How to Make Iced Coffee with Coffee Infused Ice Cubes

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: November 2, 2022 References Tested

Iced coffee is a cool and refreshing way to enjoy a cup of java on a hot day. One simple way to make this drink is to add ice cubes to hot coffee, but this creates a beverage that’s weak and watered down. An easy solution is to freeze coffee into ice cubes so you can add them to a fresh brew without watering it down. Once you’ve made your iced coffee, you can customize it according to your tastes with things like sugar and cream.

Ingredients

4 cups (940 ml) water, divided
12 tablespoons (64 g) ground coffee, divided
Sugar, to taste
Milk or cream, to taste

Makes 2

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Making the Coffee Ice Cubes

1
Brew the coffee. Place a disposable or reusable filter in the filter basket, and add 6 tablespoons (32 g) of ground coffee to the filter. Replace the filter basket in the coffee maker. Fill the water reservoir with 2 cups (470 ml) of water. Place the coffee pot below the drip spout and turn the coffee maker on. Allow the coffee to brew, which will take about 5 minutes.
- For coffee ice cubes that aren't as strong, use 5 tablespoons (26 g) of coffee instead.^{[1]
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- You can also brew the coffee using the pour over method or cowboy style if you don’t have any coffee making equipment.
2
Cool the coffee for up to an hour. Once the coffee has finished brewing, turn off the coffee maker. Remove the pot from the coffee maker and transfer the pot to a heat-proof surface. Leave the coffee to cool for 30 to 60 minutes. This will prevent the hot coffee from melting the ice cube tray.
- It’s important to remove the pot from the coffee maker, otherwise the hot plate on the bottom will extend the cooling time.
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3
Fill an ice cube tray with the coffee. When the coffee has cooled to room temperature, carefully pour the brew into a clean ice cube tray. Each well will hold 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of coffee.^{[2]
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Research source} Because a standard ice cube tray has 16 wells, your pot of coffee will fit perfectly into a standard ice cube tray.
- Depending on the size of your ice cube tray, you may have to use 2 trays to make the coffee cubes.
- You can use either plastic or silicone trays for coffee ice cubes. Because silicone trays are flexible, it can be easier to remove ice cubes from them.
4
Freeze the coffee for up to 4 hours. The cubes will need 3 to 4 hours to chill through completely.^{[3]
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Research source} Don’t open the freezer door during this time, otherwise the freezing time will increase.
5
Transfer the cubes to a freezer bag. Once the coffee cubes are frozen through, remove the tray from the freezer. Gently twist each end of the tray in opposite directions to loosen the coffee cubes. Remove the cubes from the tray and move them to a freezer bag or airtight container for storage. These cubes will last in the freezer for 3 to 4 weeks.^{[4]
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- Wash the ice cube tray well with soap and water before using it to make regular ice again.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Making the Iced Coffee

1
Brew a fresh pot of coffee. Discard the disposable filter from the coffee maker or clean the reusable filter. Place a fresh filter into the filter basket and add 6 tablespoons (32 g) of ground coffee. Fill the reservoir with 2 cups (470 ml) of water. Clean the coffee pot with soap and water, and rinse it well with water. Dry the coffee pot and replace it under the drip spout. Turn the coffee maker on to brew the coffee.^{[5]
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- You can use any coffee you like to make iced coffee, including espresso, stove-top espresso, or pour over coffee.
2
Cool the coffee for 5 minutes. When the coffee has finished brewing, turn off the machine and remove the pot. Place the pot on a heat-proof surface to cool for a few minutes. This will help prevent the cold glass from shattering when you add the hot coffee.
3
Fill 2 tall glasses with coffee ice cubes. Divide the coffee ice cubes evenly between the 2 glasses. Or, if you just want to make a single iced coffee, fill 1 glass with cubes and leave the rest in the freezer for another time.
- If you're making a single iced coffee, transfer the leftover coffee to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to a few days.
- You can also use leftover coffee to make more coffee ice cubes.^{[6]
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4
Pour the fresh coffee over the ice cubes. Fill each glass the rest of the way with fresh coffee. Although some of the cubes will melt, they won’t water down the beverage. The iced coffee is ready to drink as soon as you pour the coffee, or you can customize it by adding sweetener, milk, or other flavors and garnishes.^{[7]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Serving Iced Coffee

1
Add sweetener for a sweeter beverage. Some people prefer sweet iced coffee instead of black. Stir in a teaspoon (5 ml) of liquid sweetener and add more to taste if necessary. Liquid sweeteners are preferable in iced coffee, because granulated sugar won’t dissolve properly in a cold beverage. Good sweeteners for iced coffee include:^{[8]
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- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Agave
- Simple syrup
- Molasses
2
Add your favorite milk for a creamier treat. Lots of people prefer iced coffee with milk or cream instead of black. Stir in ¼ cup (59 ml) of your favorite milk to the iced coffee, and then add more as necessary to suit your tastes. You can use any milk or dairy-alternative you like, including:
- Skim, 1 percent, or 2 percent milk
- Cream, heavy cream, or whipping cream
- Soy, almond, or coconut milk^{[9]
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- Sweetened condensed milk^{[10]
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3
Customize your coffee with flavored syrups. Coffee syrups come in a variety of flavors, and you can use them to completely change your iced coffee experience. Use sugar-free syrup if you’ve already added a sweetener or don’t want sweetened coffee. Popular syrup flavors for coffee include:
- Hazelnut
- Butterscotch
- Vanilla
- Chocolate
- Gingerbread
- Peppermint
4
Top the coffee with a dollop of whipped cream. Whipped cream is one of the most popular ways to finish specialty coffees, including iced coffee. Drop 1 or 2 spoonfuls of whipped cream over the iced coffee before serving.^{[11]
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- For a non-dairy alternative, use coconut whipped cream instead.
5
Sprinkle on some toasted coconut. Toasted coconut is sweet, creamy, and slightly nutty, and it makes an excellent garnish for iced coffee. Sprinkle 1 to 2 teaspoons (2 to 4 g) of toasted coconut over the whipped cream, or directly onto the iced coffee.^{[12]
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6
Finish it with spices. There are lots of spices that pair well with coffee, including cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cardamom. To add an extra dimension to your iced coffee, stir in a dash or dust the top of the whipped cream with your favorite coffee spice.