Q&A for How to Make Iced Coffee

Making iced coffee with instant coffee is easy and quick; indeed it's often the preferred go-to for homemade iced coffee because it's quick (no waiting on cooling coffee) and tasty, plus it dissolves easily. For the complete instructions on doing this, see How to Make Simple Iced Coffee .

You can add all sorts of flavors or food adornments to iced coffee, provided the addition works well with coffee flavor. Some suggestions for additions to iced coffee include spices like ground cinnamon or chili pepper, syrups such as vanilla or mocha, different kinds of milk like coconut, almond or condensed milks, fresh herbs such as mint leaves or lavender buds, whipped cream with or without sprinkles, coffee ice cubes, and so on. Optional but fun food additions: If you're using a straw, you can thread on mini doughnuts, cookies with center holes or other similar treats for eating with the iced coffee; or just put cookies or cake on a plate and serve with the iced coffee.

To make good iced coffee at home, follow the instructions above for any one of the listed iced coffee styles to ensure you're using a correct method that will achieve the right results. As well, for the best results it is important to use good quality coffee, fresh milk and suitable flavors (if you’re adding any). When adding any flavors, be creative but take care to complement the coffee flavor to keep it tasty; suitable flavors include mocha syrup, berries or spices.

Yes, you certainly can make iced coffee with hot coffee but you’ll need to let it cool to room temperature first (about an hour). As such, the coffee is only hot after being freshly brewed, but this is useful because the iced coffee benefits from its strong, fresh flavor and by cooling it down you keep the strong flavor but add the icy cold ingredients as well. See the method above for “Hot Brewed Coffee” to know how to make iced coffee with hot coffee.

The staff would make iced coffee in a way similar to you making it home, using their own brewed coffee and their own signature syrup. If you’d like to make your iced coffee at home taste just like the Starbucks’ "frappuccino" version, this is possible; check out: How to Make a Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino .

Sure, just don't confuse cocoa and chocolate. Cocoa is typically used for baking and tastes bitter. Chocolate powder often has sugar, milk, and other flavors mixed into it. It is typically used for making hot chocolate, and tastes sweet.

12-24 hours in the fridge is recommended, so overnight would be fine.

It will go perfectly with the frappe, but it can go with any of these as a drizzle on top.

Add the coffee first, then add enough ice until it reaches the same level as the coffee, or just a little less. Remember, you can always add more ice if the frappe is too thin.

On average, one teaspoon of coffee is used for one cup of water. If you calculate it out, for one gallon of water, you will want about sixteen teaspoons of coffee. Then, add to taste.

For a normal coffee mug, use at least 1 teaspoon instant coffee powder with equal quantities of water and milk. Use small ice cubes to cool it or chill in the fridge.

This is strictly a matter of personal preference. You can use milk, half-and-half, or flavored creamers depending on your taste and the number of calories you want to consume.

Espresso is typically made with a machine that forces water under high pressure through the coffee grounds. If you want to make an iced espresso, see How to Make an Iced Espresso .

They're usually found in the coffee section of most convenient stores, grocery stores, and supermarkets.

Whatever sugar or sweetener you like.

Caramel candies take a long time to dissolve, even in hot water or hot coffee. You're better off using caramel sauce if you don't want caramel creamer.

Yes, it's a nice simple way to sweeten it. However, mix after adding it because it sinks to the bottom.

Most coffees require 1 - 2 tablespoons per 6-ounce cup. Your mileage may vary depending on the roast, you coffee maker and how you like your coffee. For making iced coffee with ice cubes, you might want to make your coffee slightly stronger, as the ice will water it down over time.

Yes. You need to first boil the water along with the coffee powder to make the basic coffee.

Coffee that is too hot will melt your ice. Let it cool a bit first, before using it.

All of the information that is listed in the article above.

It will dilute the coffee, so keep that in mind as you're preparing it.

You should add cold water to your Jamaica Shaker coffee.

Yes, you can.

I would not leave hot brewed coffee in the fridge for more than 48 hours.

Yes, I have done this. I used two cups of coffee and seven ice cubes and my frappe turned out just fine.

I suggest chilling it overnight, but you could just do it for a few hours too. It's your choice.

This could cause a thermal shock and glass may break. Wait for the coffee to cool at room temperature and then add ice cubes.

If you are referring to full fat dairy milk, the answer is yes! In fact, you can use any kind of milk you like––low fat, full fat, organic, etc. dairy milk or any kind of plant milk (soy, almond, oat, etc.).

A flat white is generally made in a 6 ounce cup by mixing a double shot of espresso with 4 ounces of steamed milk. For details on making a flat white, check out: How to Make a Flat White Coffee .