How to make Iced Coffee: Easy Recipe and Tips

Your one stop shop for making easy and delicious iced coffee.

So, you want to learn how to make iced coffee? Well keep on reading, and we’ll share with you our favorite iced coffee recipe, that will allow you to brew the best cup of iced coffee you ever had!

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Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Perfect Iced Coffee

Ingredients Needed for Iced Coffee:

To Preface, we will be using a 1:15 ratio. This means that every 1 gram of coffee, you will use 15 grams of water. For iced coffee, we will use a ratio of 1:9:6 –> coffee:water:ice

1. 20g of your choice of coffee – Click here for some of our personal favorites
2. 180g of water
3. Your choice of pour-over device & filters (We recommend V60’s, check em out here on amazon)
   • You will need a glass or container to brew in if you are using a V60, otherwise a Chemex or similar device will work just fine.
4. 120g of ice in the container you are brewing into.
5. A glass with ice to pour your freshly brewed iced coffee into.

Let’s Get Brewin’!

1. First, grab your coffee. Make sure you have it ground for pour-over (Medium), the coffee grounds should have the consistency of regular ol’ table salt.
2. Get your pour over ready, place the coffee grounds into the filter, and begin boiling your water.
3. Place your brewer above the container you are brewing into, and ensure that the container has your ice inside.
4. Using about a 1/4th of your water (or 45g if you are measuring), saturate the coffee grounds. This is known as blooming your coffee. Let the coffee bloom for about 30 seconds.
5. Continue pouring your water onto the coffee grounds, but ensure you are evenly distributing the water across the grounds.
6. (optional) Swirl your ice as the coffee is being brewed over it, this will ensure volume in your end product, as well as locking in the flavor notes of your coffee.
7. Pour the coffee into your glass of ice and enjoy!

So, Why Should You Brew Iced Coffee?

Now you might be wondering, “why can’t I just make a cup/pot of coffee and let it sit in the fridge overnight?”. Well, in theory, this sounds like it would work, however, the only thing that will result from this is a cold, stale, and flavorless coffee. The reason we brew the coffee directly over ice is for freshness, and most importantly, to lock in the flavor notes of your coffee. The ice is integral in the process, as it allows the flavors to flash freeze into the end product. This way, you can have a refreshing cold drink, without having to sacrifice the freshness and quality of a traditional pour over.

Is Iced Coffee Different From Cold Brew?

Cold brew is certainly a delicious take on coffee, and one that we proudly serve in our retail locations. However, cold brew is an immersion method of brewing, which imparts a drastically different flavor profile than what you would get in an iced coffee. Typically, cold brews tend to carry darker, cocoay, and sometimes savory flavor notes. This is due to it’s long brew time, often between 12 and 24 hours! Fun fact, due to these flavors, that is often why you will see cold brew accompanied by a nitrogenated option, since the nitrogen helps smooth out the flavor.

FAQ

1. Can I use any roast profile for iced coffee?
   • You absolutely can! We prefer light-medium roasts for iced coffee as they tend to have fruitier, and more complex flavor notes, however, you can certainly use a dark roast. This is all user preference.
2. What if I don’t have a scale?
   • Coffee can vary drastically in weight and density. We highly recommend you invest in a scale to measure grams. However, if you do not have one on hand, you can use the following conversions to get a ROUGH estimate on how much coffee to use:
     • 1 tablespoon = 4-6g of ground coffee; 3 1/2 tablespoons for recipe
     • 100 g of water = 3.38 oz; 6.3-6.5oz for recipe
     • 100 g of ice = 3.38 oz; 4oz for recipe
     • NOTE: This is not exact, and your results will vary widely from coffee to coffee.
3. Do I have to exclusively use Electric City Roasting coffee?
   • Yes. Yes you do…. Okay, no you do not, but check out what coffees we recommend to help you make a killer iced coffee.