Perfect Iced Coffee
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Tips and tricks to make the best, most perfect iced coffee right at home. It’s quick, easy and so budget-friendly!
why i love this recipe
- Easy, fool-proof recipe. With this easy-to-follow recipe, you’ll be making coffee-shop-quality iced coffee in no time.
- Budget-friendly. A single cup of coffee can range anywhere from $3 to $7 (or more). Making coffee at home is much more economical, letting you kick that coffee shop habit.
- Convenient and time-saving. Now you can skip that hectic Starbucks drive-thru line and enjoy a quality cup of iced coffee right at home.
- So customizable. One of the best things about homemade iced coffee is how customizable it is. Add your favorite milk, coffee creamer or sweetener. The best part? An optional easy simple syrup recipe is included below (which also works great for homemade cocktails!).
what is simple syrup
Simple syrup is a liquid sweetener made from dissolved sugar and water, primarily used for cold beverages such as coffee and cocktails. Simple syrup mixes smoothly and evenly, whereas granulated sugar can leave a gritty texture when mixed in.
how to make the most perfect iced coffee right at home
- Brew the coffee using your favorite beans and preferred method (coffee maker, French press, etc.)
- Let the coffee come to room temperature or chill overnight
- Make the simple syrup (if using), storing in the fridge to extend shelf life
- Pour the chilled or room temperature coffee over ice, adding a splash of milk, creamer and/or simple syrup to taste (starting at 1 tsp)
tips and tricks for success
- Good quality beans go a long way. Grab a bag of beans from your favorite local coffee shop.
- Use coarse ground coffee beans. Finely ground coffee beans can yield a gritty cup of coffee. Purchase coffee beans that have already been coarsely ground or grind the beans at home using a grinder like this or this.
- Room temp or cold coffee is key. Iced coffee is meant to be cold. Skip the hot coffee, making sure to use cooled down coffee to start. Adding ice to already hot coffee will yield undesirable watered down coffee.
- Start the night before. This is a great recipe to make ahead of time. Brew the coffee the night before, storing in the fridge overnight.
- Store simple syrup in the fridge. Always store simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator to extend shelf life, keeping up to 1 month.
pro tip
Make coffee ice cubes.
Don’t want your iced coffee diluted with water? Use coffee ice cubes! Opt for a stronger brew for coffee ice cubes for more flavor, freezing for at least 4 hours using a silicone ice cube tray for easy removal.
more favorited drink recipes
Tools For This Recipe
Saucepan
Perfect Iced Coffee: Frequently Asked Questions
Adding ice to already hot coffee will dilute the coffee quite a bit. Using room temperature or chilled coffee is ideal for the most perfect iced coffee.
Homemade simple syrup can last anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month when properly stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
Simple syrup can be used for cocktails, mocktails, lemonade, or even whipped cream (swapping out the sugar for a smoother consistency).
Black coffee (without milk or creamer) can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Perfect Iced Coffee
Ingredients
- 1 cup coffee, at room temperature or chilled overnight
- 2 tablespoons half and half*, or more, to taste
For the simple syrup
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Serve coffee over ice with half and half and simple syrup, adding 1 teaspoon at a time, to taste.
for the simple syrup
- Combine sugar and water in a small 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.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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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. 🙂
I spent all this summer drinking Iced Coffee! And I won’t stop this winter! Oh, and I’m Italian, so it’s always pretty strange to come into a coffee shop and ask for an Iced Coffee. Baristas always make grumpy faces at me eheheh.
However, I prefer it black and extra strong. It helps me stay awake 🙂
I love iced coffee but could never get the portions right – It always ended up being a little too diluted. Thanks for this, perfect for the sweltering summer heat right now.
does the coffee need to be extra strong since it will be a bit diluted with ice cubes? Do the coffee beans need to be espresso beans? Thanks!
That’s completely up to you!
I thought simple syrup were equal parts?
Uncontrollable craving for iced coffee was creating a great hole in my pocket. Not anymore.Thanks a lot for the easy recipe.
So I’m a little confused. Is the syrup supposed to be a syrup consistancy? Or does it thicken as it cools?
It’s a syrup consistency.
Seems like now I don’t have to pay for some delicious Iced Coffee. I was just reading a recipe of Mocha so I thought I should share my views over the point where you said that we need cooled coffee power for Iced Coffee. At that blog the writer mentioned that it’s good to ground some extra coffee and freeze it in ice cube and then you can grind it and believe me that’ll surely increase the taste of an Iced Coffee. In fact I’m also going to try it now.
Just found your blog and love it, your are just so talented, you have me really inspired. Silly question, when you say half and half do you mean cream an milk?
Thanks from West Australia
Half and half is also known as single or light cream.
Yes, it is half cream and half milk.
I just like the cold coffee.Your pictures are so nice and seems too tasty.I will try this and hope enjoy a lot to drink.
Love how simple it is to make, compered to the result what you get. Amazing, absolutely love it.
Making your Honey Balsamic Herb Chicken with Vegetables right now…Has another 20 min or so….So I thought I’d have a look around at some more recipes. I spotted this, and was curious as to how you do it. Same as me, except I go ALL the WAY and add the syrup to half and half, or heavy cream, in the container! Hah! I don’t have to pay for the expensive FAKE creamers. I have the real thing, that I ade, and I know what’s in it…(a LOT of sugar!)
P.S. I also add caramel syrup if I have it and/or chocolate syrup as well! Woo Hoo! Don’t care for adding the artificial flavors at all.
Good recipe, but had to half the sugar, American iced coffee is much too sweet for me.
Yum! your picture looks so delicious to me. Really i am impressed. Ice coffee with vanilla looks impressive. I have a wish to try this at my home.
I need to make this!
LEACH | http://www.theleachlife.com
My favorite iced coffee is cold brewed! I feel like it has a much better, richer flavor, and is smoother. 🙂
This is awesome, thanks so much for sharing! I used to make ice coffee all the time but I like it sweet and didn’t know how to get it that way without buying the vanilla syrup from the store. But yay, there is hope with the simple syrup recipe. Pinning this, you’re one of my favorite food bloggers! PS I love your mason jar glass situation…mason jar on a stem?!
You are my new fav blogger!! Thank you.
Chungah your website is abosolutely amazing and love this iced coffee recipe can’t wait to try it!
Love iced coffeeI I like to make coffee ice cubes so they don’t dilute my drink and use sweet and condensed milk for creamy sweetness.
The condensed milk sounds absolutely amazing!
Coffee ice cubes! Genius!
Anazing!!!