Iced Coffee Recipes

“Iced coffee, on a hot day, can perform miracles.” These iced coffee recipes are “miracles.”

The quote is from Lish McBride. Yes, a bit of an over-statement, but we all understand how really good a good cup, or glass, of coffee can make us feel. On a hot day ...iced coffee drinks can be game-changing for attitudes.

These iced coffee recipes are very similar to hot coffee recipes. The primary differences may be the strength of the coffee brewed (the amount of coffee or the grind and the brewing process) and the use of ice, of course.

This beverage recipe page has the five basic iced coffee recipes: Iced Coffee, Mocha, Latte, Cappuccino, and Frappe.

• Iced coffee is just that – cold coffee (espresso) on ice
• Red Eye is a really heavy-duty iced coffee
• An iced Cappuccino is very strong coffee (espresso) and milk on ice
• A Latte is much like a cappuccino but with less milk with very strong coffee (espresso)
• A Mocha is coffee (espresso) and chocolate on ice
• A frappe is a coffee (espresso) milk shake

But, other than being cold coffee on ice, the uniqueness of these coffee drinks is really the strength of the coffee used. We call this strong coffee “espresso.”

Espresso is coffee brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans.

Espresso is basically prepared using a much finer grind than what would be used to prepare drip coffee.

These very fine grinds are then tamped with 30-40 pounds of pressure into a filter basket so they are tightly compacted. This prevents water from creating a “hole” in the coffee grinds so it takes longer for the water to run through the finely ground coffee. This process results in a much stronger brew.

Drip coffee, on the other hand, is basically the same – but the coffee is a courser grind and not packed under pressure. The amount of coffee used is determined by the size of the pot. The grounds are placed in a filter and then filter is placed into a brew basket.

Hot water (approximately 200 degrees) is gradually dropped over the grounds to extract the flavor of the beans. Gravity takes care of the rest.

For more information about cold coffee and cold-brewed coffee just click here.

Basic Iced Coffee Recipe

Iced coffee is simply that: strong cold coffee (“syrup”) poured over ice.

The strength of the iced coffee drink is determined by the strength of the cold coffee (the "syrup") . The strength of the beverage is gradually diluted as the ice melts.

• Strong, cold-brewed coffee or strongly brewed coffee chilled
• Serve over ice

Basic Iced Red Eye Coffee Recipe

A cold cup of regularly brewed coffee poured over ice with shots of very strong coffee (espresso) added!

Basic Cappuccino Coffee Recipe

Half strong coffee, half milk (or cream) poured over ice

Note: The hot version is 1/3 coffee (espresso), 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 milk foam. When pouring, the foam is held back with a spoon, and then scooped out on top

Pour the cold coffee over the ice, then the milk (or cream)

The cappuccino is the “base” beverage for other coffee recipes.

Basic Iced Coffee Latte

(Also called a "wet" cappuccino – no frothing. The “ratio” of espresso-to-milk is different than a cappuccino)

Preparation time: 5 minutes. Makes one beverage

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces of strongly brewed coffee (about 4 generous shots of espresso)
• 1 1/3 cups whole milk or Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
• Ice cubes or crushed ice

Directions:

• Mix coffee, milk (or sweetened condensed milk)
• Pour mixture over ice

Basic Iced Mocha Coffee

A “mocha” is any one of the above iced coffee beverages with chocolate added. Some places add chocolate syrup to the drink, others will add a chocolate milk.

This is how many restaurant guests in our area like their mochas.

Preparation time: 5 minutes. Makes one iced coffee drink

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces cold coffee (strongly brewed – like a “syrup”)
• 2 tablespoons milk or cream or French vanilla flavored liquid coffee creamer (optional for added flavor)
• 2 teaspoon chocolate syrup
• 2 teaspoons sugar (or 1 shot of simple syrup)
• Ice cubes or crushed ice

Directions:

• Fill a tall glass with ice
• Mix the coffee with the chocolate syrup and sugar very well (granulated sugar is difficult to dissolve in a cold liquid)
• Pour over ice

Iced Frappe Coffee Beverage

Preparation time: 10 minutes. Serves six 6 ounce beverages

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cups chocolate syrup, chilled
• 2 cups strongly brewed cold coffee (espresso)
• 2 cups vanilla ice cream
• Crushed ice or ice cubes
• Whipped cream and ground cinnamon for topping (optional)

Directions:

• Place syrup and cold coffee in a blender container and cover
• Blend on high speed
• Add ice cream, cover and blend well (until smooth)
• Serve immediately over ice
• Top with whipped cream and nutmeg if desired

Note: Yes, this recipe will “work” fine with low-fat ice cream and fat-free whipped cream

Enjoy your favorite iced coffee recipes and the company of those you share them with.

Donna

“You don't even really need a place. But you feel like you're doing something. That is what coffee is. And that is one of the geniuses of the new coffee culture.”

Jerry Seinfeld