Amplify Your Summertime Iced Coffee With Pineapple Juice

When it's upwards of 80 degrees Fahrenheit outside and we're dripping in sweat, we're sticking to iced coffee over hot, and any way of making our drink extra refreshing is more than welcome. While you can add your favorite soda for a bubbly twist, try taking a page out of a piña colada's book and adding pineapple juice to your iced coffee.

It may sound a little out of pocket at first — a slightly sour fruit juice mixed with java? But the flavors actually mesh together quite nicely. The pineapple's sweetness balances out the bitter taste of coffee, but since they're both somewhat acidic, they also complement each other well when mixed in a drink. Plus, when you're consuming this in the summertime, the flavor combination will make you feel like you're sipping your morning brew poolside on a tropical vacation. Nailing the basic version of this recipe is as easy as pouring pineapple juice (either store-bought or home-juiced) into your glass of iced coffee or cold brew.

If you'd like to amp up your pineapple-laced iced coffee beyond just a simple mixture of the two ingredients, there are a couple of things you can do. First, you don't have to just use iced coffee — you can mix your fruit juice with cold brew, cold brew concentrate, or even a shot of espresso over ice. And to get the most even mixture of the ingredients possible, try shaking them in a cocktail shaker instead of simply stirring with a spoon or straw. If you'd like to bring fresh chunks of pineapple into the mix too, you can add everything to a blender (including the ice) and whip it up into a smooth blended iced coffee drink. Or, make the pineapple juice into ice cubes and use them to cool down your beverage.

Also, feel free to add any ingredients that will complement the juice's flavor. These can include coconut milk or water, or a flavored syrup like passion fruit, almond, macadamia nut, or coconut. If you'd just like some extra sweetness beyond the natural sugars from the pineapple juice, however, you can also pour in a little simple syrup, honey, or maple syrup. And don't skimp on the toppings — once your concoction is mixed up and poured into a glass, you can top off your iced coffee with whipped cream, coconut flakes, or a coconut milk cold foam.