Looking for a quick pick-me-up on a flatteningly hot Florida day? Why not combine the best of both worlds: cold and caffeinated?

Sure, you could go to your neighborhood coffee shop and enjoy a nice, iced beverage. I do that all the time. The drinks are good, the barista's friendly (or entertainingly sullen), the view beats my own back yard at times, and $3 is cheap rent to pay for a space where I can enjoy hours of people watching, studying, or chatting amiably with friends.

But sometimes ya don't feel like going out or have a very good reason to stay in (see: girlfriend, couch, movie rental, hot summer day). In those cases, it would behoove you to prepare a smashingly brilliant coffee drink at home.

This article appears in May 6-12, 2009.