Iced Americano

What is an Iced Americano 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.

What is an Iced Caffè Americano?

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 exciting 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.

The end result is a wonderfully rich, deep coffee drink that is a great way to get a cold, refreshing boost of caffeine.

It is a popular drink order at chain coffee stores like Starbucks, 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 useful information.

Another delicious iced coffee drink to try is my Almond Milk Iced Coffee!

What's in an Iced Americano Coffee - what is it made from?

• Espresso
• Water
• Ice
• Sweetener (optional)

To make an Ice Coffee Americano, only three simple ingredients are needed.

This iced coffee drink is traditionally made using two shots of espresso, cold water, and ice cubes.

It can be served with milk or without milk - of which it can be cow's milk or any other milk alternative such as oat milk (try our delicious Oat Milk Latte recipe), almond milk, etc.

The number of espresso shots can also be altered according to preference.

Best Optional Americano Add-Ins

The flavor of an Americano may be too strong for your taste, you can then sweeten the coffee with syrups, sugar, or honey, or add a touch of milk (or a milk alternative).

I love making my Honey Almond Milk Cold Brew on summer days.

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.

Sugar doesn’t dissolve easily in cold liquids.

Some sweeteners that will be delicious added to your cold Americano include:

• Simple syrup
• Vanilla syrup / creamer
• 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

This is an easy ice coffee drink to make at home. All you will need is an espresso maker, a serving glass, and the recipe ingredients.

To make this delicious coffee drink:

1. Brew two shots of espresso with a coffee brewer of your choice.
2. Fill a serving glass with ice cubes.
3. Pour the hot espressos into the glass over the ice cubes.
4. 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.)
5. Enjoy as is, or stir in a sweetner of your choice.

How To Make the Espresso

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, a French press can be used 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.

Caffiene Content in an 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 into your system as you will most likely sip your iced cold Americano more slowly than how you would drink hot coffee.

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 kind of cold coffee drink.

An iced coffee uses cold brew, and an ice 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 iced coffee contains on average 200mg of caffeine for 1 cup (240ml), which is 64mg of caffeine stronger.

Expert Tips For Making The Best Iced Americano

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Stir well: After adding the water to the espresso, stir the iced americano well to ensure that it is well mixed.
6. 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!
7. 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

• Creamy coffee smoothie
• Fudgy coffee brownies
• Easy layered coffee cake
• Chocolate Infused Ice Coffee
• Dirty Iced Chai Latte

I hope you love this easy coffee recipe as much as I do! And if you want to see more of my delicious food adventures, follow me on Instagram or Facebook.