The Best Iced Coffee Recipes to Try Today

Is there anything more satisfying than a refreshing glass of iced coffee on a warm day? Especially if you have children (like mine) that don’t really believe in sleep, specifically between the hours of 2-5am, iced coffee is the ultimate pick-me-up. Even better? It comes together so quickly at home, you don’t even have to get dressed or resemble a human person in order to enjoy a cup. There’s a lot of reasons that it’s my go to.

Here are my favorite iced coffee recipes to try today (arguably the best), from quick and easy basics to fun, flavorful twists that feel fancy and gourmet.

1. Classic Iced Coffee

Simple. Strong. Satisfying.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup freshly brewed coffee (cooled)
• Ice cubes
• Milk or cream (optional)
• Sweetener of choice

Instructions:

1. Brew your favorite coffee slightly stronger than normal and let it cool to room temperature.
2. Fill a glass with ice and pour the coffee over.
3. Add milk or cream and sweetener to taste.
4. Stir and enjoy!

Pro Tip: Brew double-strength coffee if you’re impatient so it doesn’t get watered down.

2. Cold Brew Coffee

Smooth, bold, and low-acid — perfect for prepping ahead.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coarsely ground coffee
• 4 cups cold water

Instructions:

1. Combine coffee and water in a large jar or pitcher. This pitcher is specifically made for this and has worked well for me.
2. Stir, cover, and refrigerate for 12–18 hours.
3. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Or, if you’re using the super handy pitcher, just take out the strainer.
4. Serve over ice and dilute with water or milk if desired.

Bonus: Cold brew concentrate keeps in the fridge for up to a week! Try this delightfully smooth cold brew with one of our favorite cold foams – Toasted Marshmallow, Maple, Coconut, Brown Sugar, and Strawberry!

3. Iced Vanilla Latte

Coffeehouse flavor without the price tag. The OG of fancy coffees for me, in a delightful iced version. Don’t overcomplicated this one – its simplicity is part of the charm.  

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso or ½ cup strong brewed coffee
• ¾ cup milk of choice
• 1–2 tsp vanilla syrup
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Add vanilla syrup to your cup.
2. Fill with ice and pour espresso or coffee over it.
3. Add milk and stir well.

Make it fun: Try using oat or almond milk for a dairy-free twist, but whole milk gives that creamy dairy perfection.

4. Whipped Coffee (Dalgona Iced Coffee)

Instagram-worthy and surprisingly easy. I hopped on this trend during covid times with everyone else and I haven’t looked back since. It’s tasty and kind of like magic when it starts to get all foamy and whipped.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp instant coffee
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp hot water
• 1 cup cold milk
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Whip together instant coffee, sugar, and hot water until fluffy (use a frother – do not attempt to hand whisk this).
2. Fill a glass with ice and cold milk.
3. Spoon the whipped coffee on top and stir before sipping.

So satisfying to make — and drink!

5. Mocha Iced Coffee

Perfect for chocolate lovers, this truly is a little treat.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brewed coffee, chilled
• ½ cup milk
• 1–2 tbsp chocolate syrup
• Ice
• Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix coffee, milk, and chocolate syrup until combined.
2. Pour over ice and top with whipped cream if you’re feeling fancy.

Try this: Sprinkle with cocoa powder or chocolate shavings for an extra treat, or line the inside of your glass with a ribbon of syrup if you’re feeling a little extra.

6. Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso

Sweet, bold, and super refreshing. There’s something about shaking it that is so smooth and delicious.

Ingredients:

• 2 shots espresso or ½ cup strong coffee
• 1-2 tbsp brown sugar
• ¼ tsp cinnamon (optional)
• ½ cup oat milk or milk of choice
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Add espresso, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a shaker or jar.
2. Shake with ice until chilled and frothy.
3. Pour into a glass and top with milk.

So good you’ll want it every morning. It’s perfect as a dairy free treat with oatmilk but also really brings out the flavor with whole milk!

7. Iced Coconut Coffee

Tropical, creamy, and totally dreamy.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cold brew or chilled coffee
• ¼ cup coconut milk or cream of coconut
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Fill a glass with ice and pour in the coffee.
2. Add coconut milk or cream and stir well.

For extra indulgence: Top it with Coconut Cold Foam!

8. Iced Caramel Macchiato

A sweet, layered treat that looks as good as it tastes.

Ingredients:

• 1 shot espresso or ½ cup strong coffee
• ¾ cup milk (any kind)
• 1–2 tbsp caramel sauce
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Drizzle caramel sauce around the inside of your glass.
2. Fill the glass with ice and pour in the milk.
3. Slowly pour espresso over the top to create a layered look.
4. Stir before sipping, or enjoy the layers as-is!

Tip: Add a swirl of caramel on top for a coffeehouse finish.

9. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

Smooth, creamy, and subtly sweet — like your favorite coffee shop treat. My favorite is to make the sweet cream ahead of time and use as creamer, but in a pinch you can just make it all at once this way!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cold brew coffee
• ¼ cup heavy cream (or half & half)
• 1–2 tsp vanilla syrup (store-bought or homemade)
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Fill a glass with ice and pour in the cold brew coffee.
2. In a separate cup, stir together the cream and vanilla syrup to make your sweet cream.
3. Slowly pour the vanilla sweet cream over the cold brew.
4. Stir slightly — or let it swirl for that dreamy layered effect.

Homemade vanilla syrup tip: Mix 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and 1 tbsp vanilla extract in a saucepan. Simmer until sugar dissolves, then cool.

10. Blended Iced Coffee Frappe

Thick, creamy, and perfectly cool. Like a milkshake, but caffeinated.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup strong brewed coffee, cooled
• ½ cup milk
• 1–2 tbsp sugar or sweetener
• 1 cup ice
• Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add coffee, milk, sugar, and ice to a blender.
2. Blend until smooth and frothy.
3. Pour into a tall glass and top with whipped cream if desired.

Flavor twist: Add a splash of vanilla, chocolate syrup, or flavored creamer.

With these 10 iced coffee recipes, you’ve got the ultimate guide to staying cool and caffeinated all summer long — no barista required! Let me know which one is your favorite (or, if they’re all your favorite that’s okay too because same) and if there’s any others I’m missing and should try!