Cold Iced Coffee: The Best Recipes, What It’s Called, and How to Make It

What associations come to mind when you hear the word “coffee”? Most likely, a steaming cup, a scalding aromatic drink, warmth that spreads throughout the body. But a coffee drink can be cool, refreshing, and even ice-cold. It’s easy to make at home using our recipes.

What kind of coffee is used for cold coffee drinks?

The drinks are usually based on espresso. It has a rich taste that is clearly visible even when diluted. We discussed step by step how to brew real espresso.

If you don’t have the opportunity to make espresso at home, brew drip espresso. Our company came up with this name for a special method of brewing drip bags. Or brew strong coffee in a Turk.

For coffee drinks we used the Arabica blend Cote Brasilio, but you can try your favorite blend.

What is cold coffee called?

There are many recipes for cold coffee. The name depends on the composition and method of preparation: iced coffee, glace, bumble, cold brew. We will share our favorite recipes, but you don’t have to strictly follow them. Make adjustments or add ingredients to your taste. The main thing is that you like it.

Now let’s talk about each drink in more detail.

Coffee Ice. Coffee Inside Out

Usually, to get cold coffee, you add ice to it. Here, it’s the other way around: you add frozen espresso cubes to the milk. The drink looks original, and the taste becomes brighter and richer as the ice melts.

You will need:

• Americano – 200 ml
• milk – 200 ml, choose according to taste, cow, coconut, oat or any other
• syrup – to taste, you can do without it if you prefer unsweetened drinks

Brew an Americano and chill it.

Pour into molds and put in the freezer for 4-6 hours. You can use silicone molds or disposable ice packs. Ice from silicone molds looks more interesting: you can choose the right size and shape.

Fill a glass with frozen Americano cubes, add syrup if you like it sweeter.

It is better not to use sugar: it does not dissolve well in cold liquids.

Pour milk into a glass with ice cubes. If you take chilled milk, the drink will be refreshing, if the milk is warm, the ice will melt faster and make the taste more coffee-like and rich.

I got a strong coffee-milk drink, but not too sweet. The syrup ended up at the bottom, and there was not enough sweetness. When I added sugar to the coffee, it tasted better, and I left the syrup for taste.

Glasse. From childhood

One of the most famous recipes for cold coffee. Glacé has existed for a very long time, practically from childhood. But despite this, it is still popular. Perhaps that is why there are dozens of varieties of its preparation. We will tell you the classic recipe for this cold coffee.

You will need:

• Americano – 200 ml
• sugar – to taste
• plombir or vanilla ice cream – 50 g

Make an Americano or brew coffee in a Turk.

Add sugar to the drink to taste and stir thoroughly.

Cool it to room temperature or to 10°C. We do not recommend adding ice cream to hot Americano, as the temperature difference destroys tooth enamel.

Pour cold coffee into a tall glass, add scoops of ice cream. The ice cream should be creamy, then the glace will be truly delicious.

The drink can be garnished with chocolate chips and whipped cream.

I choose plombir because it has a creamy taste. It makes the coffee softer and more delicate. But you can try different types of ice cream, and what if strawberry ice cream is the best ingredient for glace?

Bumble. Double Energy in a Glass

If you are in a bad mood, drink bumble. It is a double boost of energy: strong coffee and sunny oranges. One look at the drink instantly lifts your mood with a joyful orange color.

You will need:

• espresso or strong coffee – 50 ml
• syrup to taste, preferably orange, for example, passion fruit
• oranges – 2 pcs., can be replaced with ready-made orange juice
• ice

Brew the coffee and put it in the refrigerator to cool.

Squeeze the juice from the oranges. You can leave a couple of slices for decoration.

Put ice in the glass. Adjust the amount of ice yourself: if you want it colder, put more.

Fill a glass with ice halfway with orange juice.

Pour the syrup carefully so that the layers of the drink do not mix. This will make the bumble look more impressive.

Carefully pour cold coffee into the glass.

Enjoy the beautiful picture. Now you can mix it and get energized.

I got a sour orange, so I used orange-mango juice as a base. So the bumble is quite sweet with a slight sourness. It also turns out very tasty with sweet orange, try it.

Coffee Smoothie. Invigorating Breakfast

What if you mix a light snack and a cup of invigorating drink? That’s right, you’ll get an invigorating smoothie that will help you wake up in the morning or have a snack during the day. Smoothies are easy to make, even if you’re short on time.

You will need:

• Americano – 150 ml
• milk or yogurt – 200 ml
• banana – 1 pc.
• syrup – to taste
• mint – optional, for decoration

Make coffee and cool it in the refrigerator.

All ingredients must be chilled.

Cut or break the banana into pieces and put it in a blender. Add milk or yogurt, syrup and beat thoroughly until smooth.

Pour cold Americano into a blender and blend again.

Pour the smoothie into a glass and garnish the drink with a sprig of mint.

I took one banana, as in the recipe, but you can add two to make the smoothie richer. With one banana, the smoothie does not reach the level of a full breakfast.

Ice. Cold coffee that conquered the world

This drink is easy to make. It will definitely appeal to lovers of coffee and milk drinks. If desired, the sweet Americano can be whipped with a mixer and turned into aromatic foam. Try both options and decide which one you like best.

You will need:

• Americano – 100 ml
• cold milk – 200 ml
• sugar – to taste

Make an Americano and add sugar to it.

Cool it in the refrigerator.

Pour cold milk into a glass, add chilled Americano. If desired, you can throw a few pieces of ice into the glass.

That’s it, enjoy the result.

Cold brew. Cold brewed drink

We wrote a detailed article about this option for making cold coffee, because despite the apparent simplicity of the recipe, there are many nuances.

There are a huge number of types of cold coffee. Or maybe you have your own iced coffee recipes? Let’s put together a collection of the most delicious ways to make cold coffee drinks.