You won’t believe how easy it is to make your own iced coffee! Skip the drive-thru this morning and take 5 minutes to whip up this sweet energy boost. Step-by-step photos included!
Iced coffee. That’s what’s up around here.
Because it’s been near-and-over 100° degrees with full-on humidity the past few days. Yeah, if you need me I’ll have my head in a bucket fulla’ iced coffee.
All I can do right now is thank the Lord that before NOW this hasn’t been a crazy-hot summer, since I currently have a summer job as a lifeguard at our local pool. Now, don’t let the job title deceive you: Even though I’m AROUND the water pretty much every day, it’s very rare that I actually get the opportunity to get IN the water.
Therefore, working on hot days = I die.
And that’s where I thank my lucky stars that we’ve only had a FEW days above 90 degrees this summer. For the most part, the weather and temps have actually been pretty nice.
Before now, that is….bleh, I jinx everything.
But that still hasn’t stopped me from drinking iced coffee 24/7.
And when I say that I’ve been drinking iced coffee pretty much every day, that doesn’t mean that I’m running over to the nearest coffee shop.
I’m pretty sure you know what I’m about to say next: Make. It. Homemade.
That should seriously just be my motto…
Seriously guys, this iced coffee is SO easy to make yourself, costs WAY less than the drive-thru, and tastes like it came from a gourmet coffee shop.
Iced coffee is so easy to make it practically doesn’t even need a recipe. BUT since I know you guys like your visuals (I know I do) I’ve got step-by-step photos ready for ‘ya to ensure that you’ll end up with the perfect glass of iced coffee.
Wanna know my secret to rich, and actually coffee-flavored iced coffee? It’s all in the ice.
Coffee cubes, NOT regular iced cubes is key in preventing your iced coffee from becoming watered down and weak. Who the heck likes weak coffee?! Kinda defeats the purpose of drinking it. 😉
Into the glass go your coffee cubes. Just a few will do…
Over the ice goes your STRONG-brewed coffee…
Splash on that cream…lots of it… (or half-and-half)
Sweeten according to your taste…
P.S. I’m in LURVE with this awesome stuff that I sweeten my iced coffee with. Salted caramel, you guys. DO IT.
Add a fancy straw and sip away, moi peeps.
That took what, 5 minutes? Likely even less time you would have spent waiting for your coffee in the McDonald’s drive-thru.
But I warn you: Homemade iced coffee is gonna turn you somewhat of a coffee-snob, and you probably won’t really like any other iced coffee anymore.
Phew! That was a lot of talking. I’m ready for some coffee now. 🙂
How To Make Perfect Iced Coffee
Ingredients
- Coffee ice cubes
- 1-1/2 cups strong-brewed coffee
- 2-3 tablespoons coffee creamer or half-and-half
- Sweetener to taste i.e. coffee syrup, sugar, honey, ect.
Instructions
- Place coffee cubes in the bottom of two glasses. Top with coffee and stir in coffee creamer and sweetener to taste. Serve immediately.
Try my other summer drinks next!
Mixed Berries ‘n’ Cream Smoothies
Michele @ Two Raspberries says
yum! I’m so addicted to coffee but yes you are totally right it is so expensive to go buy it! … that salted caramel syrup looks really delicious… I’m need to see if any stores around me carry that, where did you get it from? 😉 YUM!
Sarah says
My mom bought that syrup for me, but I’m pretty sure she bought it at Woodman’s in the health food aisle. The brand is Madhava. It is SO good, Michele, and they have tons of different flavors too!
Allison says
You had me at coffee cubes. Seriously, such a great idea! That’s the #1 problem with iced coffee that I run into -it turns watery and the coffee experience is ruined! I need this beverage for the last lazy days of summer. Perfection 🙂 PS. I’m a sucker for any beverage served in a mason jar. Too cute!
Sarah says
Coffee cubes really is what MAKES an iced coffee perfect. Most coffee shops don’t do that and you definitely notice a lack of flavor! Thanks, Allison! And I’m totally there with you about drinking outta mason jars–it’s the best! 🙂
Sarah@RunningOnBrie says
This looks like the perfect fix for today. I love iced coffee! Thanks for reminding me how easy it is to make nicely at home. Your pictures are really good- I’m loving the mason jar presentation.
Sarah says
Thanks for the sweet compliments, Sarah! You’ve gotta try this homemade version—it’s blows any coffee shop’s iced coffee outta the park! 😉
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I feel your pain of being near the water but not actually being able to go in the water! Such torture! 🙂 This iced coffee looks perfect, Sarah! I love that you froze coffee and used that for the ice cubes. Such a great idea so that it doesn’t get watered down. And I love the sweetener syrup that you used! I haven’t seen that before, do you mind sharing where you found that? Great recipe!
Sarah says
Thanks so much, Gayle! My mom buys the coffee syrup for me at Woodman’s, but I’ll bet you could find it online too. The brand is Madhava. 🙂
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Ok, don’t be mad. 🙂 I seriously LOL’d at imagining your head in a bucket of iced coffee! I’m real sorry about that – but isn’t that what friends are for??? And, I’m all about iced coffee! I love it more than hot coffee actually ~ so thanks for the great recipe and step-by-step photos!
Sarah says
Hahaha! I don’t blame you for laughing, Kristi—that would look pretty hilarious, my head in a bucket of iced coffee. BUT completely worth it. 😀
Danielle says
Ice coffee sounds so good right about now, especially when it’s almost 100 degrees where I live! That sweetener sounds ammmazing! I need to get my hands on some of that.
Sarah says
It sounds like we’re having similar weather, Danielle! Ain’t it fun? Ha-ha. And YES that coffee syrup is amazing—you so need to try it! 🙂
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
My husband would love this!
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Iced Coffee during the summer is my favorite, but I’ve never made it at home. Going to have to try this and I definitely need some of that salted caramel creamer!
Sarah says
You SO need to give homemade iced coffee a go, Christin! You’ll fall in love, I guarantee. 😉
Isadora says
What an awesome idea to make coffee ice cubes!! I used to work as a barista in a coffee shop and I just can’t get enough of the smell of coffee! I’m so sorry you have to deal with all the humidity, after living in the desert for so long I can’t even imagine what that is like anymore. I would be dunking my head in a bucket of this iced coffee all summer!
Sarah says
That’s so cool that you worked as a coffee-shop barista, Izzy! Totally my dream-job, obv because of the awesome smells of coffee! LOL. And I know it’s still super-warm where you are, so I think you should join me in the head-in-the-bucket-of-iced-coffee thing, girl. 😀
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
I love iced coffee! I have such fond memories of watching my dad make a glass every morning in summer – he would always let me have one tiny sip at the end. My favorite part 🙂 Love that you used caramel syrup and coffee ice cubes – I can just imagine how amazing this tastes and super refreshing!
Sarah says
That’s so sweet that your dad used to let you “taste” his coffee! I can remember begging my mom for the same thing! LOL.