Iced, iced baby.

I’m not much of a Summer person because I like a nice hot coffee.

Unfortunately, I can’t enjoy it as much in the Summer. However, I’ve done some playing around, and I think I found a recipe that has worked for me just as well as my hot lattes.

This iced coffee provides a great source of energy, even if you use a decaf brew. I’d recommend switching up your coffee from time to time if your body can handle the decaf. It’s great for your body to adapt to something new!

Energy

Coffee isn’t the only thing that will wake you up in this bevy.

Some other energy sources in this iced beverage are Maca and Cacao powder.

Maca is a root that grows in Peru that we want everyone to know about. It can be taken daily for energy, alongside food. It can be eaten as the root itself, but I personally prefer taking it in capsule form so that I can save my calories for other foods I enjoy a little bit more. I cannot deny the benefits of taking Maca on a daily basis. It has been proven to increase libido and can increase testosterone in both men and women. What I find most fascinating is that it is said to help menopausal and postmenopausal women in almost all facets, including decreasing anxiety, insomnia, hot flashes, and depression!

Cacao is also very nutrient-dense. It’s high in antioxidants and nutrients like magnesium (which can help reduce stress), potassium, and iron. Cacao is also high in healthy fats, which helps to keep you satiated. It’s known to boost your energy throughout the day, rather than spike your blood sugar for a short burst of energy. Another perk to cacao is its alkaloid content, a naturally occurring compound found in many plants. It interacts with different neurotransmitters in your body to help you feel good. This is probably why we reach for a piece of chocolate when we aren’t feeling our best.

Milk

I personally no longer drink cow’s milk, as my body doesn’t like lactose or any dairy products produced where I live in North America. However, if you prefer the taste of it or can tolerate dairy, use it as you wish!

I have grown a liking to Macadamia and Oat milk, but I understand that this is not easily accessible everywhere. I would recommend looking for an option that works for you and your dietary preferences.

Many people like to use lower-calorie options, sometimes containing less fat. Keep in mind, lower-fat milk will contain more carbohydrates in the form of sugar. This includes, and is not limited to, any product that has: “reduced calorie,” “light,” “low fat,” on its label.

Be aware when you get rid of one property in a food source, you are likely adding another.

Ingredients:

→ Note: You will need a blender if you want to mix the powders well!

• Instant coffee blend or 1 cup of chilled coffee
• Milk or milk substitute (nut milk, oat milk, or leave it black!)
• Sweetener of choice (optional)
• 1-2 tsp of maca powder (3g-6g)
• 1 tsp raw cacao powder (2.5g)
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Start by placing 4 ice cubes in your blender.
2. Pour your cup of coffee into the blender. 
3. Add your sweetener of choice (omit if not using sweetener).
4. Add your Maca and Cacao powder. 
5. Optional: Add in a splash of milk beverage or a whole cup if you want more of a Flat White style drink (half coffee, half milk). You can choose to do this after you’ve poured your coffee into a travel mug or Clear glass so that you can see the milk and coffee start to blend naturally. 😉
6. Add more ice cubes to the finished product if you want it extra cold!
7. Sip with a straw or straight from the glass!

Recipe Notes

Depending on what you add to your iced coffee, your coffee could contain anywhere between 10 calories to 200 calories. If you do not add a high-calorie sweetener or any milk, you are drinking a chilled, adaptogenic coffee that will keep you powered up for hours.

If you drink this as a mid-day snack, you may want to add some milk as a boost of protein + calcium. This will add to the calorie content, meaning you do not need to take a break to eat a snack between calls or emails.

If you want an extra boost of superfoods, feel free to blend in extra ingredients such as hemp hearts, chia seeds, cacao nibs, or adaptogenic mushrooms. These ingredients will also add to the calorie content and affect energy levels in different ways. Try adding a little at a time to ensure this blend works for you.

Some sweeteners I would recommend are Agave, maple syrup, 1 date blended into the coffee, monk fruit extract, erythritol, Stevia, or honey. The options are endless. Try to choose an option that will not spike your blood sugar and give you a rollercoaster of energy throughout the day. Some of these sweeteners are 0 calories, and some are quite high in calories but have not been tampered with by humans or machines. I try to choose the option that spikes my blood sugar the least!

Coffee Bonus! Ice can be made of previously made and frozen coffee or espresso if you want to avoid watering down your iced coffee! This will add more zing to your drink!

Let me know if you end up trying this energizing Maca Summer Chill drink and how it went!