It's a hot day, the sun is beating down mercilessly, and the humidity makes it only seem worse. But there is hard work to be done, of the type that won't let you slack off and take it easy. If a bond beam is to be poured, it must be one continuous pour. Also, the mixed concrete is unforgiving: either you move it or it starts to set. So you better get moving as well. Forget the heat, forget the sun, forget your tiredness.
The Perfect Pick-Me-Up
So what's the best treat you could offer tired concrete mixers under these conditions? Of course something to drink, preferably refreshingly cool, and maybe with an extra jolt: Ice Coffee it is! Here's the recipe for the elixir that got us through our major task of pouring the bond beam of our Earthship inspired circular building. For those looking forward to the actual update on the build, I recommend patience. For now, just the reassuring fact: it went exceptionally well (maybe due to this wonderful coffee).
How To Make It
Usually the issue with ice coffee is that the ice melts, diluting the coffee with water. So what you do is make some decent coffee, let it cool down, then pour it into ice-cube trays, and freeze it.
Then you make the special coffee. It includes:
- great quality coffee, for which this region of Oaxaca is so famous
- spike it with some cinnamon, cardamon, cilantro seeds, or any of your favorite spices
- sweeten with generous amounts of piloncillo (a.k.a. panela) that is unprocessed brown sugar, widely available locally
- Let it cool down, then add the coffee ice-cubes
Take it out the construction site quickly, before the ice melts! The workers will be slightly confused by the idea of cold coffee, but after the first try they'll pour it down eagerly. Following that, you're likely to see some incredible things happening!