A Lethal Combination

I have found yet another tasty but unfortunately dangerous beverage concoction recently.

I am on the hunt for something cold and refreshing that still has some kick in it now that spring is officially here and summer will be here before we know it.

I avoid any form of milk product when it is too warm outside because it really does not sit well as the day wears on. So I typically end up getting an iced black tea lemonade with a splash of strawberry juice and no sweetner (as mentioned in "My Caffeine Go-Tos!").

This has been falling a little flat for my tastebuds so I figured I would try mixing one of the Starbucks refreshers with the iced black tea. I ordered a strawberry acai refresher with black tea instead of water. I gave it a whirl and will only have it on the rare occasion that I need a next level amount of caffeine.

Don't Drink the Cold Brew!

While the Cold Brew at Starbucks might sound appealing from it's description, the amount of caffeine it holds is next level.

Being a Starbucks partner means I was super excited for a "new version" of iced coffee, especially since I am not the biggest fan of the original iced coffee.

The difference between regular old iced coffee and cold brew is simple and complex all at once: it's all in the brewing process.

Iced coffee is a specific blend of coffee, brewed with hot water, and later cooled with ice. Taking hardly any time at all.

On the contrary, cold brew is slowly "steeped" with cold water for 20 hours, packing in the flavor and the caffeine. Cold brew is originally made with half cold brew and half water in order to tone down the intensity as well.

(Refer to Starbucks for more information on both)

Now let me tell you my one, and only, war story with the infamous cold brew...