Perfect Iced Coffee
This recipe is quick, easy, budget-friendly, and tastes just like the gourmet coffee-shops, if not better!
When you live in California, you have a ton of options for great coffee. But whe you start hitting all the hottest coffee shops around town, it gets to be quite expensive. At one point, I ended up splurging on a $10 latte at Alfred’s Coffee!
But as always, nothing beats the homemade version – taste-wise and money-wise. And with this easy perfect iced coffee recipe, you won’t have to overpay for coffee ever again.
All you have to do is brew your coffee the night before using good-quality coffee beans. That way, it can come to room temperature by the time the morning comes around. Now I have personally never been a fan of pouring hot coffee over ice but if it doesn’t bother you, then you can whip this up in the morning – it’s up to you!
Then you can whip up a batch of simple syrup, but only if you need it. A batch should last you for a few weeks, unless you like to douse your coffee in sugary goodness. No judgment here. Then you can add a splash of milk or half-and-half, although I highly recommend the latter.
Now you can skip the hectic Starbucks line and have quality coffee for a quarter of the price right at home!
Perfect Iced Coffee
Ingredients
- 1 cup coffee, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons half and half*, or more, to taste
For the simple syrup
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- FOR THE SIMPLE SYRUP: Combine sugar and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Let cool completely and stir in vanilla extract; set aside in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Serve coffee over ice with half and half and simple syrup, adding 1 teaspoon at a time, to taste.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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this was so good!! i love iced coffee so much but i don’t always have the money for $6 starbucks iced coffee and their iced coffee doesn’t always turn out good. this has been good everytime i’ve made it!! it’s absolutely stellar.
I have a weird and silly question, when we make the coffee at night my friend and I put the milk with the coffee and let it sit in the refrigerator, then the next day we put it on ice …. is there’s something wrong with that?
Also this recipe is best with sugar and the syrup it’s yummy recommend both!!
There’s nothing wrong with that at all! 🙂
I’m letting the “syrup” cool at the moment and it’s not syrup its more just sugar water.. will it thicken as we go? or did I do something wrong?
Hi Melissa! When making your own simple syrup, it may have a thinner consistency than your store-bought kind. However, it should continue to thicken a bit while cooling. Hope that helps!
This was SO GOOD! How do I store the syrup…leave at room temp, or refrigerate? And if I make coffee ahead of time, should I refrigerate or leave out all night?
Simple syrup can be kept in the refrigerator. The coffee can also be kept in your refrigerator. As an undiluted concentrate, it should keep for up to two weeks but the flavor quality will degrade after the first week. If you’ve cut the concentrate with water, this will shorten the shelf life to 2-3 days.
I absolutely love this recipe, great taste and simple recipe.
How many calories is the simple syrup?
I must say fantastic recipe it will be my go to from now on!
Nutritional information is provided only for select and new recipes at this time. But if it is not available for a specific recipe, you can always use free online resources at your discretion (you can Google “nutritional calculator”). Hope that helps, Ldove!
simple and good! it added the perfect amount of flavor
This is awesome! I’ve been wanting to recreate My go-to Starbucks coffee but it never tasted right until now. This is simple enough for even me to follow and will definitely save me lots of money 🙂 thank you!
Very tasty! I applaud you for posting this delicious recipe. Thanks.
Highly Recommend
Thanks!
Hello ! I tried to brew Lebaness Coffee it didnt work ! Does nescafe work? Or what kind of coffee should I use?
What should I do with the leftover syrup? Can I set it in the fridge for the next day?
Yes, you can save it for later use.
I need espresso shots because I can get only have decaf and almond milk
I haven’t been able to drink real coffee for so long because it messes with my stomach, I just made this in hopes that I will be able to drink it and I absolutely love how it tastes and looks! I ended up using coffee ice cubes so as not to dilute the flavor.
Great idea!
This may seem like a common sense question but Can the syrup that you don’t use be left out to use later or does it need to be refrigerated.
I would refrigerate just to be safe, but please keep in mind that methods for optimal food storage and shelf life should be based on good judgment and what you are personally comfortable with. Hope that helps!
Horrible instructions, ended up pouring the entire simple syrup in and essentially drinking sugar water.
J, I find that it is very helpful to actually read through the instructions at least twice in its entirety before proceeding with the recipe.
Brew your coffee double strong if you’re serving it on ice. And why not add sugar to the coffee when you brew it? Making syrup adds complexity not needed…
You can add sugar or syrup – whichever works for you! 🙂
Do you realy ad 1/2 cup of sugar to 1 cup of coffee ????
Rens, you are adding the simple syrup to taste – perhaps 1-3 tsp per serving. You are not adding the entire amount of simple syrup (with 1/2 cup sugar) here!
how many calories?
Hi Cheryl, nutritional information is provided only for select and new recipes at this time. However, if it is not available for a specific recipe, we recommend using free online resources at your discretion (you can Google “nutritional calculator”) to obtain such information. Hope that helps!
I made some cold brew coffee a few days ago. Just used it in this drink.OMG this was so good. I keep some simple syrup in a squeeze jar in the fridge so did not have to wait. I put this into a clear glass coffee mug and topped this off with some whipped cream. I think this will keep me from falling asleep every afternoon. SO Yummy! Thanks
Yum! Whipped cream sounds dreamy!
I have been drinking iced coffee for a couple years, and making my own here at home. I have been making a pot of coffee then pouring it into a pitcherand keeping it in the refrigerator. When I’m ready for a big glassful,I add ice,pour in coffee, add a little stevia, then I have always Silk Dark Chocolate Almond Milk. I have even changed coffee flavors and used Vanilla Almond Milk. ALL yummy! !!
Yum!! That sounds so good! Thanks for sharing 🙂
HALF CUP OF SUGAR?? That is insane! Talk about going into a sugar coma.
Devin, you are adding the simple syrup to taste – perhaps 1-3 tsp per serving. You are not adding the entire amount of simple syrup (with 1/2 cup sugar) here! That would be insane as you have stated. 🙂