Learn how to make iced coffee at home with just a few simple ingredients. I have made this recipe over and over for years and now I want to share how to make this coffee drink with you. You don’t need to be a barista to make the perfect iced coffee. Keep reading to learn how easy this recipe is to make.

There is nothing like a delicious iced coffee drink on a warm morning or afternoon. Forget driving to the coffee shop, iced cold, creamy coffee with a hint of sweetness is surprisingly easy to make at home with just a few ingredients.

Being a coffee lover, I set out to make the BEST iced coffee at home. This recipe can easily be customized to taste, but I feel like the proportions of coffee to creamer to sweetener in this recipe really work well.

If you like easy coffee drinks be sure to try coffee with evaporated milk, coffee with sweetened condensed milk, and coffee with chocolate.

Why you’ll love homemade iced coffee

• Simple: This drink is so easy to make once you have made and chilled your coffee.
• Customizable: You can adjust the ingredients to taste and add in other flavors like vanilla syrup, caramel syrup, whipped cream, and more.
• Budget friendly: A coffee shop habit can get expensive with $5 drinks. You can make your own homemade version for a fraction of the cost.

Iced coffee ingredients

Just a handful of ingredients are used to make this iced drink.

• Ice – I recommend using larger pieces of ice so that it melts slower. You can also make coffee ice cubes out of coffee to help prevent watering the drink down.
• Coffee – Brew your favorite coffee. I recommend brewing it a little stronger than normal. Let it cool and then place in the refrigerator to chill.
• Cream – Cream is optional but it does add a nice creamy texture and taste. Use your favorite half and half, whole milk, heavy cream, or flavored coffee creamer. If you want something lighter, try 1% milk, 2% milk, coconut milk, almond milk, or oat milk.
• Sweetener – This is also an optional ingredient. You can add the sweetener of your choice to taste.

How to make iced coffee at home

This is a super easy recipe and all of the ingredients can be adjusted to taste. Scroll down for the printable recipe card.

Step one: Pour cold coffee over a tall glass filled with ice. Leave a little room at the top for cream.

Step two: Pour cream into the glass. Add sweetener if using and gently stir.

Tips for making the best iced coffee at home

• Keep your iced coffee drink cold for a longer period of time by placing your glass in the freezer 15-20 minutes before making.
• Help prevent your drink from becoming too watery by using ice cubes made with coffee.
• You can add the sugar into the hot coffee before chilling so that it completely dissolves. You can also use a simple syrup as a sweetener.
• If you are short on time in the morning, brew your coffee the night before so that it can chill in the refrigerator overnight.
• To make ice coffee cubes, fill an ice cube tray with coffee, room temperature or cold. Place in the freezer until they have frozen solid.

Homemade iced coffee variations

Syrups: Add some extra flavor with different syrups like chocolate syrup, hazelnut syrup, caramel syrup or others.

Creamers: Try different flavored coffee creamers in place of milk. You can also use sweetened condensed milk for extra creaminess.

Spices: Add in some ground cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice for an extra boost of flavor.

Cocktail: Turn this into a boozy coffee cocktail by adding a splash of Bailey’s, RumChata, or Frangelico.

How to make iced coffee with instant coffee

Did you know you can use instant coffee granules to make iced coffee?

1. Add one tablespoon of instant coffee granules to a tall glass or mason jar. Pour in 1/3 cup of creamer. Stir to combine.
2. Pour in 3/4 cup cold water and keep stirring until granules are dissolved. Add ice and enjoy.

Iced coffee at home FAQ’s

How to store leftover iced coffee

You will want to store the cold coffee by itself. If you have any leftover chilled, brewed coffee, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

When you are ready to serve, follow the recipe instructions.

If you have leftover made iced coffee, store in the refrigerator for up to one day.

More coffee shop drinks

• Chai Tea Latte
• Copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball Drink
• Copycat Mocha Frappuccino
• Copycat Puppaccino
• Cold Brew Coffee

Did you try this drink recipe? Let me know your favorite things to add to your coffee in the comments below.