These Iced Coffee Recipes are amazing! Learn how to make iced coffee at home and customize it with your favourite homemade syrups.
If you follow me on Instagram, you know I'm a coffee addict (I've had people try to talk me out of having 5 espresso shots a day…) and I am VERY particular about the colour of my iced coffee LOL!
I know it's a very personal thing and what's great about this recipe is that you can customize it so even if you don't agree with me on colour, you can always add more milk (or whatever tickles your fancy!).
Why you'll love this recipe
- Easy to make: All you have to do is brew the coffee then pour into over ice with milk.
- Saves money: Instead of paying for your drink at an overpriced coffee shop, you can make your own at home for a fraction of the price.
- Customizable: Adjust the sweetness, swap the milk, or add fun toppings like whipped cream or chocolate drizzle.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Coffee – I normally use espresso (it makes the ice melt just the right amount!), but you can use brewed coffee instead.
- Ice cubes – try crushed ice, medium-sized cubes or large blocks of ice.
- Milk – any dairy or dairy-free milk will work, or you can enjoy it black.
- Sweetener – add a different flavour with syrup or sweetener.
How to make iced coffee
Step 1: Brew the coffee.
Brew the espresso shots or regular coffee.
Step 2: Pour over ice.
Add ice to a glass, then pour the coffee over top.
Step 3: Add milk.
Pour in your dairy or dairy-free milk.
Step 4 : Add syrup.
Add your sugar, sweetener or syrup and serve.
Tips and variations for the best iced coffee
Here are my top tips for making the best iced coffee every time:
- Try brewed coffee: If you don't like espresso, use a brewed dark or light roast – you'll want to experiment with whether you like a lighter or darker flavor so try different beans!
- Make it dairy-free: Add almond milk, soy milk, cashew milk, oat milk or coconut milk.
- Add more flavours: Try flavoured syrups, sweeteners and spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.
Make your iced coffee exactly how you like it:
- Strength: Use espresso or brewed dark roast for the strongest coffee, and medium or light roast for a weaker coffee.
- Milk: Any dairy or dairy-free milk of your choice will work like cream, skim, almond, soy, vanilla or coconut milk.
- Syrups: Vanilla syrup, chocolate syrup, mint extract and caramel sauce would all be yummy and add different flavours.
- Coffee cocktail: Add in some Kahlua or Bailey's for a coffee cocktail option.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best type of coffee to use for iced coffee?
High-quality medium to dark roast beans are ideal for a richer flavor in iced coffee.
How can I prevent my iced coffee from tasting watered down?
To avoid dilution, brew your coffee stronger than usual or use coffee ice cubes by freezing brewed coffee.
Is cold brew the same as iced coffee?
No, cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period of time, while iced coffee is traditionally brewed hot and then cooled.
Can you use instant coffee?
Technically yes, but the flavour won't be as good. Dissolve the instant coffee into 2 tbsp boiling water, then mix in 3 tbsp cold water. Pour over ice, add milk and syrup, and enjoy!
How to store
Store: Keep brewed coffee in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Store your syrups separately.
Meal prep tools
- Pick up some coffee beans or pre-ground coffee such as Lavazza.
- You may need a coffee grinder if you're using fresh whole beans.
- Check out the Philips 3300 coffee machine on Amazon – it's a great little coffee maker to use at home and it brews espresso shots too.
- If you're using brewed coffee instead of espresso shots, pick up cheesecloth or a pack of coffee filters to help strain your coffee.
- These iced coffee syrups are an AWESOME way to jazz up your summer drinks!
How to Make Iced Coffee
Ingredients
Simple syrup base
- 3 cups water
- 3 cups sugar
Iced Vanilla Latte syrup
- 1 cup simple syrup
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Iced Mocha syrup
- 1 cup simple syrup
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
Iced Caramel Machiatto syrup
- 1 cup simple syrup
- 1/4 cup dulce de leche
FOR EACH DRINK
- Handful of ice cubes
- 2 espresso shots
- 1/2 cup milk I use 2% but you can use skim, whole or non-dairy as well
Instructions
For syrups
- Prepare in advance: Bring 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar to a boil in a large pot on the stove. Boil for 1 minute, then divide 2 cups of the simple syrup among 2 heat-safe mason jars (1 cup of syrup in each jar).
- Stir cocoa powder into 1 mason jar to make the chocolate syrup, then stir vanilla extract into another to make the vanilla syrup.
- With the remaining simple syrup left in the pot on the stove, stir in the dulce de leche. You may want to turn the heat back on the stove and stir to ensure the dulce de leche gets dissolved. Pour this syrup into a third mason jar.
- Let all 3 syrups cool for 30 minutes before using. Syrups can be kept in the fridge up to 4 weeks.
For drinks
- Brew espresso shots using an espresso maker. Add ice to a large glass, then pour espresso shots and milk over top. Add in 1-2 tbsp syrup of your choice. Serve and enjoy!
- To make the machiatto: add syrup to the bottom of a glass, top with ice, add milk and then slowly pour espresso shots over the top of a spoon to create that layered effect. Enjoy!
Comments & Reviews
ANNE-MARIé SMIT says
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH ! THIS IS SO GOOD. THANKS FOR SHARING AND MAKING IT SO EASY TO PRINT
shimanta kumar says
Like you, I prefer strong coffee so I make espresso
Ren says
These are great tips! Especially the one that warns about the shelf life of iced coffee in the fridge.
Your jars caught my eye because that’s what I use.
Like you, I prefer strong coffee so I make espresso, pour it over a teaspoon of sugar, put the cover on the jar, shake it up to dissolve the sugar, add half and half to the top, stick it in the fridge and drink it the next day. No ice to dilute it. When I’m ambitious, I make several jars to last a day or two. That way, I have always have at least one on hand that is cold.
I want to try your Mocha and Caramel Macchiato recipes.