When it's this warm out, a hot cup of coffee is a hard sell. The good news is you don't need a café or any special kit to make genuinely good iced coffee at home, just a bit of technique.
The easiest method: iced hot brew
The simplest approach is to brew your coffee slightly stronger than usual, then pour it straight over ice. Use about 1.5 times your normal amount of coffee for the same volume of water, since the ice is going to dilute it as it melts. Brew with your usual method, French press, drip, or pour-over, then pour immediately over a full glass of ice. Our brewing guide covers ratios and technique in more detail if you want to get it dialled in.
Why a smoother roast works well here
Cold temperatures mute sweetness and highlight bitterness, so a smoother, naturally sweet roast tends to hold up better over ice than a very dark one. Our Cruise blend, with its berry, vanilla, and milk chocolate notes, is a good match for this, the sweetness comes through even once it's cold and diluted.
Want something less diluted? Try cold brew
If you don't like the watered-down effect of ice, cold brew is worth the extra planning. Steep coarsely ground coffee in cold water at a ratio of roughly 1:8 (coffee to water) in the fridge for 12 to 18 hours, then strain through a fine sieve or cloth. The result is smoother, less acidic, and concentrated enough that you can dilute it with water or milk to taste, no ice-melt dilution involved.
A few things that make a real difference
Use fresh, coarsely cracked ice rather than letting cubes sit out and get watery. If you take milk, add it after the coffee's already over ice, it mixes more evenly. And don't skip the extra coffee strength for the hot-brew method, this is the step most people forget, and it's the reason their iced coffee tastes weak.
Sweetening it properly
Sugar doesn't dissolve well in cold liquid, so stir it into the coffee while it's still hot, or use a simple syrup, before adding ice. Adding granulated sugar straight to a finished iced coffee usually just leaves it sitting at the bottom of the glass.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just pour hot coffee over ice?
Yes, that's the quickest method. Just brew it a bit stronger than usual since the ice will dilute it as it melts, otherwise the coffee can taste thin.
What's the difference between iced coffee and cold brew?
Iced coffee is brewed hot and then cooled or poured over ice. Cold brew is steeped in cold water for 12 to 18 hours, which makes it smoother, less acidic, and more concentrated.
Why does my iced coffee taste watery?
You're probably brewing at your normal strength, then adding ice on top. Brew about 1.5 times stronger than usual so it holds its flavour once the ice melts.
Perfect weather for a smooth, sweet roast over ice.
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