Coffee is a staple in my household! But with the changing seasons I sometimes prefer it hot, but other times I want it cold. Today, I am sharing with you how to make the best iced coffee at home to enjoy on a hot summer day. Not only will this save you money in the long run by not purchasing it from a coffee shop, but making it at home will be so much healthier. I have tested A LOT of organic coffees and I am using my favorite brand (Purity!) to make my iced coffee.
*This blog post is sponsored by Purity – but thoughts and opinions are my own.
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*Suzi (Gurl Gone Green) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Iced Coffee Vs. Cold Brew
You might think that iced coffee and cold brew are the same, but they’re actually not! They are totally different. Iced coffee is just hot coffee that is cooled and then turned into a cold beverage by adding ice. The process of making iced coffee is literally the same as making hot coffee except you’re letting the coffee cool and then adding ice. Cold brew has an entirely different method of making it. Instead of using hot water like coffee does to extract the coffee, you use cold water. You also let it seep for 12 hours or more depending on how strong you like your coffee. This process of brewing it with cold water keeps the caffeine intact more than traditional coffee, therefore yielding a higher content of caffeine overall. It also makes the flavor less acidic, more bold and less bitter.
With iced coffee you might find your coffee tastes a little watered down after adding ice as it melts. However, with cold brew you don’t have that as much since the coffee is so much stronger. If you like a stronger iced coffee I recommend making cold brew. If you don’t mind your coffee being a little more acidic, regular coffee may be just fine for you. The only drawback to cold brew is the time it takes to make it, compared to regular coffee.
Related Content: Best Coffee For French Press
The Best Coffee Brand For Iced Coffee
My top pick for the best coffee brand for iced coffee is Purity’s PROTECT Coffee. It is an organic mold and mycotoxin free light-medium roast with notes of toasted hazelnut, brown spice and sweet juicy notes. Purity’s PROTECT Coffee is roasted specifically for liver care, metabolic vitality and the highest level of antioxidant activity. PROTECT also has the highest level of chlorogenic acid (CGA) benefits of all Purity coffees. CGA has been associated with antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activity, and others that reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Purity Coffee is the best choice for those who want to maximize health benefits with 65% higher levels of antioxidants than other organic coffees. In addition to third party lab testing for pesticides, mold, mycotoxins and heavy metals, Purity Coffee goes even further. Their proprietary roasting protocol retains high levels of bioactive compounds linked by science to specific health outcomes.
They pride themselves on staying up to date on ever-advancing scientific studies around coffee and its impact on health, experimenting with different cultivars and roast profiles to bring customers the healthiest coffee possible.
They also have all the certifications when looking for the best organic mold and mycotoxin free coffee.
Certifications: USDA Organic, Specialty Grade, Rainforest Alliance Certified, Smithsonian Bird Friendly, Demeter Biodynamic Certified, beyond Fair Trade (typically they pay 3X or more for their coffee than the average Fair Trade coffee due to its superior quality)
Mold Testing and Lab Results: Available on their website. Each batch of coffee beans is tested multiple times throughout the supply chain. You can reach out to Purity and get their most recent testing.
But that’s not all!
Purity truly has the most amazing flavor profile of all the organic mold and mycotoxin free coffees I’ve tried. There is nothing like it. From their regular roasts, to their decaf, their flavor is unmatched and that is why I choose it over and over again!
If you read my Best Organic & Mycotoxin Free Coffee post, you will have noted that my entire team also picked Purity as a favorite coffee based on taste. I picked their Calm (Decaf), my hubs picked their Ease (Dark) Roast and my V.A. picked their Flow (Medium) Roast.
Check out all of Purity Coffee here and first time buyers can save 20% with code GURLGONEGREEN!
Related Content: Purity Coffee Review
Iced Coffee Ingredients
Making iced coffee is actually a lot easier than you might think. It’s essentially making hot coffee, letting it cool and then adding ice. I like to make the coffee a little stronger so that the ice cubes don’t dilute the coffee flavor overall. Otherwise it can taste like watered down coffee- not good.
Ingredients:
-2 tablespoons Purity Protect Coffee
-8oz. Hot Water
-Glass full of ice
-Milk of choice- heavy cream, half and half, milk, coconut milk
-Sweetener of choice- maple syrup, honey, stevia
How To Make The Best Iced Coffee At Home – Step By Step
First take 2 Tablespoons Purity Protect Coffee and 8 oz of hot water and brew like you normally would in a drip coffee machine. You can also use a french press, or pour over method if you don’t have a drip coffee machine. I actually prefer using french press or a pour over method because the flavor profile is a little bolder overall.
After the coffee is brewed, allow it to cool before making your iced coffee. You can add ice to the coffee carafe before brewing. This helps the coffee to not get bitter. The quicker it hits the ice the less bitter it is. That’s why cold brew is less bitter and smoother since it’s brewed with cold water instead of hot.
Pour cooled coffee over a cup full of ice, more or less depending on how much ice you like and how cold you like your iced coffee. I like to fill my whole glass with ice since I prefer a really cold and icy iced coffee!
Add your sweetener of choice- I love some maple syrup, honey or a few drops of NuNaturals Vanilla sweetened with Stevia.
Last but not least is your milk/cream of choice- I love adding a splash of heavy cream or half and half. You could also add whole milk if you want something lighter. You could also steam a little foam to make a cold foam on top if you want a little something extra.
Related Content: A Chemex Brew Guide
Iced Coffee Substitutions
- Decaf- If you don’t do caffeine, no worries, Purity’s CALM Decaf Coffee works just as good! That’s what I drink and it keeps the bold, rich flavor for an iced coffee so well. Use the same ratios as above when making. Get Purity’s CALM Decaf here.
- Creamers- Instead of the regular cream or milk you could substitute it for a coconut milk or hemp milk. I really like a coconut cream in mine too. Laird is a great dairy free creamer option that has great ingredients.
- Different Methods- You can make iced coffee using a drip machine, pour over or french press but another method that I love is using espresso shots too. It gives even more flavor overall to the iced coffee. Not everyone has an espresso machine, but if you do- try this! I pour two shots over a 12 ounce mason jar. Then put a lid on and shake it. It gets a foam on top and really makes the coffee cold instantly from the ice. The espresso shots melt the ice. Then add more ice to your liking.
- No Brew Method Coffee- Don’t want to invest in a coffee maker or anything else. No problem! Purity sells Protect Sachets which require no machine! I’ve made iced coffee with them and it’s still tasty. Just add one sachet to 6-10 ounces of warm water. Let steep for 3 minutes and then dunk sachet up and down to release even more flavor. Then let cool or pour over ice immediately and add more ice once melted to your liking. So good and so easy! Get the Purity Sachets here.
Check out all of Purity Coffee here and first time buyers can save 20% with code GURLGONEGREEN!
Tips and Tricks When Making Iced Coffee
- Use a Quality Organic Coffee like Purity- It’s no secret that in order to get a great iced coffee you must use quality coffee beans. That’s why I recommend Purity Organic Coffee. Not only are their beans the purest out there when it comes to being free of all the pesticides and chemicals, but they also have the best flavor profile I’ve tried- and I’ve tried a lot of coffee! Get Purity coffee here.
- Make Coffee Ice Cubes- Iced coffee can quickly become diluted since ice is in it and it melts. One way to combat this is to make coffee ice cubes instead. Just pour cooled coffee into ice cube trays instead of water. So easy and makes iced coffee even more delicious because it keeps the strong, robust flavor- highly recommend trying!
- Brew a Big Batch- One nice thing about ice coffee is brewing a large batch. This really helps in the morning make the process so much quicker. Just brew a big batch and then store it in mason jars with a tight lid so it stays fresh. Then just pour some over ice- so easy!
- Sweetener- If you’re wanting to add a sweetener like honey I recommend mixing it in a little warmed coffee first. This helps the honey to dissolve in the coffee. Otherwise the honey just sticks to the bottom of the cup and doesn’t blend well.
- Shake Your Iced Coffee- I’ve found shaking your iced coffee once the ice is in there really adds another element to it. It creates a great foam on top! I just use a mason jar with a lid to shake it, but if you have a cocktail shaker you could use that too.
- Use Filtered Water- Using filtered water can really help to elevate your iced coffee. You’re not getting the chlorine taste or city water taste. Just fresh clean water. Your iced coffee will really stand out. Check out my filtered water post to see all my favorite filtered water options.
- Get an Iced Coffee Cup- It might seem obvious but get an iced coffee cup that you love! This makes the whole process of making yourself an iced coffee so much more enjoyable. You’ll actually make more iced coffee at home too when you have a cup that you like to use, instead of buying it which adds up. Plus, you’ll know exactly what you’re putting in your coffee each time and not be sipping on added pesticides, mold and mycotoxins. I have this cup and love it!
Storage Options
- Mason Jars- I love storing my iced coffee in large glass mason jars in the fridge. I find glass doesn’t interfere with the taste as opposed to stainless steel. Plus, I always have one lying around. Check out the mason jars here.
- Drink Dispenser- This is a great idea if you drink iced coffee a lot or you have others drinking it too. Just add the iced coffee to a drink dispenser and put it in the fridge. Then put your cup underneath anytime you want some iced coffee! Check out the drink dispenser here.
- Glass Pitchers- This is another great glass option. It comes with a handle and lid so it’s easy to pour yourself a glass, plus it stays fresh with a lid. Check out the glass pitchers here.
And now you are ready to make your own iced coffee at home! Following my step by step instruction you will find it tastes so good and you won’t miss the expensive, coffee shop version.
Iced Coffee
Materials
- 2 TBLS. Organic Purity Protect Coffee
- 8 oz. Hot Water
Instructions
- First take 2 Tablespoons Purity Protect Coffee and 8 oz of hot water and brew like you normally would in a drip coffee machine. (See notes for other methods. You can also use coffee you have on hand)
- After the coffee is brewed, allow it to cool before making your iced coffee. (Stick it in fridge to cool faster, I like doing this overnight)
- Pour cooled coffee over a cup full of ice, more or less depending on how much ice you like and how cold you like your iced coffee. I like to fill my whole glass with ice since I prefer a really cold and icy iced coffee!
- Add your sweetener of choice- I love some maple syrup, honey or a few drops of NuNaturals Vanilla sweetened with Stevia.
- Last but not least is your milk/cream of choice- I love adding a splash of heavy cream or half and half. You could also add whole milk if you want something lighter or do any variety of dairy free milk/cream.
- Give it a good stir, add a straw if you like and enjoy!
I’ve cut back on drinking iced coffee but whenever I do, I try to make sure that it tastes special. Would love to try out the coffee ice cube trick and see how it would taste different.
It’s a game changer! I really love how it makes my iced coffee taste strong through the entire drink. 🙂
Thanks for all your great recipes !
Is there a particular French press you love !
Thanks a bunch xx
Hi Gena,
Funny you should ask! I just published How To Make The Best French Press Coffee yesterday! Here is the link: https://gurlgonegreen.com/2023/02/22/best-coffee-for-your-french-press/ I have my favorite french press linked, along with clean coffee options.