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How to Make Iced Coffee

Author: Jee Choe
Save money and make perfectly sweet and delicious iced coffee at home with easy step-by-step instructions.
4.9 from 9 votes
Prep Time 3 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes
Course Drinks
Yield1 serving (16 ounces)

INGREDIENTS
 

  • 1 cup ice
  • 1 cup strong coffee
  • 2 tablespoons simple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons half & half

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Pour strong, cooled coffee over ice.
    Use cooled down or cold coffee. A good balance is half strong coffee and half ice.
  • Stir in simple syrup.
    Add more or less, depending on how sweet you like your iced coffee.
  • Add half & half.
    Add more or less, depending on how creamy you like your iced coffee.

NOTES

TO MAKE STRONG COFFEE: Use 2-3 tablespoons of ground coffee and 1 cup of water to brew a strong coffee in a coffee machine. If using a Nespresso or Keurig machine, use 1 pod or capsule to make 1 cup of coffee.
Cool down hot coffee is by putting it in the freezer for 15 minutes or in the refrigerator for an hour.

  • Strong coffee is key to making great iced coffee so that the ice doesn't dilute the drink.
  • Don't pour hot coffee into a cup of ice since the ice will melt too quickly, leaving a drink that's too watered down. Use coffee that has cooled down a bit.
  • No need to use the most expensive coffee to make iced coffee unless you're not adding any sugar or sweetener.
  • If the iced coffee is too strong, dilute it by adding cold water.
  • The coffee and the simple syrup are great to make ahead of time and both can be stored in the refrigerator in airtight containers. Make coffee the night or two before and let it chill in the refrigerator. The simple simple syrup will last 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator.
  • If you don't want to wait for hot coffee to cool down in the freezer or refrigerator, put 1/2 cup of ice and a cup of hot coffee into a cocktail shaker and shake 10 times. Pour cooled down coffee into a cup and add 1/2 cup of more ice.
  • Brown sugar simple syrup is what I add to my iced coffee but you can use any kind of simple syrup (including flavored) you like. Stirring sugar into a cold drink doesn't do a great job in sweetening a drink since the sugar just sinks to the bottom. The easiest thing to do is to make a batch of simple syrup at a time and store it in the refrigerator. It's ready to use whenever you want!

Serving Suggestions

 

NUTRITION

Calories: 150 | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 209mg | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 106IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg