add a dollop of whipped cream, chocolate syrup squiggles and raspberries.

• Top with iced cream, slices of strawberry and chocolate covered coffee beans.

• Garnish with a cinnamon stick, whipped cream and cocoa powder.

More tips and ideas can be found at www.seattlesbest.com/at-home-frozen-blends.

Don’t just settle for a standard cup of coffee when you’re feeling rushed. In just a few minutes, you can make café-worthy frozen coffee at home with your own twist.