I just make mine double strength of the coffee since the ice delutes it down.I pour some in a cup if i want sugar and cream before adding the ice so it desolves. My favorite way then is to put it in a blender over ice and it comes out like a frappacino. I also like to use flavored coffees like vanilla or chocolate mint, raspberry tuffle etc. If you don't have flavored coffees then you can still add a bit of vanilla extract or you can add a bit of powder spices to it when brewing the coffee just put it in with the grinds. we like pumpkin pie spice for example. we like experimenting needless to say.on weekends when dh is home we easily go through about 3-4 pots a day. he is a retired navy guy that loves his coffee.