Mix together Starbucks VIA Packets and water, and you'll have anything from iced coffee to a pumpkin spice latte in moments. Photo courtesy of Starbucks.

Now that we’re a month into the semester, you may have started to think you’re spending too much time (and money) at Starbucks. Luckily, the warm weather isn’t over yet, and iced coffee is one of the fastest things to whip up in your own kitchen. So hit snooze again and skip the trip to the coffee shop.

1. Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Packets
Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee is a live saver worth investing in. These packets of granules dissolve in ordinary water to become coffee just like you’d get from Starbucks. In a variety of flavors now including pumpkin spice, Starbucks has your back whether you’re in the mood for hot or cold coffee. Add milk, sugar or syrups … free of extra charge. At $6.95 for six packets, it’s much more affordable than your current morning latte.

2. Make iced coffee at home
Have you ever brewed coffee and poured it over ice cubes to make iced coffee? Yeah, that didn’t work for me, either. So grab some big containers, filters and a little forethought and cold-brew your own coffee at home. In a big container, put coffee grounds and water (preferably run through a Brita filter for optimum delicious points) in a container, mix it together thoroughly, and let it sit, covered, overnight (or eight hours). Stick to about a 1:4 coffee grounds to water ratio, although that really depends on personal preference. Once your brew is looking good and murky, line a mesh strainer with filters, cheesecloth or even paper towels and strain the mix through into another container. If you’re confident all the grounds are out, it’s time to pour a cup, add whatever mix-ins you’re partial to, and enjoy. This way, you can prepare a week’s worth of an iced coffee batch and have it cold and ready to go in your fridge anytime  you want.

3. The make-ahead technique
Finally, there’s always the option to just make coffee and put the carafe in the fridge for later. Because this is clearly not the most imaginative option, here’s a more delicious twist: pour the cooled coffee over ice cream. Maybe it’s not the healthiest option, but coffee poured over a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream will cure any lousy afternoon. Guaranteed.