Simplyeighties.com

It’s hard to imagine life before coffee culture became a thing all over the world, but back in the 80s, the most popular coffee drink was sweetened iced coffee. At home, people would make their own brew with Nescafé, Folger’s, Maxwell House or Taster's Choice, and they would lighten it with milk, cream or half and half. To sweeten it, they would mix in plain sugar or an artificial sweetener such as Canderel or Equal, which were highly popular back in the 80s. If they wanted iced coffee, they would put everything, along with a few ice cubes, in a tumbler, then shake the tumbler for about a minute to get an icy cold, caffeinated treat. 

To make an upgraded version of the iced coffee, start by using your oven or popcorn maker to roast your coffee beans. Once the beans have transformed into light roast or medium roast coffee, grind them up and use your coffee maker to make a batch of hot coffee. Allow it to cool, then stir in some soy or almond milk, plus a teaspoon or two of maple syrup or honey. Drop in a few ice cubes, and enjoy your drink. 

If you grew up during the 80s, then you probably remember drinking a Capri Sun, a Squeezit, or a Hi-C Ecto Cooler in school or while chilling at home. Having a Capri Sun in your lunchbox instantly made you one of the cool kids, and getting the straw in the pouch often resulted in making accidental juice geysers during break time. The Ecto Cooler was essential for those who were a fan of the Ghostbusters cartoons, as this was a product tie-in to the series. Meanwhile, the Squeezit came in eight flavours, and while it had little to no nutritional value, it was still one of the most in-demand drinks amongst 80s kids.

The best drinks from the 80s remind us of a simpler, more innocent and fun time in our lives. See if you can recreate some of these drinks today, and have a wonderful time saying cheers to the 80s!