Homemade Iced Coffee in 5 Minutes (No Machine)
Quick answer
For 2 glasses: dissolve 2 teaspoons of instant coffee and 2 tablespoons of sugar in 2 tablespoons of hot water. Blend with 1½ cups (360 ml) of cold milk and 1 cup of ice for 30 seconds, then serve.
This is the easiest way to get a café-style iced coffee at home: instant coffee, cold milk, ice and 30 seconds in the blender. No coffee machine, no special syrup.
Why you’ll love it
- No coffee maker or espresso machine needed.
- Café-style foam from 30 seconds in the blender.
- Costs a fraction of a café drink.
Ingredient notes
Instant coffee: any brand works; a dark roast tastes stronger through the milk. Milk: whole milk gives the creamiest foam.
Variations
- Stronger: use 1½ teaspoons of coffee per glass.
- Mocha: add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder with the coffee.
What we learned testing it
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Homemade Iced Coffee in 5 Minutes (No Machine)
Makes 2 glasses · 5 min total · Easy
Ingredients
Equipment
Blender or a jar with a tight lid
Instructions
-
Dissolve the coffee
In a glass, stir the instant coffee, sugar and hot water together until no lumps remain.
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Blend for 30 seconds
Add the coffee mixture, cold milk and ice to a blender and blend for 20 to 30 seconds, until foamy. No blender? Shake everything in a tightly sealed jar for 30 seconds.
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Serve
Pour into glasses, add more ice if you want it extra cold, and dust with cinnamon.
Notes
- Coffee dissolved in cold milk stays lumpy, so always start with the hot water.
Nutrition per serving
Nutrition information is being calculated.
Substitutions
- Brewed coffee
- Use ½ cup of strong brewed coffee, cooled, instead of the instant coffee and hot water.
- Plant milk
- Oat and almond milk both work; the foam is a little lighter.
Storage and make-ahead
Best served right away. Keep the dissolved coffee mixture in the fridge for up to 3 days and blend with milk and ice when you want a glass.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make iced coffee without a coffee maker?
Yes. Dissolve instant coffee in a little hot water, then blend or shake it with cold milk and ice.
How do I stop iced coffee getting watery?
Freeze leftover coffee in an ice cube tray and use those cubes instead of regular ice.