When the warm months of spring and summer come around, your love of java takes on a whole new (and totally delicious) form. Otherwise known as ice coffee. The transition from hand-warming hot coffee to the sweet, refreshing flavor of iced coffee is a glorious one, and we are so excited that time of year has come back again!

How we’ve missed you, iced coffee.

To celebrate the return of our favorite way to stay both cool and caffeinated, here are 5 fun ways to make your iced coffee this summer. Because we deserve to explore all the beautiful things iced java has to offer.

The Domestic Geek shares with us her 5 favorite coffee hacks to use during this season of iced coffee. And, oh, we intend to use them all.

1 . SWEETENED, CONDENSED MILK

The sweet, gooey texture of canned sweetened, condensed milk is the perfect thing for your ice coffee. Start with your java just black, then add your condensed milk for a rich, sweet flavored cup of Joe with minimal effort involved.

2. SIMPLE SYRUP

You might think that simple syrup is only for alcoholic beverages, but you can also use it in your coffee to add sweetness without using additional sugar or cream in your java. And, best of all, it’s really…simple to make. Get it?

Add one part sugar and one part water into a pot that is over medium heat on the stove, whisking until the sugar dissolves. For a little extra flavor, add anything you’d like to the mix! Vanilla, coconut – let your flavorful imagination run wild.

Strain the syrup so you have only the liquid, and pour right into your black coffee.

3. INSIDE OUT ICE COFFEE

This interesting coffee beverage uses ice cubes made of coffee and chocolate sauce. Sounds delicious already.

Mix together leftover coffee and chocolate syrup, pouring the mixture into an ice cube tray to freeze. Then, when it’s coffee time, you just put your ice cubes in a mug and cover with milk. Boom – instant mocha latte.

Not a chocolate fan? Try caramel sauce in your coffee cubes instead.

4. VANILLA ICE COFFEE

Looking for something a little richer from your coffee? Well, this vanilla iced coffee is the caffeinated dessert you’ve been dreaming of.

All you have to do is pour some hot coffee over a few scoops of decadent vanilla ice cream for one deliciously rich coffee drink. Yum.

5. COFFEE BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE

If you love enjoying smoothies for breakfast, you’ll love this tricky way to sneak coffee into your morning smoothie.

Blend up some ice, coffee, a banana, some yogurt, and chocolate protein powder. The end result? An awesome breakfast smoothie with a kick of coffee. Doesn’t get better than that.

Do you love any of these coffee hacks? Do you have any brilliant ideas for your own iced coffee? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.