Delicious Iced Coffee Recipes From Horn & Hardart

These delicious iced coffee recipes make it easy to build a drink you like. You can brew your favorite coffee, chill it, and pour it over ice. You can also add milk, cream, syrups, or other flavors. If you want the easiest route, start with cold brew concentrate and just pour, mix, and enjoy.

Here are a few homemade iced coffee ideas for regular coffee or cold brew.

What makes a good iced coffee?

A good iced coffee starts with coffee that is strong enough to hold its flavor as the ice melts.

One common mistake is pouring regular-strength hot coffee over a full glass of ice. The hot coffee melts the ice quickly and can leave you with a watery drink.

There are two easy ways around that.

Start with brewed coffee. Brew your coffee a little stronger than usual, let it cool, then serve it over ice.

Keep it easy with cold brew concentrate. Because it is already brewed and ready to pour, concentrate lets you make iced coffee without brewing, cooling, or waiting overnight.

How to make iced coffee with regular coffee

You do not need special coffee to make homemade iced coffee.

Brew your coffee a little stronger than usual. Our Medium Roast Automat Coffee makes a smooth, balanced cup, while Dark Roast Automat Coffee gives you a bolder drink that stands up well to milk and cream.

Let the coffee cool, then chill it in the refrigerator. Pour it over fresh ice and add milk, cream, or sweetener to taste.

Tip: Freeze leftover brewed coffee in an ice cube tray. Coffee ice cubes keep your drink cold without watering it down.

The easiest way to make iced coffee: Cold Brew Concentrate

Want iced coffee without brewing a pot, waiting for it to cool, or steeping cold brew overnight? That is why we made Horn & Hardart Cold Brew Concentrate. For many people, it is the best iced coffee recipe shortcut when time matters most.

Just pour, mix, and add ice.

A good starting point is:

• 1 part Cold Brew Concentrate
• 1 part water or milk
• Ice

Prefer it stronger? Use less water or milk. Want it lighter or creamier? Add more.

It is cold brew made your way.

From there, you can use it as the base for all kinds of coffee drink recipes.

Vanilla Iced Coffee

Vanilla is a classic addition to iced coffee and only takes a few ingredients.

You'll need:

• 1/2 cup Horn & Hardart Cold Brew Concentrate
• 1/2 cup milk or water
• 1 to 2 tablespoons vanilla simple syrup
• Ice

Fill a glass with ice. Add the Cold Brew Concentrate, milk or water, and vanilla syrup. Stir and adjust the sweetness to taste.

You can also make this recipe with chilled Medium Roast Automat Coffee.

Mocha Iced Coffee

Chocolate and coffee are a classic pair.

You'll need:

• 1/2 cup Cold Brew Concentrate
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 to 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
• Ice

Stir the chocolate syrup into the cold brew until combined. Pour over ice and add milk.

For a stronger coffee flavor, use a little less milk. You can also make this recipe using chilled Dark Roast Automat Coffee.

Caramel Cream Iced Coffee

For a richer iced coffee, add caramel and a splash of cream.

You'll need:

• 1/2 cup Cold Brew Concentrate
• 1/2 cup milk or water
• 1 tablespoon caramel sauce
• Splash of cream
• Ice
• Optional pinch of salt

Mix the cold brew and caramel together, then pour over ice. Add milk or water and finish with a splash of cream.

For a salted caramel version, add a small pinch of salt.

Cinnamon Maple Iced Coffee

Maple syrup blends easily into cold coffee and gives this recipe plenty of sweetness without a flavored syrup.

You'll need:

• 1/2 cup Cold Brew Concentrate
• 1/2 cup milk or water
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• Dash of cinnamon
• Ice

Stir the maple syrup into the coffee, add a dash of cinnamon, and pour over ice. Finish with milk to taste.

A small splash of vanilla works well here, too.

How do you keep iced coffee from getting watery?

The trick is to limit how much melting ice has to do the job of cooling your coffee.

A few things can help:

1. Brew regular coffee stronger than you would for a hot cup.
2. Let brewed coffee chill before you pour it over ice.
3. Make coffee ice cubes with leftover coffee.
4. Use cold brew concentrate so you can control exactly how much you dilute your drink.
5. Add milk slowly so you do not hide the coffee flavor.

If your iced coffee still tastes weak, try using less ice or starting with a stronger coffee-to-water ratio.

Can you make iced coffee ahead of time?

Yes. If you're using regular coffee, brew a little extra and refrigerate it for later. Once it is chilled, you can pour it over ice whenever you're ready.

You can also freeze leftover coffee into coffee ice cubes and keep them on hand.

Or skip the prep and keep a bottle of Cold Brew Concentrate in the refrigerator. Pour what you need, mix it with water or milk, and add ice.

What's the difference between iced coffee and cold brew?

Iced coffee and cold brew are both served cold, but they are made differently.

Iced coffee usually starts with coffee brewed with hot water. They cool the coffee and serve it over ice.

Brew cold brew by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period. The result is smooth, full-bodied, and well suited for serving cold.

Cold brew concentrate takes that one step further. Instead of brewing your own cold brew overnight, the concentrate is ready to mix with water or milk whenever you want a glass.

Can you make iced coffee with hot coffee?

Yes. Hot brewed coffee can make good iced coffee, but it is best to let it cool before pouring it over ice.

If you need to cool it more quickly, brew your coffee stronger than usual so some dilution from melting ice will not wash out the flavor.

For everyday use, you can also brew extra coffee in the morning and refrigerate what you do not drink for iced coffee later.

Regular coffee or cold brew?

Both make a great iced coffee. It comes down to how you like to make it.

If you already have a pot of Automat Coffee brewed, chill some and save it for later. Medium Roast gives you a smooth, balanced cup, while Dark Roast gives you something richer and bolder.

If convenience is the priority, Cold Brew Concentrate is the easiest route. There is no brewing, no overnight steeping, and no waiting for coffee to cool.

Just pour, mix, and make it your way.

Make Your Iced Coffee Your Way

Vanilla. Caramel. Mocha. A splash of milk. Or simply black over ice.

There is no single right way to make iced coffee. Start with good coffee and adjust the strength, sweetness, and creaminess until it is just how you like it.

Shop Automat Coffee or try our Cold Brew Concentrate for the easiest way to keep cold brew on hand.