You’ve come to the right place. I’m going to show you How to Make Iced Coffee. Iced Coffee is hot coffee served over ice. It may seem simple and all (and it is), but there are a few tips and tricks for making the best iced coffee ever. And I’m sharing those tips with you. There is a video showing how to make iced coffee toward the end of this post.
You might also be interested in the most authentic way of making Iced Coffee: How to Make Cold Brew Coffee. Cold brew coffee is brewed in cold water. Be sure to check out that post because that recipe makes really great iced coffee too! Oh, and Boozy Iced Coffee is another favorite (cocktail-style).
I’ve lived with a house full of coffee lovers for years. And this is the way we like to make our iced coffee. Pouring hot coffee directly over ice can result in a diluted and watered-down taste. Don’t do that! Follow the tips in this post instead. An iced coffee is perfect for drinking on a warm day when you don’t want to consume a hot cup of coffee.
I’m a fan of mocha frappuccino or an iced vanilla latte, but I just won’t pay those ridiculous prices that the coffee shops charge. It’s much more affordable and just as delicious to make an iced coffee drink at home. And, even though it doesn’t contain any actual “coffee,” bake a coffee cake to enjoy with it!
How do You Make Iced Coffee?
You’ll need a tall glass and a spoon long enough to reach the bottom of that glass.
Fill that glass full to the rim with ice. If you really want to get serious about your iced coffee, you can make ice cubes out of coffee too. Then you won’t get that “watered-down” effect. And if you’re into that flavored sort of coffee then go for it.
Pour room temperature (or chilled) coffee into the glass.
Fill it almost to the top. At this point, you can drink your iced coffee as is… black. Or you can continue with my tips below for things you can add to your iced coffee.
Pour in the white stuff. Here’s where you get to make a big decision. Do you want to go all out and make this a decadent treat? If so, then add cream or half & half. If you want to go a little lighter, use whole milk or fat-free half & half. And lighter still, use nonfat milk. For milk alternatives, use almond milk, oat milk or soy milk!
Take a moment to watch the swirls sink to the bottom and mix in with the coffee. It’s a magical moment!
Add a couple spoonfuls of sugar (if you like sweet)… or whatever sort of sweetener you usually add to your coffee. In the recipe notes below, I share how to make sugary simple syrup in case you prefer to use that instead of granulated white sugar.
Stir it all up!
Anticipate drinking your creation.
If you really love a sweet iced coffee, try my recipe for making Vietnamese Iced Coffee. It’s amazing.
Recipe Tips:
- If using ice instead of coffee ice cubes, opt for using larger-sized ice cubes. They’ll melt slower than crushed ice.
- Also if using ice instead of coffee ice cubes, brew stronger coffee since it will be diluted a bit by the ice cubes.
- If making coffee ice cubes, brew a pot of coffee, let it cool, and then pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze.
- Use drip coffee, espresso or instant coffee to make the base for your iced coffee.
- Using freshly ground beans to make your coffee will result in the best tasting iced coffee.
- Make ahead tip: Brew a pot of coffee and refrigerate so it’s ready to go when you want to make iced coffee.
- Add vanilla or hazelnut syrup or a dash of cinnamon for additional flavor.
Things you can buy to help you make the perfect iced coffee:
- MY FAVORITE GLASS MUGS: I absolutely love these glass mugs and I use them for both coffee and tea. They’re microwavable and large.
- TALL GLASSES: I use these for iced tea and iced coffee and any drink where I want to add ice in a tall glass.
- TALL PLASTIC GLASSES: I also have this set of plastic, non-breakable glasses since we have a pool area and use them outside often in warmer weather. They are dishwasher safe.
- TALL SPOONS: These are a must if you use the tall glasses!
- SILICONE ICE CUBE TRAYS: Even if you have an ice maker built-in to your refrigerator, you would totally love these ice cube trays. I love the shape of the cube molds (they look pretty in a glass), and they come out super easy with bendable silicone. You may also choose to make ice cubes out of coffee, so these are perfect for that.
- COFFEE STIRRER STICKS: We have a little coffee station in our kitchen, and since I don’t always like to get our spoons dirty… these wooden stirrer sticks come in handy.
- GLASS MEASURING CUP: You might already have one of these in your kitchen, but it’s definitely a must-have (I’m pretty sure I have 3 or 4).
- RE-USABLE STRAWS: I use these for everything I drink these days. This set comes with a straw cleaner, which is a nice thing to have!
- MY FAVORITE NO-CALORIE SWEETENER: I just started using this sweetener for tea and coffee, and I’m obsessed with it. No aftertaste!
Here’s the cool part (at least I think this is kind of cool…). You’ve seen these flavored coffee creamers, right? You can always use this stuff in your iced coffee. It’ll cover both your cream and your sweetener. And if you get this particular brand… then you’ll be getting a coffee creamer with a photograph that yours-truly took! Yep, those cupcakes that you see right there– those are my White Wedding Cake Cupcakes that I posted on the site several years ago.
I made those cupcakes with the pearls on top for a teacher’s wedding from my son’s school. This company liked my photo and wanted to use it for the label on their new product, so they bought it from me! Isn’t that fun?!
Enjoy your iced coffee, however you decide to make it 🙂 This is the super easy way to make iced coffee. Check out my other post: How to Make Cold Brew Coffee, for a more authentic way of making iced coffee.
If you need a few delicious treats to have with your coffee, you might consider baking some Brown Sugar Cinnamon Biscotti, Lemon Tea Cake or Kitchen Sink Cookies.
How to Make Iced Coffee
Ingredients
- 1 cup ice (or coffee frozen into cubes)
- 1 cup coffee, at room temperature or chilled
- 2 tablespoons cream, milk or half & half
- 1 to 2 teaspoons granulated white sugar (or simple syrup- see Recipe Notes below)
Instructions
- Fill a glass with ice. Pour in coffee. Add cream and sugar (or simple syrup). Stir and drink!
- See recipe notes below for variations and tips.
Notes
- Lighten things up in this drink by using nonfat milk… or fat-free half & half. Use your desired low/no calorie sweetener in place of sugar.
- Another option is to add a flavored creamer, which will cover both the cream and the sugar.
- If you want to use simple syrup in place of sugar, here’s how to make it: In a small saucepan, bring ½ cup water and ½ cup granulated white sugar to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring the mixture until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from heat and cool. Chill until ready to use!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Too cool about the picture. The cupcakes do look awesome! I’ll have to try the creamer when I see it and tell everyone I know the girl who made those cute cupcakes. Too fun! Now, I could really go for that iced coffee.
Congrats on the gig Lori! Those cupcakes looks so regal 🙂 I’ve been downing a huge amount of iced coffee lately. I blame it on sweltering hot weather here in Florida 😀
So awesome that they bought your photo! Congrats!
Congratulations on the photo!
I love iced coffee and NEVER drink hot coffee. I think adding a lot of normal ice is best because it tastes soooo much better after the ice has melted just a touch. YUM!
I love iced coffee! My favorite way to make it is to add a little vanilla soy milk in addition to sweetener. Yum! I also use the cold brew method and have found a French press coffee maker works well and makes the straining part much easier.
That is so cool, Lori! I think I remember you tweeting something a question that may have alluded to this. Good for you!
I’m not a coffee drinker…I go the iced tea route. But I can tell you my mother adored iced coffee. She loved to watch that cream swirl as it went in. Just reading this made me smile in memory!
I love iced coffee, I first tasted it when I was in Bangkok, Thailand but they only used evaporated milk, this is awesome! By the way, your cupcake photo is so pretty. How do you make the frosting, what kind of tip did you use? Thanks!
Here is my post on the wedding cupcakes… with all of that information https://www.recipegirl.com/2009/03/17/how-to-make-wedding-cupcakes/
Iced coffee is the only way I can drink coffee. Making ice cubes out of coffee is a good idea, because my problem is that it gets watered down. If I think in advance, though, I can make a pot of coffee and keep it in the fridge overnight so in the morning I can pour and go.
And how fun to have your cupcake picture on a coffee creamer bottle!!
Consider crushed ice for the best ‘swirls’ sensation, it really gives the cream a thrilling ride to the bottom of the glass.
cool- fun tip! Love watching the swiiiirl…