Cooling Down Your Morning Routine

With summer here, we at Green Living are finding that our morning jolt of hot java is making us a little to hot under the collar.

So we reached out to our friends at Merchants of Green Coffee, who are dedicated to bringing consumers fresh, fair-trade coffee, to teach how to start our morning off cool and in control.

They suggested we start our day with an iced coffee. Here's how to brew the perfect cup:

In our café, we (The Merchants of Green Coffee) like to make iced coffee the traditional way.

We start with our fresh-roasted single origin of the day and pour a single or double shot of espresso (between 10-20 grams per shot). Then we add the appropriate amount of:

• ice
• water
• milk
• sugar to taste. (Naturally, this process creates a bitter flavor in the coffee, which is why it is customary to add sugar and milk)

Note: Liquid sugar dissolves much easier in cold coffee.

It's easy to make in your home without an espresso machine by making a strong cup of brewed coffee poured over ice.

Or try using the cold steeping method which requires brewing 125 grams or a ¼ lb of coffee added to a liter of cold water steeped overnight. In the morning, filter and refrigerate for up to a week (try to use a glass bottle). Sweeten or add milk to taste.

Who are these coffee experts? Merchants of Green Coffee specializes in the sourcing, importing and marketing of the highest quality certified green arabica coffees. The company was established in 1994 when we discovered that the true taste of fresh coffee is naturally sweet not bitter and infused with unique taste characteristics like wine.

Their Mission: To deliver the best tasting coffee experience to discerning consumers through a supply chain with integrity and a unique commitment to quality, and through sharing these principles with select members of our industry.