To make iced coffee at home, brew coffee about twice as strong as usual and pour it straight over a glass full of ice, or pour coffee you brewed earlier and chilled over ice. It takes about 5 minutes and no special equipment. Below is the quick method, the make-ahead method, an instant version, how to sweeten it and keep it from getting watery, and a lower-caffeine version with NeuroCoffee, our instant mushroom coffee.
Why this recipe works
The most common iced coffee mistake is pouring regular-strength hot coffee over ice: the ice melts and you end up with a weak, watery drink. Brewing the coffee stronger, or chilling it before it meets the ice, keeps the flavor where it should be. A liquid sweetener mixes in evenly, where sugar would sink to the bottom.
Ingredients (makes 1 glass)
- About twice the ground coffee you normally use for 6 ounces of coffee (for a quick, brewed-over-ice cup), or 8 ounces of coffee you brewed earlier and chilled
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups ice cubes
- Optional: milk, half-and-half or plant milk, and simple syrup, maple syrup or honey to taste
Equipment: your usual coffee maker, a large heatproof glass or pitcher, and a spoon.
Instructions (quick method)
- Fill a glass with ice. Fill a large glass (about 16 ounces) with ice. If you are brewing straight over the ice, use a heatproof glass or pitcher.
- Brew strong coffee. Brew about 6 ounces of coffee with roughly twice your usual amount of grounds, using drip, pour-over or a French press. The stronger brew makes up for the ice that melts.
- Pour it over the ice. Pour the hot coffee straight over the ice and stir for a few seconds until it is cold. Top up with more ice if it has melted down.
- Finish to taste. Stir in sweetener first, then add milk if you like. Drink right away.
Make-ahead iced coffee
- Brew coffee at your usual strength and let it cool.
- Pour it into a covered jar or pitcher and chill it in the fridge.
- Fill a glass with ice, add 8 ounces of the chilled coffee, and finish with sweetener and milk.
Instant iced coffee
- Stir 1 to 2 teaspoons of instant coffee into 2 tablespoons of hot water until dissolved.
- Add 6 to 8 ounces of cold water or milk.
- Pour over a glass of ice and sweeten to taste.
Lower-caffeine iced coffee with NeuroCoffee
NeuroCoffee is an instant mushroom coffee, so there is nothing to brew or chill. Stir one serving (2 tablespoons) into 1/4 cup of hot water until dissolved, pour it over a glass of ice, and top with 6 to 8 ounces of cold water or milk. Each serving contains instant Arabica coffee, extracts of lion's mane, chaga, cordyceps, reishi and turkey tail, and 300 mg of Alpha-GPC, with 30 mg of caffeine and 25 calories (Product Facts). For a thick, blended version, try our NeuroCoffee Frappe.
How to sweeten iced coffee
Granulated sugar does not dissolve well in a cold drink, so use a liquid sweetener. To make simple syrup, heat equal parts sugar and water, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then let it cool and keep it in the fridge. Maple syrup works as is; thin honey with a little hot water first so it does not seize up on the ice. Add sweetener before the milk so it mixes in evenly.
Tips & variations
- Coffee ice cubes: freeze leftover coffee in an ice cube tray and use the cubes so your drink gets stronger, not weaker, as they melt.
- Iced latte: pour a double shot of espresso over ice and top with 6 ounces of cold milk.
- Vanilla or mocha: add a splash of vanilla extract, or stir 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder into the hot coffee before you pour it over ice.
- Less caffeine: iced coffee has as much caffeine as the coffee in it. An 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee has about 95 mg (USDA FoodData Central), and a 12-ounce cup about 113 to 247 mg (FDA). Use decaf, half-caf or a lower-caffeine instant blend; see how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee and does decaf coffee have caffeine?
- Timing: caffeine lingers for hours, so have your last iced coffee earlier in the day; see how long caffeine stays in your system.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How do you make iced coffee at home?
Brew coffee about twice as strong as usual and pour it straight over a glass full of ice, or pour coffee you brewed earlier and chilled over ice. Sweeten with a syrup, add milk if you like, and stir.
Can you pour hot coffee over ice?
Yes. That is the quickest way to make iced coffee. Brew it about twice as strong as usual, because some of the ice melts and dilutes it, and use a heatproof glass.
How do you keep iced coffee from getting watery?
Brew it stronger, chill the coffee before adding ice, or freeze leftover coffee in an ice cube tray and use coffee ice cubes instead of plain ice.
What is the difference between iced coffee and cold brew?
Iced coffee is coffee brewed hot and then cooled with ice or in the fridge. Cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for many hours, so it is ready to drink cold without being heated.
How do you sweeten iced coffee?
Use a liquid sweetener such as simple syrup, maple syrup or honey thinned with a little hot water. Granulated sugar does not dissolve well in a cold drink.
Can you make iced coffee with instant coffee?
Yes. Dissolve the instant coffee in 2 tablespoons of hot water first, then add cold water or milk and ice.
How much caffeine is in iced coffee?
About as much as the coffee you use. A 12-ounce cup of brewed coffee has about 113 to 247 mg of caffeine. Use decaf, half-caf or a lower-caffeine instant blend to cut back.
The OurJrney difference
NeuroCoffee combines instant Arabica coffee with five mushroom extracts and Alpha-GPC in a single powder, with 30 mg of caffeine per serving. Because it dissolves in a little hot water, an iced cup takes one stir and a glass of ice.
Shop this recipe
Want the quick version? Get NeuroCoffee Mushroom Coffee with Alpha GPC delivered to your door.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Coffee contains caffeine; consult a qualified healthcare professional if you are pregnant, nursing, under 18, sensitive to caffeine, taking medication, or managing a health condition.
Learn more: read how to make mushroom coffee at home, our Brown Sugar NeuroCoffee Latte, mushroom coffee vs regular coffee and is coffee acidic?
