Cheaper Starbucks alternative?

[HCinKC]

Oh I also just thought of how I pay for SB...duh. I use Ibotta (app) and redeem my bucks for SB gift cards.

 

[kristenrice]

Starbucks has VIA packets for the Cool Lime Refreshers. It might be more affordable than buying them already made at the cafe.

I actually got a BUNCH of these on CLEARANCE at Target. They were set to expire so they were marked down to $2.91 (from $5.95!) plus I had a few $1 off coupons. I bought every package they had so now I have about 15 boxes of them. They aren't nearly as good as the store-made ones, but they are OK in a pinch. I brought them on our last trip to the World and they were a great way to make the Florida tap water taste palatable.

 

[ReneeA]

Iced coffee has to be cold brewed, super strong. I follow this recipe:

http://www.tablefortwoblog.com/how-to-make-cold-brew-coffee-at-home/

I leave out the condensed milk and use a great syrup (vanilla flavor) and 2%. It uses a ton of coffee beans and is still not cheap, it also takes a long time to brew, but completely worth it and the only way I get it to taste right.

I also have a tremendous Starbucks iced coffee addiction. Venti iced coffee with vanilla and 2% please!

 

[hsmamato2]

Buy a $15 Mr. Coffee and some good quality whole bean coffee.

Yup. a decent coffemaker and GOOD coffee ,made nice and strong so the ice doesn't over dilute,wins every time! I personally didn't like my Mr Coffee, I ended up finding a DeLonghi brand simple coffeemaker that worked really well(it got the water hot enough) and some good fairtrade coffee...(I don't drink coffee anymore) my DS buys local beans, and grinds them and uses the french press every day....it smells great! FWIW, I bought and tried a keurig.....IMHO ew. We returned it, just couldn't get decent coffee from it.

 

[dgthree]

I actually agree about the Starbucks coffees. But cold brew concentrate makes pretty darned good iced coffee. Glad to see a poster above me gave a link to a cold brew recipe. I was on my iPad last night, and it's not super easy to post links from there IMO.

This is the formula I usually follow: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/27/dining/276drex.html?_r=0

 

[LJSquishy]

Well, if you really want a long term replacement you'll want to invest in a decent quality espresso machine (or a good coffee maker if you really mean "iced coffee" vs an iced latte). Then, you'll need to buy freshly roasted whole. beans...nothing in a bag at the grocery store, nor in the bulk bins at the grocery store. You'll want to use beans that were roasted 1-2 weeks ago max and grind them at home right before you brew your coffee/pull your shots. Pregrinding the coffee beans turns it rancid and stale.

We "invested" in an espresso machine, grinder, and freshly roasted beans and our setup paid for itself in less than a year, closer to about 6 months I think...I actually did the math. We have the Breville Dual Boiler machine, a Baratza Vario grinder, and prefer beans from Red Bird Coffee (we buy 5lbs online and keep in 8oz freezer bags in the freezer and keep our Airscapes canister filled in the house). We each have at least one latte per day, sometimes two each. Eventually we will upgrade to a small commercial machine but probably not for 3 years or so and our current machine has been wonderful...we've had it about 1 1/2 years I think, maybe 2 1/2 years actually.

If you're actually talking about iced coffee, a good coffee maker & excellent quality beans will give you what you want. Starbucks coffee actually isn't very good so once you explore locally roasted coffee or try something like Red Bird Coffee, you'll realize that. Flr what it's worth, we still get the occasional beverage at Starbucks when we're not at home and when they're giving out bonus stars for buying certain drinks, but the quality and taste of our beverages at home are far superior.

 

[4shinystars]

As a former Starbucks barista, we brewed the coffee double strength to accommodate the ice. If you don't brew it extra strong, make ice cubes out of coffee and that way it won't get diluted. It is not sweetened unless the customer requested it, and did not come with whipped cream or even milk unless requested by the customer.

Ps to the poster that said they freeze their coffee beans-never do that!! It ruins the quality and can cause them to spoil/mold when used. Only buy whole bean for what you need for a week max, grind fresh, and keep rest in a vacuum container if possible. I also have a quality espresso machine and grinder. I have had them for over 6 years, making 2 espresso drinks a day, everyday. Paid for itself and more.

 

[LJSquishy]

As a former Starbucks barista, we brewed the coffee double strength to accommodate the ice. If you don't brew it extra strong, make ice cubes out of coffee and that way it won't get diluted. It is not sweetened unless the customer requested it, and did not come with whipped cream or even milk unless requested by the customer.

Ps to the poster that said they freeze their coffee beans-never do that!! It ruins the quality and can cause them to spoil/mold when used. Only buy whole bean for what you need for a week max, grind fresh, and keep rest in a vacuum container if possible. I also have a quality espresso machine and grinder. I have had them for over 6 years, making 2 espresso drinks a day, everyday. Paid for itself and more.

I disagree about freezing whole beans in a deep freeze ruins them for very short term storage (less than 1 month). I freeze 5lbs of beans divided into 6oz sealed bags and keep them in my deep freezer and pull a new bag out every several days which then goes into an Airscapes canister (airtight and removes trapped air). The beans I buy are roasted the day before they are shipped to me via Priority Mail so I receive them within the 4th day of their roast date. PS: Starbucks freezes or refrigerates their leftover beans in the hoppers at the end of the day over and over! Anyway, the crema from the frozen beans is just as perfect as using the beans the day I get them. Flavor is spot on, they're not stale, etc.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

DH gave me a Keurig Rivo for Christmas to help with my cappuccino addiction and I have to say that, so far, I love it. It makes a nice strong espresso (only espresso, no regular coffee) and foams the milk (can also heat the milk or leave cold for iced drinks). Add the espresso and the milk together along with any sweeteners or flavors of your choice and you've got a tasty drink.

Financially, it was a nice middle of the road solution as opposed to getting a commercial grade espresso maker and def cheaper than constantly getting drinks at a coffee shop.

If you want to try using the Keurig at your work to make an iced drink, try using a strong espresso like Melitta Espresso Toscana k-cups or get yourself a reusable k-cup and pack it with ground espresso beans at home.

 

[irishdancemomma]

Double strength coffee is the Starbucks secret. I am also addicted. You can buy their syrup too if that is part of what makes it good to you. We use a toddy cold brew system at home and it gets dang close to Starbucks. DH likes it better.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

As a former Starbucks barista, we brewed the coffee double strength to accommodate the ice. If you don't brew it extra strong, make ice cubes out of coffee and that way it won't get diluted. It is not sweetened unless the customer requested it, and did not come with whipped cream or even milk unless requested by the customer.

Double strength coffee is the Starbucks secret. I am also addicted. You can buy their syrup too if that is part of what makes it good to you. We use a toddy cold brew system at home and it gets dang close to Starbucks. DH likes it better.

Thanks! I will definitely try this! Then I can be down to 1 iced latte a week as a treat (had my own espresso system for years but could never make t taste right).

 

[Cadiewampus]

Get you a pot of Maxwell house or Folgers, brew it , let it get cold, add some ice and there ya go enjoy

 

[4shinystars]

I haven't worked for Starbucks in a couple of years, but I can assure all that it has never been company policy to freeze/chill beans. Any opened bags of coffee were thrown out after 2 days (everything dated), but we went through 5lb bags numerous times through the day and rarely had much leftover at close.
I buy my coffee at a local roaster and use within 5 days of roasting now, but many don't have that opportunity. I'm lucky that I pay less for my local roaster's beans than commercially sold coffee. (I know the roaster,lol)

 

[JanaDee]

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/perfect-iced-coffee/

 

[SarahandPaul]

I second the Pioneer Woman recipe....the best part is that it is made ahead so throwing it together in the morning before work is super quick!