Introduction
As the weather heats up, there's nothing more refreshing than a cold, invigorating iced coffee. Skip the sugar-loaded bottled Frappuccinos and enjoy one of these 10 delicious iced coffee recipes, custom-made to your own taste. With a few simple ingredients and a couple of minutes of prep, you can make barista-quality iced coffee drinks right at home. Keep reading for creative iced coffee inspiration using everything from cold brew to instant coffee.
Classic Iced Coffee
The classic iced coffee is quick, easy, and endlessly customizable. Simply brew a pot of regular hot coffee. Allow it to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled. Pour the chilled coffee over ice and add your choice of milk, cream, sweeteners, and flavored syrups. For an even cooler drink, brew the coffee double-strength to allow for dilution from the melting ice. Top with whipped cream or frothy milk for an indulgent treat.
Mocha Frappe
Combine coffee, chocolate, and ice cream for a frosty, decadent frappe. Brew one cup of coffee and let it cool. In a blender, combine the cooled coffee with 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 cup ice. Blend until smooth. For a thicker frappe, substitute milk for some of the ice. Top with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and cocoa powder.
Caramel Macchiato Frappe
Caramel and coffee are a match made in heaven. Make your own caramel macchiato frappe with freshly brewed espresso, sweetened condensed milk, caramel sauce, and ice. Combine 3 shots cooled espresso, 1⁄4 cup sweetened condensed milk, 2 tablespoons caramel sauce, and 1 1⁄2 cups ice in a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Top with more caramel drizzle before serving.
Mexican Iced Coffee (Café de Olla)
For an authentic Mexican-style iced coffee, try café de olla. Make a strong batch of coffee mixed with piloncillo sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest. Let the spiced coffee mixture cool completely, then pour over ice. Add milk or cream for a sweet, cinnamon-laced iced coffee. The earthy spice notes balance beautifully with the cold coffee.
Coconut Iced Coffee
Escape to the tropics with this refreshing coconut iced coffee. Make a batch of regular iced coffee, then stir in 1⁄2 cup coconut milk and 1⁄2 teaspoon coconut extract. Sweeten to taste. Serve over ice garnished with toasted coconut flakes. The coconut milk gives a velvety texture while the flavor evokes dreams of white sand beaches.
Iced Vietnamese Coffee
Traditional Vietnamese iced coffee has a signature dark, rich flavor. Brew 2 tablespoons coarse ground coffee with 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk on top of a metal phin filter. Stir the brewed coffee and milk together until emulsion forms, then pour over ice. The end result is a strong coffee punch cut by sweet, creamy condensed milk.
Cold Brew Coffee
For smooth, naturally sweet iced coffee, try cold brewing. Steep coarse ground coffee in cold water for 12-24 hours. Drain through a filter. The cold extraction yields a mellow, slightly smoky brew. Enjoy black over ice or splash in milk. Make a batch on Sunday to last all week.
Iced Latte
Nothing fancy needed for an easy iced latte. Brew strong coffee, then pour over ice with milk to taste. For a nutty latte, use almond or oat milk. Add flavors like vanilla, hazelnut, or cinnamon. Top with espresso shots for an extra caffeine kick. Customize with your favorite coffee and milk.
Mocha Iced Coffee
Chocolate and coffee pair perfectly in this mocha iced coffee. Brew coffee as usual. In a blender, combine 1⁄4 cup chocolate syrup with 1⁄4 cup hot coffee to melt the chocolate. Add 2 cups ice and 1 cup cold coffee. Blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Iced Chai Latte
Spice up your iced coffee routine with a chilled chai latte. Simmer black tea with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Stir in honey to taste. Let the chai concentrate cool completely, then combine with cold milk over ice. The spicy, aromatic chai makes for an adventurous iced coffee sipper.
Conclusion
With endless combinations of coffee, milk, sweeteners, and flavors, the options for homemade iced coffee drinks are infinite. Spend a relaxing afternoon experimenting with these delicious recipes. Your perfect summer sipper awaits. Stay cool and caffeinated!