Iced coffee is one of the easiest coffee drinks to make during summer. It is refreshing, quick to prepare and easy to adapt with different flavours. With strong coffee, ice and milk, you already have a great base. Add vanilla, caramel, chocolate, coconut or citrus, and it becomes something more special.
For evenings, desserts or summer gatherings, iced coffee can also be turned into a simple coffee cocktail. Baileys, Kahlúa, dark rum, whiskey and amaretto all work well with coffee, giving the drink a rich, smooth and slightly more indulgent character.
How to Make Good Iced Coffee at Home
A good iced coffee starts with coffee that has enough flavour. Use espresso, strong brewed coffee or cold brew. Regular coffee can easily taste weak when served over ice, as the ice dilutes the drink.
Basic Iced Coffee Recipe
Ingredients
1 double espresso or 100 ml strong coffee
100–200 ml milk, oat drink or another plant-based drink
Ice
Optional sweetener, such as vanilla syrup, simple syrup, honey or caramel sauce
Method
Fill a glass with ice. Pour over the coffee and top with milk or plant-based drink. Stir and adjust the sweetness to taste.
Alcohol-Free Iced Coffee Recipes
Vanilla Iced Coffee
Vanilla is one of the easiest flavours to add to iced coffee. It softens the bitterness of the coffee and gives the drink a smooth, rounded taste.
Ingredients
100 ml cold strong coffee or espresso
100–200 ml milk or oat drink
Ice
1–2 teaspoons vanilla syrup or a little vanilla sugar
Method
Fill a glass with ice. Add coffee, milk and vanilla. Stir and serve immediately.
Caramel Iced Coffee
Caramel iced coffee is a good choice when you want a sweeter, more dessert-like coffee drink. For extra flavour, drizzle caramel sauce along the inside of the glass before adding the coffee.
Ingredients
100 ml cold coffee
100–200 ml milk
Ice
1 tablespoon caramel sauce or caramel syrup
A small pinch of salt if you want to make salted caramel iced coffee
Flavour: sweet, smooth and creamy.
Mocha Iced Coffee with Chocolate
Mocha iced coffee is a cold coffee drink with chocolate flavour. It is perfect when you want something between an iced coffee and a dessert.
Ingredients
100 ml cold coffee
100–200 ml milk
Ice
1 tablespoon chocolate sauce or 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
Optional simple syrup
Tip: Top with grated dark chocolate for a more grown-up flavour.
Coconut Iced Coffee
Coconut gives iced coffee a soft, tropical flavour. Use coconut drink for a lighter version or coconut milk for a creamier result.
Ingredients
100 ml cold coffee
100–200 ml coconut drink or coconut milk
Ice
Optional vanilla
Flavour: smooth, mild and slightly nutty.
Orange Iced Coffee
Coffee and orange are a fresh combination that works especially well on hot days. This version is best served without milk.
Ingredients
1 espresso or 100 ml strong cold coffee
Ice
20–40 ml orange juice
A little orange zest
Method
Fill a glass with ice. Add orange juice and coffee. Finish with a little orange zest.
Flavour: fresh, aromatic and slightly bitter.
Cardamom Iced Coffee
Cardamom gives iced coffee a Nordic flavour profile and pairs especially well with oat drink.
Ingredients
100 ml cold coffee
100–200 ml oat drink or milk
Ice
A small pinch of ground cardamom
Optional vanilla syrup
Pairs well with: cinnamon buns, sponge cake or almond cake.
Easy Iced Coffee Cocktails with Alcohol
Iced coffee cocktails are best served after dinner, with dessert or as a cold drink on a warm summer evening. Use cold strong coffee or espresso, and remember that many liqueurs are already sweet.
Baileys Iced Coffee
Baileys iced coffee is one of the easiest coffee cocktails to make at home. It is creamy, sweet and smooth.
Ingredients
100 ml cold strong coffee
40 ml Baileys
Ice
Optional milk or cream
Method
Fill a glass with ice. Add coffee and Baileys. Top with milk or cream if you want a softer, creamier drink.
Kahlúa Iced Coffee
Kahlúa is a coffee liqueur that enhances the coffee flavour and gives the drink a sweet, rich character.
Ingredients
100 ml cold coffee
30–40 ml Kahlúa
100 ml milk
Ice
Method
Fill a glass with ice. Add coffee and Kahlúa. Top with milk and stir.
Rum Iced Coffee
Dark rum works very well with coffee, especially if you enjoy notes of caramel, vanilla and spice.
Ingredients
100 ml cold coffee
30–40 ml dark rum
100 ml milk or oat drink
Ice
Optional vanilla syrup
Flavour: rich, rounded and slightly spicy.
Irish Iced Coffee
Irish iced coffee is a cold version of Irish coffee with whiskey, coffee and cream. It is less sweet than many liqueur-based coffee drinks and works well after dinner.
Ingredients
100 ml cold strong coffee
30–40 ml Irish whiskey
1 teaspoon simple syrup or brown sugar syrup
Ice
Lightly whipped cream
Method
Mix coffee, whiskey and sweetener in a glass with ice. Carefully top with lightly whipped cream.
Amaretto Iced Coffee
Amaretto gives iced coffee a soft almond flavour and turns it into a sweet, dessert-like drink.
Ingredients
100 ml cold coffee
30 ml amaretto
100 ml milk
Ice
Pairs well with: tiramisu, biscotti or dark chocolate.
Espresso Martini on Ice
This is an easier home version of an espresso martini, served over ice. It is cold, intense and elegant without requiring advanced bartender skills.
Ingredients
1 espresso
40 ml vodka
30 ml coffee liqueur
Ice
Method
Shake espresso, vodka and coffee liqueur with ice. Strain into a glass with fresh ice.
Flavours That Work Well in Iced Coffee
Vanilla makes iced coffee soft and rounded.
Caramel adds sweetness and a dessert-like feeling.
Chocolate gives the drink more depth.
Coconut adds a summery, tropical note.
Orange and citrus bring freshness.
Cardamom and cinnamon add gentle spice.
Rum, whiskey and coffee liqueur work best in iced coffee cocktails.
The Bartender’s Best Tips for Iced Coffee at Home
Freeze coffee into ice cubes to avoid a watery drink.
Use stronger coffee than usual.
Let the coffee cool before pouring it over ice.
Add sweetener last and adjust to taste.
Choose milk depending on the flavour you want: regular milk gives a clean taste, oat drink adds softness and coconut drink gives a tropical note.
Serve in a chilled glass to keep the drink cold for longer.
What to Serve with Iced Coffee
Iced coffee pairs well with summer pastries, chocolate desserts, almond cake, berries, ice cream and simple vanilla desserts. Iced coffee cocktails with alcohol work especially well after dinner, paired with tiramisu, dark chocolate, nuts or creamy desserts.
Iced coffee is easy to make at home and can be adapted to suit both taste and occasion. For an alcohol-free version, all you need is strong coffee, ice, milk and your favourite flavouring. For a more grown-up coffee cocktail, add Baileys, Kahlúa, rum, whiskey or amaretto.
Whether you want a classic iced coffee in the afternoon or a cold coffee cocktail after dinner, the base is the same: good coffee, plenty of ice and flavours that bring out the roasted notes of the coffee.
