With over 1,000 shares and more than 300 five-star reviews, this easy recipe for how to make delicious iced coffee at home is a certified reader favorite. If you're tired of handing over $5 every time you want a cold coffee fix, it's time to start making delicious iced coffee, right in your own kitchen.
And yes, it tastes even better than that coffee shop version.
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Whether you're a long-time coffee lover or someone who just discovered that cold coffee can taste like magic, this easy DIY iced coffee recipe is going to be your new obsession.
You'll learn how to brew it, sweeten it just right, and make it creamy without making it complicated. And if you like this recipe, check out How to Make a Delicious Latte at Home next!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Iced Coffee Recipe
- Ingredients You'll Need
- How to Make Iced Coffee at Home
- Brewing Methods
- Variations
- What is the best way to make iced coffee at home?
- Can I make iced coffee with regular coffee?
- Jeri's Tips
- Storage Tips
- Serving Suggestions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Delicious Iced Coffee Recipes
- Reader Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Still Craving More?
- Printable Recipe
- Comments
Why You'll Love This Iced Coffee Recipe
- No fancy equipment needed - Just your usual coffee maker, a saucepan, and a glass.
- Customizable strength and sweetness - Make it bold and creamy or light and sweet. You're in control.
- Tastes better than the coffee shop - And your wallet will thank you.
- Ready in 5 minutes - Or make it ahead and chill it for later.
- No weird additives - Just real coffee, simple syrup, and cream.
Ingredients You'll Need
You only need 4 main ingredients (plus water), and you probably already have them.
- Vanilla simple syrup: This is made with water, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract, and only takes a few minutes to whip up. Make a double batch and keep it in a mason jar in the fridge. It also works great in mocktails, cocktails, or cold tea. You can also use maple syrup, honey, or agave syrup. You can substitute the sugar with brown sugar, cane sugar, or your favorite sweetener, such as Stevia.
- Cold coffee: Brew coffee as you normally do and let it cool. I use a coffee grinder to grind whole beans for the best flavor, but any type of coffee beans or ground coffee will work. I like to use Starbucks dark roast whole beans, but any medium or dark roast will work. You can also use Cold Brew Coffee, coffee concentrate, decaf coffee, or an ounce (or two) of espresso. Some modern espresso machines and single-serve brewers, like Nespresso or Keurig, offer an 'over ice' or 'iced coffee' mode. These settings brew a more concentrated shot directly over ice to account for dilution, resulting in a smoother iced coffee.
- Half-and-half (18% fat). This makes the coffee nice and creamy. You can also use heavy cream for a rich coffee, or use whole milk or low-fat milk for a lighter version. Use non-dairy milk like oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or coconut cream to make it vegan.
- Ice cubes. You want enough to fill your glass ⅔ full.
See the printable recipe card below for quantities and a full list of ingredients.
How to Make Iced Coffee at Home
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Make the Vanilla Simple Syrup. In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar over medium heat. Whisk until the sugar dissolves (no need to boil). Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Cool completely. Tip: Store syrup in a jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Brew coffee. Make your coffee stronger than usual. Use a drip coffee maker, French press, espresso machine, or even instant coffee in a pinch. Let it cool to room temperature or refrigerate it. Tip: Brew your coffee the night before and chill it for the easiest morning ever.
- Assemble Your Iced Coffee. Fill a tall glass ⅔ full with ice. Add your cooled coffee, then pour in the vanilla syrup (start with ⅛ cup). Add half-and-half and stir. Taste and adjust the sweetness if needed. That's it. Sip, smile, and enjoy!
Brewing Methods
Curious about different ways to make iced coffee? Here’s a breakdown of the most popular brewing methods:
| Method | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Brew | Smooth, low-acid coffee | Steep coarsely ground beans in cold water for 12-24 hours, then strain through cheesecloth |
| Hot Brew | Bold flavor | Brew strong coffee and let it cool, or pour it hot over ice |
| Pour-Over | Clean, balanced flavor | Use a pour-over dripper directly over a glass filled with ice |
| Espresso | Rich, intense flavor | Use 1-2 shots of espresso poured over ice |
| Iced Coffee Machine | Convenience and speed | Use a Keurig or iced coffee maker with a chill brew or over-ice setting |
Variations
- Mocha Iced Coffee: Add a spoonful of cocoa powder or chocolate syrup.
- Caramel Iced Coffee: Drizzle in caramel sauce.
- Iced Coffee Float: Top with a scoop of Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream.
- Spiced Iced Coffee: Sprinkle in some cinnamon or nutmeg.
- Espresso Over Ice: Go bold with a double shot of espresso.
Related Recipes: Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, Chocolate Cream Cold Brew, and Peppermint Mocha.
What is the best way to make iced coffee at home?
The best way to make iced coffee at home is to combine strong-brewed coffee over ice with homemade vanilla simple syrup and cream.
Can I make iced coffee with regular coffee?
Yes, you can make iced coffee with regular coffee. Make your regular coffee a bit stronger than usual to counteract dilution from the ice cubes. You can even use instant coffee if you like! This is the easiest way to make DIY coffee at home.
Jeri's Tips
- Brew it strong! I use a 1:12 coffee-to-water ratio.
- Pour leftover coffee into ice cube trays to make coffee ice cubes for no more watered-down coffee.
- Stir well to combine everything evenly.
- Adjust the syrup after tasting-it's easier to add than subtract.
- You can use your favorite coffee creamer instead of half-and-half, but you will need to omit the simple syrup.
Storage Tips
- Vanilla Syrup: Store in a mason jar or an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Leftover Coffee: Store in a sealed jar in the fridge for 1-2 days. Shake before using.
Serving Suggestions
I love to sit back and enjoy my homemade iced coffee with Healthy Oatmeal Apple Muffins, Banana Walnut Pecan Loaf (Starbucks), or Glazed Zucchini Bread.
It's also delicious with a Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Muffin, Bakery Style Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Strawberry Cream Cheese Muffins, or Philadelphia Strawberry Cheesecake Bars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Dissolve 1-2 teaspoons of instant coffee in 1 cup of hot water, stir with a spoon, and cool it down. Taste and add more if you want a stronger coffee flavor.
Absolutely, just multiply the ingredients by how many servings you want.
Iced coffee is brewed hot and poured over ice. Cold brew steeps in cold water for 12-24 hours.
Dark roasts, such as Colombian, Ethiopian, or Starbucks' Sumatra blend, work great.
To avoid a watered-down iced coffee, use coffee ice cubes, brew stronger coffee, or add a shot of espresso.
Reader Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Mmmmmmm so good. Can't wait to make it again tomorrow morning and every morning for my entire life. I can't imagine this life without this recipe! So easy to make and absolutely delish 😋" - Tamara
"This is literally amazing!!! It's so simple and easy…but yet it's SO GOOD!! I'm in love with this recipe!! Thank you so much!!" - Lilly
"Ma'am, I just wanted to say yu saved my life wit this one, seriously, it came out SOOOO GOOD and its all thanks to you <3 Tysm!!" - Alex
Still Craving More?
... check out these delicious drink recipes next:
Printable Recipe
Best Ever Iced Coffee Recipe
Ingredients
For the vanilla simple syrup
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Assemble the iced coffee with:
- 1 to 1½ cups ice cubes (enough to fill ⅔ of your glass)
- 1 cup strong brewed coffee, cooled (or cold brew or espresso)
- ⅛ to ¼ cup vanilla simple syrup (to taste)
- ¼ cup half-and-half (or milk of choice)
Instructions
- Make the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved, then remove from the heat and stir in vanilla extract. Let cool completely. Store in a jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Brew the coffee: Brew your favorite medium or dark roast coffee using your preferred method (drip, French press, espresso, or Keurig over ice). Let it cool to room temperature or chill in the fridge.
- Assemble your drink: Fill a tall glass ⅔ full with ice cubes. Pour in 1 cup of cooled coffee, then add vanilla syrup to taste. Add the half-and-half and stir well.
- Taste and adjust: Add more syrup or cream if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Video
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Notes
- Start with the smaller amount of vanilla simple syrup. Add more if you want your iced coffee sweeter.
- Use coffee ice cubes to prevent your drink from watering down.
- Brew your coffee extra strong to account for dilution from ice.
- Make the coffee the night before and chill it for the easiest morning ever.
- Many of the new coffee makers have a setting to make iced coffee - and it works great! Coffee is brewed to the perfect strength and goes directly into a tall glass with ice cubes. Just add simple syrup and milk, and voila!
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jodie says
Amazing !! Thank you , I added extra syrup for a nice sweet taste . In Australia we don’t have half and half , so I added 1/2 cup full cream milk and 2 Heaped Tbsp Dollop Cream and blended everything together in a blender 🥰
Thank you !
Jeri Walker says
I'm so glad you liked it Jodie! Thanks for including the substitution you used for half and half - and thanks for coming back to leave a rating and a comment! I truly appreciate it! 🙂
Janice Poole says
great
Jeri Walker says
I'm glad you liked it! 🙂
Carrie says
do you think you can use heavy cream in your recipe? or coffee creamer? I'm trying tomorrow and I can't wait!
Jeri Walker says
Hi Carrie! Yes! You can use any type of cream you like! If you use coffee creamer you may not need to use as much simple syrup, if any at all. Taste it before you add it! I hope you like it! 🙂
Janie says
So so good!!! I tried making iced coffee before but it tastes so watered down then I tried this recipe and it’s DELICIOUS!!!! I love coffee but it makes me sweat so iced coffee is perfect!
Jeri Walker says
I'm so glad you like my iced coffee recipe Janie! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment - I really appreciate it! 🙂
DJ says
I just recently started drinking iced coffee and was shocked by the price! I googled recipes and luckily came across yours. I like my coffee strong and the drink less sweet, so I love that you can adjust and make it just the way you like. For a FRACTION of the price! Great way to start the day. Thanks!
Jeri Walker says
I'm so glad you're loving this iced coffee recipe, DJ - and that you were able to make it just the way you like - while saving money! It's definitely a reader favorite! Thank you for coming back to comment - I appreciate it! 🙂
dude says
amazing
Jeri Walker says
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! 🙂
Tamara V. Booth says
Mmmmmmm so good. Can’t wait to make it again tomorrow morning and every morning for my entire life. I can’t imagine this life without this recipe! So easy to make and absolutely delish 😋
Jeri Walker says
Thank you so much for your kind words, Tamara! I'm absolutely thrilled that it has become part of your morning routine! 🙂
Nat says
Hello. Is this made with pure vanilla extract? is imitation fine?
Jeri Walker says
Yes, you can use either pure vanilla extract or imitation vanilla extract. 🙂