Classic Iced Coffee Recipe
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An Iced Coffee Recipe makes a cool, refreshing drink with simple ingredients and little effort. It starts with strong coffee, ice, milk and a touch of sweetness. You can make it in just a few minutes, which makes it great for busy mornings or warm afternoons. I like to prepare iced coffee when regular hot coffee feels too heavy. The cold drink gives a smooth coffee flavor without much work. You can use brewed coffee, instant coffee or cold brew. Add more milk for a creamy taste or adjust the sweetener to your liking. With a few easy steps, you can make café-style iced coffee at home.
What Is Iced Coffee Recipe?
Iced coffee is coffee served cold over ice. You can brew regular coffee, let it cool, and pour it over ice with milk and sweetener.
For a stronger drink, use less milk and more coffee. For a creamy iced coffee, add whole milk, half-and-half or your favorite dairy-free milk.
Ingredients
- 1 cup strong brewed coffee, cooled
- 1 cup ice cubes
- ½ cup milk
- 1-2 tablespoons sugar, simple syrup or maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream, optional
Instructions
- Brew the coffee: Make 1 cup of strong coffee. Let it cool for a few minutes.
- Sweeten the coffee: Stir in sugar or your preferred sweetener while the coffee is still slightly warm.
- Fill the glass: Add ice cubes to a tall glass.
- Add coffee: Pour the cooled coffee over the ice.
- Add milk: Pour in the milk and stir well.
- Add flavor: Mix in vanilla extract or cream if desired.
- Serve: Taste and adjust the sweetness before serving.
Essential Note: Let the coffee cool before pouring it over ice. Very hot coffee melts the ice quickly and can make the drink watery. For a strong flavor, brew the coffee with slightly more grounds than usual or use coffee ice cubes. Sweeten the coffee before adding ice because sugar dissolves better in warm liquid. If you use cold brew, you can pour it directly over ice without cooling it first. Use fresh ice and serve the drink right away for the best taste and texture.
Recipe Notes
Use strong coffee, plenty of ice and cold milk for a balanced drink. Adjust the sweetness, milk and vanilla to match your taste.
Cooking Tips and Tricks
Use strong coffee because ice and milk can reduce its flavor. If you have time, chill the coffee in the refrigerator before making the drink.
For a richer iced coffee, use whole milk or half-and-half. Almond, oat and soy milk also work well.
Do not add hot coffee to a glass filled with a small amount of ice. It will melt quickly. Use plenty of ice to keep the drink cold.
Try making coffee ice cubes with leftover brewed coffee. They melt without watering down your drink.
For a smoother texture, stir the coffee, milk and sweetener well before serving. You can also add vanilla, caramel or chocolate syrup for a flavored iced coffee.
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