Learn all about Iced Americanos and how to make this delicious, refreshing coffee drink. Including a step-by-step recipe for a homemade Iced Caffé Americano with milk and without milk.
Jump to:
- What is an Iced Caffè Americano?
- What's in an Iced Americano Coffee - what is it made from?
- Best Optional Add-Ins
- How to make an Americano with Ice
- How To Make the Espresso
- Caffeine Content in a Cold Americano - How much caffeine does an Iced Americano contain?
- Is iced Americano stronger than iced coffee?
- Tips For Making The Best Iced Americano
- Iced Americano
What is an Iced Caffè Americano?
A classic Caffe Americano is an espresso drink made with hot water and espresso. An Iced Caffè Americano is a popular coffee-based drink that is served over ice. An iced coffee Americano is a cold, iced version of the already exsisting Americano coffee.
An Americano with ice is made from espresso shots topped with cold water which produces a light layer of crema. This is then poured over ice before serving with milk or without.
The end result is a wonderfully rich, deep coffee beverage that is a great way to get a cold, refreshing boost of caffeine. An Iced Americano is ultra refreshing, with the same big, bold flavors you get from a classic Americano.
It is a popular drink order at chain coffee stores like Starbucks and McDonald's, as well as independent coffee shops.
We've written a whole article about the Differences Between Iced Coffee and Iced Lattes that is packed with even more useful information!
What's in an Iced Americano Coffee - what is it made from?
To make an Iced Coffee Americano, only three simple ingredients are needed:
- Espresso (single or double)
- Water
- Ice
- Sweetener (optional)
This iced coffee drink is traditionally made using two shots of espresso, cold water, and ice cubes. The drink can be made with either one or two shots of espresso and varying ratios of water to dilute it.
The espresso used can be any roast (dark, medium, or light/blonde) can be used to make an Iced Americano as long as the drink is made with espresso. You can also make a decaf version if desired!
You can serve this beverage with milk or without milk. If using milk, it can be cow's milk or any other non-dairy milk alternative such as oat milk (try our delicious Oat Milk Latte recipe), almond milk, etc.
Best Optional Add-Ins
The flavor of an Americano may be too strong or bitter for your taste. You can sweeten the Americano coffee with syrups, sugar, or honey, or add a touch of milk (or a milk alternative).
If you are going to sweeten your coffee with sugar, be sure to add the sugar to your coffee before cooling it down with cold water and/or ice. Otherwise, the sugar granules may not dissolve as well.
Some optional sweeteners that you can add to your cold Americano include:
- Simple syrup
- Vanilla syrup
- Brown sugar syrup
- Caramel syrup
- Honey
- Hazelnut syrup
- Toffee syrup
Try my Caramel Mocha Iced Latte recipe for something a little sweeter!
How to make an Americano with Ice
The traditional way of making an Iced Americano is by adding espresso shots to cold water, then adding ice. Unlike Starbucks who makes theirs backwards by adding cold water to espresso shots instead!
An Americano is an easy iced coffee drink to make at home. All you will need is an espresso maker, a serving glass, and the recipe ingredients. To make a homemade iced Americano, follow the step-by-step instructions below or fin a full recipe card at the bottom of this page.
STEP ONE
Brew two shots of espresso with a coffee brewer of your choice. (See brewing options below)
STEP TWO
Fill a serving glass with ice cubes.
STEP THREE
Pour the hot espressos into the glass over the ice cubes.
STEP FOUR
Then add the same amount of cold water as coffee and stir well to combine. (For example, two shots of espresso are roughly 50 ml. Therefore, make sure to add another 50 ml of cold water to your drink.)
STEP FIVE
Enjoy immediately as is, or stir in a sweetener of your choice.
How To Make the Espresso
The espresso is what gives this coffee its delicious and intense flavor. So it is key to prepare it well and use good quality espresso. We suggest using an espresso roast coffee: it’s beneficial for achieving a robust, rich flavor.
Espresso Machine
The most common method for making espresso is using an espresso machine. This machine uses high pressure to force hot water through finely-ground coffee beans to produce a shot of espresso.
Moka Pot
A Moka pot is a stovetop espresso maker that works by heating water in the base and forcing it through the coffee grounds in a filter basket.
The brewed coffee then rises into the serving chamber, producing a strong and flavorful shot of espresso.
Aeropress
The Aeropress is a hand-held, manual espresso maker that uses a combination of pressure and vacuum to produce a shot of espresso.
It works by steeping the coffee grounds in hot water for several seconds, then using a plunger to press the brewed coffee through a fine mesh filter.
French Press
Although not traditionally used for espresso, you can use a French press to produce a strong, full-bodied coffee that resembles espresso.
To do this, add a coarse grind of coffee to the press, pour in hot water, and let steep for several minutes before pressing the plunger to separate the grounds from the liquid.
Want to learn more about different types of coffee? Check out our CORTADO VS MACCHIATO post!
Caffeine Content in a Cold Americano - How much caffeine does an Iced Americano contain?
Caffeine content does not change when diluting coffee with water or ice. Therefore, an Iced Americano has a total average of 136 mg of caffeine from the two shots of espresso that it is made from. (Each shot of espresso coffee contains 68 mg of caffeine.)
The caffeine may take a while longer to enter your system as you will most likely sip your iced cold Americano more slowly than how you would drink hot coffee. And of course, you can also use decaf coffee or coffee beans to make your espresso, This way your iced Americano will be decaf and low in caffeine!
Is iced Americano stronger than iced coffee?
The main difference between iced coffee and iced Americano is the kind of coffee used to make each different type of cold coffee drink.
An iced coffee uses cold brew and an iced americano uses shots of espresso. Both iced coffee drinks are enjoyed cold and served with ice.
The caffeine content also differs between iced coffee and an iced Caffè americano - the latter has an average of 136mg of caffeine and an iced coffee contains on average 200mg of caffeine for 1 cup (240ml), which is 64mg of caffeine stronger.
Looking for ice coffee recipes? Try our delicious Almond Milk Iced Coffee!
Tips For Making The Best Iced Americano
- Use high-quality coffee beans: For the best iced Americano, use freshly roasted, high-quality coffee beans. Look for beans with a strong flavor profile and a balanced acidity.
- Brew the espresso strong: Espresso is the base of an iced americano, so it's important to brew it strong to ensure it stands up to the dilution from the added water. Aim for a 1:2 ratio of espresso to water.
- Chill the ingredients: Before making the iced americano, chill the espresso shots, water, and cup. This will help ensure that the finished drink is as cold as possible.
- Use cold water: When making an iced americano, use cold water to dilute the espresso. This will help prevent the drink from becoming watered down as it melts.
- Stir well: After you add the water to the espresso, stir the iced americano well to ensure that it is well mixed.
- Add ice: Fill a glass with ice and pour the iced americano over the ice. Stir briefly to ensure that the drink is cold, then enjoy!
- Experiment with flavors: If desired, you can add a splash of flavored syrup or a sprinkle of cinnamon to the iced americano to add a touch of sweetness or spice.
Iced Americano
This is an easy recipe for a homemade Iced Americano that is bold and refreshing! Only three ingredients are needed to make this cold, tasty beverage.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Ice
- 2 Shots Espresso
- ½ Cup Cold Water
- Milk (optional)
- Sweetener (optional)
Instructions
- Brew two shots of espresso with a coffee brewer of your choice.
- Fill a serving glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the hot espressos into the glass over the ice cubes.
- Then add the same amount of cold water as coffee and stir well to combine. (For example, two shots of espresso are roughly 50 ml. Therefore, make sure to add another 50 ml of cold water to your drink.)
- Enjoy as is, or and milk and stir in a sweetener of your choice.
Notes
- Use high-quality coffee beans: For the best iced Americano, use freshly roasted, high-quality coffee beans. Look for beans with a strong flavor profile and a balanced acidity.
- Brew the espresso strong: Espresso is the base of an iced americano, so it's important to brew it strong to ensure it stands up to the dilution from the added water. Aim for a 1:2 ratio of espresso to water.
- Chill the ingredients: Before making the iced americano, chill the espresso shots, water, and cup. This will help ensure that the finished drink is as cold as possible.
- Use cold water: When making an iced americano, use cold water to dilute the espresso. This will help prevent the drink from becoming watered down as it melts.
- Stir well: After adding the water to the espresso, stir the iced americano well to ensure that it is well mixed.
- Add ice: Fill a glass with ice and pour the iced americano over the ice. Stir briefly to ensure that the drink is well chilled, then enjoy!
- Experiment with flavors: If desired, you can add a splash of flavored syrup or a sprinkle of cinnamon to the iced americano to add a touch of sweetness or spice.
MORE DELICIOUS COFFEE RECIPES TO TRY
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