Starbucks Iced Caramel VIA

If you’ve been reading CoffeeVanilla for a while, you’d know that I’m quite the fan of Starbucks’ VIA line and all the variety of flavors within it. The newest addition to the family of portable coffees is Iced Caramel VIA. It’s the same size of the Iced VIA, but with the hint of a caramel flavor.

First time around making this coffee, I made the mistake of mixing it with 8oz of water versus 16oz. Huge mistake – I thought I was drinking liquid sugar. Second time around (after having viewed the package and making the realization) I still found the VIA to be very sweet. Perhaps it’s just me, but I feel as though this VIA is much sweeter than the other VIAs, including this Iced VIAs counterpart – the original Iced VIA.

I much prefer the Caramel VIA over this iced version. This one is ok, but I doubt I’ll be purchasing it again due to its mouthful sweetness. Have you tried the latest VIA? What’s your take on it?

Iced Coffee With Milk

Lately I’ve been working on some iced and blended coffee recipes. Still working out the kinks but once they’re perfected I’ll post them up. On another note, I was on the Starbucks home page and I saw a picture of iced coffee. That just put me in the mood for an iced coffee with milk and I just had to go make one.

Iced Coffee With Milk: My recipe

• 1 ½ cups cold, strong dark coffee (You want to use a bold or extra bold coffee for this because when you chill it, some of the strength in flavor will be diluted. Mild or medium will not do. Brew your coffee accordingly to 2 tbsp. Of ground coffee for every 6oz)

• ¼ cup milk (Whatever you prefer)

• 2-3 Splenda packets (Or you can use 2-3 tsp. of sugar. I like to use a sugar substitute but you may use whatever you like.)

• A big handful of ice

• A straw, I think it just tastes better :]

Pour your chilled coffee into a glass. Next pour in your milk. You now want to stir in your sugar until it dissolves. Add your ice and straw. Drink away!

You know whats lovely about coffee? There’s so many things you can do with it to add to the intoxicating flavor. Such as coffee syrups. Torani and Starbucks both sell a fantastic array of both. Caramel, Vanilla, Hazelnut, Chocolate, Raspberry, Toffee Nut. So yummy!

Something great to add to a hot cup of joe is hot chocolate packets. Measure 8oz of hot coffee into a mug and then pour in one of those instant hot chocolate packets and you’ve got yourself a delectable mocha! Steeping coffee with cinnamon sticks is also a tasty thing to do.

A recipe for my Chai Tea Latte:

• 1 Tazo Chai Tea Bag

• 8 oz of milk, heated in the microwave

• 2-3 packets of splenda (you may use whatever for of sugar you like)

Pour 8oz of milk into a mug. Warm in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Remove mug from microwave and add your tea bag. Allow for the tea bag to steep for 5 minutes. Next stir in your sugar. Lastly, sip away!