5 Must-Know Iced Coffee Recipes: A Beginner’s Guide to Impress

It seems there are new coffee trends popping up every month. One day, a barista is putting floral cold foam on your cold brew. Another day, someone is adding butter or an egg. The innovation can’t seem to stop — and we’re not complaining. Especially with iced coffee, there is so much creativity to be had. It’s almost like being a mixologist with how many ingredients and tools you can use. But, here are the top iced coffee recipes for beginners that will impress anyone in your life.

But What Actually Is Iced Coffee?

Some people use the phrase “iced coffee” to generally mean any cold coffee. However, this refers to drip coffee that is made cold — that’s it. 

Alternatively, an iced latte is a mixture of your milk of choice with, usually, a double shot of espresso and optional flavoring. Cold brews are made differently than drip coffee — they steep similarly to tea for many hours, compared to the mere moments it takes for a coffee pot to brew you a cup.

Today, we’re going to find fancy ways to dress up a simple, traditional iced coffee in the simplest ways possible. No need to make your own caramel or find exotic ingredients — these are accessible while still being delicious and impressive. Check out these recipes and required tools to make hosting, your morning commute, or evening chill time with a decaf all the more enjoyable. 

1. Caramel Waterfall Iced Coffee

It goes without saying that all of these drinks will have heightened presentation if you serve them in a glass. Then, you’ll get to see the delicious hard work you put into the beverage.

Here’s what you need:

• 2 tbsp of caramel sauce
• 8-12 oz of iced coffee
• Ice
• Optional: plain or flavored creamer

Here is how to make it beautiful. Take an empty glass and your bottle of caramel sauce. Point the sauce nozzle against the top of the inner wall of the glass. Squeeze a drip so it falls down, and do this around the edge to create a flowing effect. You can also add squiggles for extra pizzazz. Feel free to add some caramel at the bottom for more flavor. 

Then, add ice and some of the coffee. Stir gently to mix up the caramel sauce at the bottom, but not too much to ruin your design. Then, pour the rest of the coffee to fill.

2. Iced Brown Sugar Iced Coffee With Oat Milk

With this gorgeous coffee, you can recreate the vibe of Starbucks’ Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso at home.

Here’s what you need:

• 2 tbsp of light or dark brown sugar (your preference)
• 6-8 oz of iced coffee
• 4-6 oz of oat milk
• Ice
• Optional: Dash of cinnamon or a cinnamon stick for garnish

If you have a cocktail shaker, now is the time to whip it out. Feel free to pour all ingredients into it, have a little dance in your kitchen, then pour it into your glass. If you don’t have a shaker, you can still make this by adding the sugar to the bottom. 

Then, add the ice, coffee and oat milk in that order. The sugar should dissolve nicely without stirring. If adding cinnamon, you will want to give it a good stir with a metal straw — it can be finicky. 

3. Pumpkin Pie Iced Coffee

It’s that time of year, but who are we kidding — who doesn’t want delicious pumpkin vibes all year round? Here’s how to make your autumnal dreams a reality.

Here’s what you need:

• 1-2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 8 oz of iced coffee
• Splash of pumpkin or regular creamer
• Regular or flavored whipped cream
• Optional: Maple syrup to taste

Some people even stir in pumpkin puree if you have extra lying around from seasonal baking!

Simply add the spice and extract at the bottom. Add ice and some coffee and stir. Then, add the rest of the coffee. If you want a beautiful waterfall effect, take a spoon and pour your splash of creamer over it slowly so it cascades down the glass. Top with some whipped cream and another dash of spice for some color.

4. Chocolate Churro Iced Coffee

This is an amplified version of your mocha iced coffee. Once you make this, you’ll never just add chocolate to your coffee ever again.

Here’s what you need:

• 1 tbsp of chocolate syrup
• 1 tbsp of light or dark brown sugar (your preference)
• 8 oz iced coffee
• Ice
• Whipped cream
• Optional: Pinch of salt and/or cinnamon

The churro flavor really comes through with that combination of sugar and chocolate. If you’re using coffee with bready notes, even better. Feel free to add everything in a cocktail shaker — except for the whipped cream — or assemble with chocolate and sugar first, then liquids. Top with a swirl of whipped cream and a zigzag of chocolate for style points.

5. Sweet Honeybee Iced Coffee

This is one of the easiest but most cozy on the list. 

Here’s what you need:

• 1-2 tbsps of honey
• 8 oz of iced coffee
• Ice
• Optional: Milk or cream

Many people like to add floral flavors, such as lavender, to honey coffees. If you find creamers with these notes, give them a try!

You can make this one similar to the caramel iced coffee. Feel free to dress your glass with the honey or simply pour all of it at the bottom. Give it a good stir because honey is thick! Then, top with your coffee and milk or cream of choice, if desired.

Beginner Iced Coffee Recipes to Die For

If you’ve ever been bored with your coffee routine, feel that way no longer. Hopefully, this will make your mornings even more exciting and full of energy. It might inspire you to experiment with even more complex recipes. If you have an espresso machine, maybe iced lattes are on the menu next!