Good Tips

There are two key ways to make the perfect iced coffee at home: cold brew or hot brew over ice. Both techniques are easy to master, but here’s how the recipes and preparation differ, as well as the right tools to help you master the job.
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Nothing says summer vacation quite like drinking a fruity beverage out of a pineapple. But slicing the prickly fruit can be a hassle, and canned just isn’t the same.

Can you drink a martini out of a highball glass? Technically you can drink a martini out of any vessel you want, but the experience is probably slightly changed. Just like certain cocktails taste more “right” when served in specific barware, some coffees seem to call out for particular brewing methods. Though you can prepare any coffee any way (yes, even as espresso!) here are a few pairings that can maximize your maker.
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Have you tried making shrubs before? I guess I should back up here—do you know what a shrub is? It’s basically a drinkable vinegar, often infused with fruit and sometimes herbs. A shrub is a crisp, tangy picker-upper of a drink, and since it’s quite concentrated, you’ll want to mix it with some sparkling water (and spiced rum, if you’re feeling frisky).

We asked our friend David Skurnik of Skurnik Wines, who imports wines to top restaurants from around the world, to tell us what wines he’s been drinking. Here are his top wine picks along with a nifty trick for chilling sparkling or white wine in under 10 minutes.

Why worry about watering down your iced coffee with regular (read: boring) ice cubes, when you can hack your favorite frozen beverage by using coffee cubes instead?

I chatted with Claire Ashley, the OXO Coffee & Tea team’s Category Director, to learn more about the design process of the OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker, OXO’s automatic coffee maker.

Smoothies are a quick, easy breakfast (or anytime snack) when the summer heat is letting you know it’s just too hot to cook anything. We whipped up a few easy combos with some of our go-to fruits along with our friend, the immersion blender. It makes for easy smoothie-fication because you can blend right in the measuring beaker—no need to break out the measuring cup and make more dish-washing for yourself.

The easiest place to find cocktail inspiration this time of year? The farmers’ market. Shop for summer-seasonal fruits like strawberries and raspberries (because who doesn’t love a good berry cocktail?) and fresh herbs to liven up your drinks at home.