Every Arabica addict should know how to make iced coffee. When the weather heats up and the mercury soars, coffee lovers still need their caffeine fix. Even if you make amazing coffee with one of the best coffee makers around, the warm weather can make a hot drink less appealing. Rustling up an iced coffee is the perfect way to ensure you can still get past 10 a.m. in one piece.
Fortunately, making iced coffee is easy and quick. If the sun comes out unexpectedly, you won’t need to scramble for extra ingredients and appliances — you can cool down almost immediately with a refreshing iced beverage that tastes like it’s from a coffee shop. Here, we’ll demonstrate how to make an iced latte using just coffee, milk, ice, and optional sugar or sweetener.
Without further ado, here’s how to make iced coffee.
1. Brew your coffee
When making an iced latte, which is primarily milk-based, the best results come from preparing a small amount of strong coffee, such as an espresso or a Nespresso shot. If you own one of the best espresso machines or best Nespresso machines, you're off to a perfect start.
A larger, water-based coffee like an Americano or filter will result in a thin, watery end product, as the large volume of water will quickly melt the ice we’ll add. If you prefer a water-based cold drink, read our guide on how to make a cold brew coffee.
Otherwise, prepare an espresso or Nespresso shot as usual. If you don’t have access to either, mix one heaping teaspoon of instant coffee with two tablespoons of water.
2. Add sugar or sweeter
The best time to sweeten your drink is before adding the ice, as it will be harder to stir and dissolve afterward.
After making the coffee, stir in a teaspoon of demerara sugar or your usual quantity of artificial sweetener. Alternatively, you could use a teaspoon of honey or a dash of your favorite syrup.
3. Add the ice
If you haven’t already, pour your coffee into a mug, cup or glass. The larger your drinking vessel, the more diluted your iced coffee will be, so choose a size according to your strength preference. Top up with ice cubes.
4. Pour in milk
Now, add the milk of your choice. The higher the fat content, the thicker and richer your drink will be, so try full-fat cow’s milk or barista-grade oat milk. Top up with milk, stir, and enjoy.
For the easiest drinking experience, use a straw. Alternatively, you can make a frappé by pouring your drink into a food processor or blender and blending until the ice reaches a slushy consistency.
You've now made a basic iced latte. While this is delicious on its own, it's also a great base for experimentation to create your perfect iced coffee. For an iced mocha, mix your milk with cocoa powder beforehand. Alternatively, try adding half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to your milk for a cinnamon latte. Enjoy getting creative with your flavors!
If you're looking for other ways to make amazing coffee, read our guides on how to make espresso, how to make pour over coffee and how to make French press coffee.
You can also learn how to make other delicious summer treats like ice cream without an ice cream maker at home and you can check out this gadget that has us hooked to hot chocolate even in the summer.
