Make an Iced Americano to get your caffeine fix this summer! This refreshing coffee beverage is made by pouring fresh brewed espresso shots over ice, and it's the perfect way to cool down.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
The Iced Americano is popular year round, but even more so in the summer. Iced Americano's are simple to make, and you can customize them with milk, cream, and even with flavored Torani syrups. Caramel is a favorite!
What I love about making an Iced Americano is it's:
- Refreshing: It's a refreshing cold drink that can help you cool down.
- Caffeinated: Concentrated espresso packs a nice caffeine lift.
- Versatile: You can customize an Iced Americano by adding different syrups, milk, or cream.
- Easy to make: All you need is espresso and ice, and you can have a delicious drink in minutes.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Ingredients for Ice Americano
- How to Make An Iced Americano
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions and Variations
- Equipment
- Storage and Reheating
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Food Safety
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Connect with Smells Like Delish!
Ingredients for Ice Americano
Any coffee bean can be used to make espresso and ice Americano's. It's the grind that makes it suitable for espresso. Espresso grind is an almost powdery grind, allowing hot water more surface area to steep out the concentrated brew.
Your local grocery store has coffee grinders in the coffee aisle. Select the beans you like, then set the grinder dial to 'espresso' or 'Turkish', and grind your beans. It's that simple to make fresh espresso coffee grounds!
- Espresso coffee grounds - You can use the grocery store coffee grinder and set the dial to 'espresso' for any variety of whole coffee beans.
- Boiling water - If using a French press.
- Milk - Optional. Milk or cream dials down the acidity of the strong, concentrated coffee.
- Cream - Optional.
- Ice - Use freshly made ice if you are getting if from your freezer. Old ice can pick up 'off' flavor from the freezer.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make An Iced Americano
The traditional way of making a hot or iced Americano is simply pouring fresh brewed espresso over ice in a tall glass.
Milk, cream, and flavored Torani syrups are optional.
First, Make Espresso
- Brew some fresh espresso. You can use instant espresso powder, a Nespresso pod, or pour boiling water over fresh espresso grounds in a French Press.
- If using a French press, add the espresso grounds and then pour the boiling water over the grounds.
- Cap the French press with the lid, and let it steep for about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Press the plunger down to isolate the coffee grounds to the bottom of the French press.
Next, Pour Over Ice
- Fill two tall glasses with ice cubes.
- Divide the hot espresso between the two iced filled glasses.
- If desired, add milk or cream, any Torani syrup, and serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
Prepare the Iced Americano just before you are ready to drink it. Ice starts melting, and diluting the drink as soon as the hot espresso is poured over the ice. Enjoy with a scone, danish, or simply by itself to cool off on a hot day.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
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Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few scrumptious variations using this Iced Americano recipe:
- Instant espresso coffee powder is a great option if you don't have your own espresso machine.
- Substitute cold brew for espresso.
- Caramel syrup and some milk or cream will give you a delicious iced caramel latte or caramel iced coffee.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite types of machines for making this iced Americano, iced black coffee, or even iced caramel coffee.
- French Press, 34 oz
- Francis Francis Espresso Machine - Uses espresso grounds.
- Nespresso Espresso Machine - For making espresso with Nespresso pods.
- Mr. Coffee Espresso Machine - Low Cost espresso machine.
- Illy Instant Espresso Powder
Storage and Reheating
This Iced Americano recipe is best served right after making it.
Tips for Success
These tips and pointers will help make this Iced Americano recipe turn out perfect!
- Fresh brewed espresso coffee will give your Iced Americano the best flavor.
- Use good quality ice. Ice will melt and start diluting the Americano, so use good quality ice. Old freezer ice can absorb odor and get freezer burn taste.
- Add your favorite Torani syrups or flavors. There's many different syrups and flavors that you can add to an Iced Americano.
- Serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
You make an Iced Americano by pouring espresso shots poured over ice. Iced coffee is made by pouring brewed coffee over ice.
Iced black coffee is any brewed coffee poured over ice and served. Cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water, with out any heat for a brighter, crisper flavored coffee.
An iced coffee uses any type of brewed coffee, poured over ice and served like iced tea. An iced latte uses freshly brewed espresso shots mixed with milk, and then poured over ice.
Traditionally, you use espresso coffee grounds to make an Iced Americano. Regular coffee is a much coarser grind. You can use regular coffee grounds for this Iced Americano recipe if you grind them on the 'espresso' setting.
An Iced Americano made by pouring hot espresso shots over ice. The ice melts and dilutes the brew into a refreshing, cool coffee beverage.
Food Safety
- Don't use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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📖 Recipe
Iced Americano
Equipment
- French Press
- Francis Francis Espresso Maker
- Nespresso Espresso Maker
- Illy Instant Espresso Powder
- 2 Tall Glasses 16 oz each
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon espresso coffee grounds or instant espresso powder, or Nespresso espresso pods
- 8 oz boiling water
- 16 oz ice cubes
- 2 tablespoon milk optional
- cream optional
- Torani syrup optional
Instructions
- Brew some fresh espresso. You can use instant espresso powder, a Nespresso pod, or pour boiling water over fresh espresso grounds in a French Press.
- If using a French press, add the espresso grounds and then pour the boiling water over the grounds.4 tablespoon espresso coffee grounds, 8 oz boiling water
- Cap the French press with the lid, and let it steep for about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Press the plunger down to isolate the coffee grounds to the bottom of the French press.
- Fill two tall glasses with ice cubes.16 oz ice cubes
- Divide the hot espresso between the two iced filled glasses.
- If desired, add milk or cream, any Torani syrup, and serve immediately.2 tablespoon milk, cream, Torani syrup
Notes
- Fresh brewed espresso coffee will give your Iced Americano the best flavor.
- Use good quality ice. Ice will melt and start diluting the Americano, so use good quality ice. Old freezer ice can absorb odor and get freezer burn taste.
- Add your favorite Torani syrups or flavors. There's many different syrups and flavors that you can add to an Iced Americano.
- Serve immediately.
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