How to Make the Best Iced Coffee with a Keurig: An Easy Guide

Co-authored by Jaden Zhao and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Who doesn't love ice-cold coffee on a hot day? If you're used to the convenience of your Keurig machine, you may be wondering how you can use it to quickly make iced coffee. Fortunately, Keurig makes it easy! In this article, we'll walk you through the simple steps of making iced coffee with the push of a button.

Things You Should Know

Use a dark roast brew pod. Lighter roasts tend to taste watered down when combined with ice.
Fill your cup with ice and brew your coffee over the ice. Use the smallest cup option to maximize flavor.
Add your preferred milk and sweeteners after the coffee has been brewed.

1

Fill the reservoir with water and plug in the Keurig.

The great thing about a Keurig machine is that it's so easy to use! Pour cold water into the reservoir until it reaches the fill line and check that the machine is plugged in, so you're all set to brew.^{[1]
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- You might have to remove the drip tray if your big cup won't fit easily.

2

Insert a brew pod into the Keurig.

Pick a dark roast, so your iced coffee has a strong, rich flavor. You can use your favorite light roast or breakfast blend, but the flavors tend to wash out when diluted with ice.^{[2]
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Research source} If you can, go with dark roast pods or espresso pods. Lift the brewer handle and put the pod in. Then, lower the handle.
- You might see Keurig pods that say "Brew Over Ice." While these are designed specifically for iced drinks, it's completely fine to use any of your Keurig pods for iced coffee.

3

Fill a cup with ice.

Use a 16 fl oz (470 ml) cup, so you have room for the coffee. Although iced coffee looks nice in a clear glass, don't use a glass cup or the extreme changes in temperature could cause it to shatter. It's fine to use a big coffee mug or plastic tumbler.^{[3]
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4

Brew the coffee over the ice.

Select the 6 or 8 fl oz (180 or 240 ml) brew option to start the machine. Go for the smaller volume if you want your iced coffee to taste stronger. If your Keurig machine has an iced button, go ahead and press it—this tells the machine to make a more concentrated coffee, so the ice doesn't dilute it as much.^{[4]
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- The ice will begin to melt as the hot coffee falls on it. If you want to minimize dilution, brew the coffee into an empty cup and let it chill in the fridge for 30 minutes before you pour it into an ice-filled glass.
- You don't need a Keurig machine with the iced button feature in order to make iced coffee! If you're worried the coffee will be too weak, use the "strong" or "shot" option when you brew the coffee with your Keurig. This gives you almost identical results.

5

Pour in cold milk or creamer.

Go with your favorite dairy or plant-based milk to make creamy iced coffee. Most coffee shops use whole milk or half-and-half to give their iced coffee a rich, full taste, but feel free to use low-fat or skim milk. Plant-based options like soy, coconut, or hemp milk taste great, too!^{[5]
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- Flavored creamers are a great way to finish your iced coffee. Try cinnamon bun, cinnamon, or white mocha for instance.

6

Add sweetener if you like.

Reach for simple syrup instead of granulated sugar. It's hard to dissolve white sugar in a cold drink, but simple syrup mixes in immediately. Just stir in as much simple syrup as you like.^{[6]
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- To make your own simple syrup, mix equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Cook the mixture until the sugar dissolves and becomes syrupy. Then, store it in the fridge until you're ready to use it.
- If you're crunched for time and don't have time to make simple syrup, whisk in powdered sugar—it dissolves easier than granulated sugar.

7

Experiment with ingredients to customize your coffee.

Mix in flavored syrup or sweetened condensed milk to customize the drink. If you love iced Vietnamese coffee, good news—all you have to do is stir a few spoonfuls of sweetened condensed milk into your drink! Here are a few other flavors to try:
- Add chocolate syrup to make an iced mocha.
- Stir in caramel syrup for an iced caramel macchiato.
- Add vanilla or hazelnut syrup for a lightly sweetened iced coffee.

8

Make coffee ice cubes to enjoy in future iced brews.

Coffee cubes will chill your drink without diluting the flavor. Start this at least a few hours before you want to make your iced coffee. Pour cold coffee into an ice cube tray and stick it in the freezer until the cubes are frozen.^{[7]
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- If you make a whole tray of coffee iced cubes, don't forget to put them in a separate storage container and label them, so you remember what they are.