So there’s a rumour that spring is here, and that summer is around the corner. That means warmer weather and more cool drinks. But what about the coffee addict? Is there a way to get that coffee fix without the heat?
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The answer is yes – iced coffee.
And what’s more, there are loads of easy iced coffee recipes if you are a fan of those mixed and interesting types of coffee. Sure, you can keep it simple and classic but why not mix it up a bit, and try something different?
To help you out, here are 9 easy iced coffee recipes that you can make at home.
What is iced coffee?
Iced coffee is one of those drinks that really is as simple as it sounds. It is a normal coffee that is made hot and then cooled down by adding either ice or ice-cold milk. You can add a range of flavours and syrups to it, usually while it is still hot because they dissolve quicker in the warmer drink.
Then you add the cooling ingredient and leave it for a bit. Generally, iced coffee is made stronger than normal coffee because the water from the ice does dissolve it a bit.
There’s even a bit of history. Back in the 1840s in Algeria, there was a drink known as Mazagran that was made with cold water and coffee syrup. This was said to be the original iced coffee.
By the 19th century, ‘café frappe’ came along frozen coffee drinks that were a bit like slushies. By the late 19th century, the chilled drink started to appear on drinks menus. In more recent times, big coffee chains like Starbucks have made it popular.
Iced coffee versus cold brew coffee
Another really popular drink at the moment is cold brew coffee but this isn’t the same as iced coffee. They are made differently and have different tastes.
Cold brew is made with either cold or room temperature water and has coffee grounds soaked in it for 12 to 24 hours before being made. This creates a strong concentrate that is then used to make the drink. It is often half and half of the concentrate and water, but this can be adapted depending on your tastes.
Cold brew tends to have less acidity in it and is also a little more mellow in its taste than iced coffee. So if you like your coffee a little gentler, this might be the perfect option for you.
You might also like Caramel Macchiato vs Caramel Latte: What’s the Difference? by The Coffee Chef
How to make iced coffee fast
If you don’t have a lot of time to make your coffee drink, then iced coffee might seem like a little too much waiting around. But there are some tips on how to make iced coffee fast:
Use thermal shock resistant glass
Remember you are taking something hot and making it cold quickly – this can shatter glass or china pots. So if you want to make iced coffee quickly, make sure you use thermal shock resistant glass.
Use a liquid sugar sweetener
One of the problems with iced coffee recipes can be the time it takes for stuff like white and brown sugar to dissolve. So if you need to make it quick, the solution is to use liquid sugar sweetener.
Or if you are into cocktails, sugar syrup. This is made by mixing one part water with one part sugar, boiling the water to dissolve the sugar then leaving it to cool. You can make this up ahead, store it in a bottle in the fridge and use it when you go to make the iced coffee.
Use a medium or dark roast coffee
The final tip is to get the best flavour – use a medium or dark roast coffee. Enjoy Java recommend an Arabica coffee bean with notes of chocolate, nuts, and caramel for a tasty, quick iced coffee.
recipes
So now we know the basics of making iced coffee and the difference between it and cold brew, it is time to jump into some iced coffee recipes. You can easily start making coffee at home just like you get at the coffee shop. Because why not?
Café Frappe
The frappe is commonly seen in a chocolate version. But for us coffee-holics, there’s a coffee-based version that has all the creaminess of vanilla ice cream, coffee flavour, and still a hint of cocoa!
- 3 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup ice
- 1 cup coffee, chilled
- 2 tbsp. simple syrup (see recipe above)
- Whipped cream
- Cocoa powder
Add the first four ingredients to a blender and blend until they are smooth then add whipped cream and a little cocoa powder to the top.
Coffee breakfast smoothie
This recipe is somewhere between an iced coffee and a smoothie. Which means it is perfect for a breakfast drink.
You need 1 cup of milk, 1.4 cups of instant coffee, 1 packet of an instant breakfast drink in vanilla, 2 ice cubes, and ¼ teaspoon of almond extract. You will also want sugar to taste. Add everything to the blend apart from the ice and blend then add the ice to get a slushy mixture. Add to the glass and serve.
Frozen Banana Latte
- 1 ½ cups strong black coffee
- ¾ cup half and half
- 2 frozen bananas sliced in half
- 2 tbsp. chocolate syrup
- ½ cup ice cubes
Blend all ingredients in a blender until fully combined and frothy. Pour into tall glasses. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Iced Mocha Latte
for this mocha recipe, take enough instant coffee to make the drink to the strength you like then mix it with ½ cup of boiling water. Dissolve the water then add 1 14 ounces can of sweetened condensed milk, ¼ cup of chocolate syrup, and 2 cups of cold water. Stir until combined then add four cups of milk, stir, and leave in the fridge for about an hour before serving with ice.
Iced Vanilla Caramel Coffee
- 4 cups coffee, chilled
- 1 cup milk
- ? cup French Vanilla non-dairy creamer (coffee whitener like Coffee Mate)
- ? cup caramel ice cream topping
- 3 cups crushed ice
- Whipped cream
Add everything to the blender apart from whipped cream – use as much of the creamer and caramel ice cream topping as you like depending on how sweet a tooth you have! Once it is blended, pour it into four glasses and add whipped cream.
Maple coffee punch
- 8 cups hot water
- ½ cup instant coffee
- 2 tbsp. vanilla extract
- 2 cups pure maple syrup
- 2 cups heavy cream
- Ice cubes
Bring a large pot of water to the boil then add the coffee, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Stir then leave to cool before adding to the fridge overnight. When you are ready to serve, add to a punch bowl with heavy (double) cream and stir. To finish, add ice and dish up.
Mocha Coconut Iced Coffee
- 1 cup coffee, cold
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 3 tbsp. chocolate syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk, cold
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 2 tbsp. toasted coconut
- Whipped cream
Add the chilled coconut milk and sugar into a bowl and beat with a hand mixer until peaks form. Add 1-2 tbsp of chocolate syrup to the bottom of a glass, add ice cubes then pour the coffee in. Next, add the coconut milk and sugar and stir. Top with whipped cream and toasted coconut sprinkles.
Raspberry Coffee Frappe
- 2 cups strong, chilled coffee
- ¼ cup raspberry flavoured syrup (store bought)
- ½ cup half and half (single cream)
- 2 ½ cups ice cubes
- 6 scoops of coffee ice cream
- Chocolate shavings (optional)
Add half of the coffee syrup and cream to a blender with ice and blend. Pour the rest of the coffee in and blend on a low speed to mix. Add to glasses, add one scoop of ice cream on top, and finish with chocolate shavings.
Walnut Frappe
- 7 walnuts
- 1 tsp instant coffee
- 2 tsp chocolate chips
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tsp honey
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate sprinkles
Add the walnuts to the blender and blend until they are a small size. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Add to glasses then top with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.
Tasty, cool drinks
The thing these iced coffee recipes show is that the drink can be as simple or as complex as you want. You can make drinks that have just the basics or can be somewhere between a coffee and a smoothie! Whatever option you go for, the result is a tasty cool drink with plenty of that coffee flavour.
What’s your favorite way to have iced coffee? Or are you more of a cold brew fan? Tell us in the comments below!
More from The Coffee Chef:
Coffee Cup vs Mug: The Difference and How to Choose the Right One
