Summertime in the country, or wherever you’re spending it. Often, most people associate this time with travel, leisure, and dreading the lingering but eventual winter. Coffee shops record brisk business with iced coffee providing the perfect seasonal blend.
You’ve come to the right place to help you navigate how to make iced coffee. Our collective goal remains to help you enjoy the exquisite taste and aroma the magic coffee beans bring. If goats in the Ethiopian wild became ecstatic after tasting the coffee plant, shouldn’t humans experience bliss too?
Summer iced coffee is one of the best ways to cool off on a hot day. While there are many iced coffee recipes out there, cold brew iced coffee is our personal favorite. Cold brew iced coffee is not only incredibly easy to make, but it’s also super smooth and refreshing. Plus, it has a slightly higher caffeine content than regular iced coffee, so it’s perfect for those mornings when you need an extra energizing pick-me-up.
Difference Between Cold Brew and Iced Coffee
Before we get into the cold brew iced coffee recipe, let’s quickly discuss the difference between cold brew and iced coffee. Iced coffee is simply regular hot-brewed coffee that has been cooled down and poured over ice. Cold brew, on the other hand, is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period of time (usually 12 hours or more). This produces a concentrate that can be diluted with water or milk and served over ice.
The main difference between iced coffee and cold brew is that iced coffee is typically weaker and more acidic, while cold brew is stronger and smoother. Cold brew also has a slightly higher caffeine content than iced coffee. So, if you’re looking for a more energizing iced coffee, cold brew is the way to go.
Now that you know the difference between iced coffee and cold brew, let’s get into the cold brew iced coffee recipe!
How to make Ice Coffee At Home?
Cold Brew Iced Coffee Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Jar or Pitcher
- A strainer or cheesecloth
Materials
- 1 Cup coarsely ground coffee beans
- 4 Cups cold filtered water
- A strainer or cheesecloth
- Milk and sugar (Optional)
Instructions
- 1. Add the ground coffee to a jar or pitcher.2. Pour the cold water over the grounds, making sure all of the grounds are fully saturated.3. Stir gently to make sure all of the grounds are fully saturated, then cover the jar or pitcher and let it sit at room temperature for 12-24 hours.4. After steeping, place a strainer or cheesecloth over a second jar or pitcher and carefully pour the cold brew coffee concentrate through it to filter out the coffee grounds.5. Once all of the coffee has been filtered, you can store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.6. To make iced coffee, simply combine 1 part cold brew concentrate with 1 part water or milk over ice. You can also add sugar to taste.7. Enjoy!
Should you add sugar to Iced coffee?
Iced coffee is often served with sugar, but it’s completely up to you whether or not you want to add it. If you’re using cold brew concentrate, we recommend starting with 1 part concentrate and 1 part water or milk. You can always add more cold brew concentrate if you find the iced coffee too weak. And if you want it sweeter, you can add sugar, honey, or your favorite sweetener to taste.
Coffee tip 1
If you’re a sweet kick and want to enjoy it with your iced coffee, always go for sugary elements such as vanilla and hazelnut syrup rather than adding pure sugar into the drink. This is mainly because standard sugar granules don’t easily dissolve. However, if you insist on using the sugar granules, dissolve them in hot water beforehand.
Should I use fresh ground coffee?
While we recommend using fresh ground coffee for cold brew iced coffee, you can technically use pre-ground coffee if you’re in a pinch. Just keep in mind that the quality of your iced coffee will suffer slightly if you do this. Pre-ground coffee starts to go stale and lose flavor soon after it’s been ground, so it’s not as fresh and flavorful as freshly ground coffee.
If you do use pre-ground coffee, make sure to use a coarse grind rather than a fine grind. A coarse grind will produce a weaker iced coffee, but it’s less likely to end up with bitter flavors.
Coffee is always better with fresh ground coffee beans.
Can you make Iced Coffee without milk?
Yes, you can make iced coffee without milk. In fact, iced coffee is typically served black, without milk or sugar. However, if you want to add milk to your iced coffee, we recommend using cold brew concentrate rather than regular iced coffee. The reason for this is that cold brew iced coffee is less likely to curdle when milk is added, while regular iced coffee is more likely to curdle.
If you want to make iced coffee without milk, simply combine 1 part cold brew concentrate with 1 part water over ice. You can also add sugar to taste.
Coffee tip 2
If you don’t have time to cold brew iced coffee, you can make iced coffee by brewing hot coffee and then pouring it over ice. However, this method will produce a weaker iced coffee since some of the caffeine and flavor will be lost when the hot coffee is diluted with ice.
Preventing your iced coffee from going watery
When iced coffee melts, it can become watery and lose its flavor. To prevent this from happening, we recommend using large ice cubes made from filtered water. You can also make iced coffee cubes by freezing cold brew concentrate in an ice cube tray. Then, when you’re ready to enjoy your iced coffee, simply add the iced coffee cubes to a glass of milk or water. Also, try double the amount of coffee used and see the difference.
Coffee tip 3
If you want to make a large batch of cold brew iced coffee, you can make a concentrate by brewing 2 parts coffee to 1 part water. This concentrate can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks and then diluted with water or milk when you’re ready to drink it.
How long does iced coffee last?
If stored in an airtight container in the fridge, cold brew iced coffee will last for up to 2 weeks. That’s a long time not to enjoy a wholesome coffee taste!
There you have it—our cold brew iced coffee recipe! This iced coffee recipe is super easy to make and results in a smooth, refreshing iced coffee that’s perfect for summer. So next time you’re in the mood for iced coffee, give this cold brew iced coffee recipe a try. You won’t be disappointed!