Okay, so the other day I got this idea to make my own cold beverage dispenser. I love having chilled drinks at home, especially during the summer, but I was tired of constantly refilling pitchers and taking up space in my fridge.
First, I started looking around online to see what kind of dispensers were out there. I saw some pretty fancy ones, the kind you’d find in a store or a cafe. They were refrigerated and looked really slick, but way too expensive and honestly, way too big for my kitchen. I just wanted something simple and practical.
Then I thought, maybe I could just rig something up myself. I remembered someone telling me about a trick to keep drinks cold using a frozen water bottle. The idea is you freeze a water bottle solid, make sure that is well cleaned and then just drop it into your drink container. The ice keeps the drink cold without watering it down as it melts. Genius, right?
So I grabbed an old plastic container we had lying around. It’s one of those big ones, maybe a gallon or so. I washed it out really well and then I found a water bottle that fit inside nicely. Filled the bottle with water, leaving a little room at the top for expansion because I learned once that frozen water expands, and put it in the freezer overnight.
The next day, I made a big batch of lemonade. While I made my drink, I took out the frozen water bottle and put it inside the plastic container. Then I poured the lemonade into the container, around the frozen bottle. Boom! Instant cold drink dispenser.
Here’s what I used:
- A large plastic container with a lid (mine was about a gallon)
- A water bottle that fits inside the container
- Water to freeze in the bottle
- My drink of choice (lemonade, iced tea, whatever you like)
It Worked Like a Charm
The lemonade stayed cold for hours! And as the ice in the bottle started to melt, it didn’t dilute my drink at all. I just kept it on the counter and refilled my glass whenever I wanted. It was so much easier than constantly opening the fridge.
Now, I know this isn’t exactly a fancy “dispenser” with a spigot and all that, but it did the trick. You could use it for any kind of drink, and it would be great for parties, you can make your drink ahead and keep it cool without worry about diluting it. I just use a cup to take my drink, but you could probably attach some sort of spigot to the container if you’re handy. I am not so I just went the easiest way. For now, I’m just happy to have a simple and cheap way to keep my drinks cold. Plus, it’s kind of fun to say I made my own “beverage dispenser.”
