How to Make the Perfect Iced Coffee with Specialty Coffee at Home

If you love coffee, you know there is nothing like getting up and fixing yourself a good cup of coffee. While you might be tempted to head to your local coffee shop, making iced coffee at home is not only more economical but also allows you to customise your brew to perfection. With the right techniques and the best ingredients, you can create café-quality iced coffee right in your own kitchen. One key ingredient to achieving this is using specialty coffee, which you can order right to your door.

Why Specialty Coffee?

Before diving into the process, let’s discuss why speciality coffee is essential for making the perfect iced coffee. Speciality coffee refers to high quality coffee beans that have been carefully cultivated, harvested, and processed to meet high standards. These beans are often sourced from specific regions known for their unique flavours and are typically roasted to highlight their natural characteristics. Speciality coffee is known for its rich, complex flavours and superior freshness, making it the ideal choice for a making your coffee at home.

At Bean Smitten, we pride ourselves on providing top-notch speciality coffee through our convenient subscription service. Our carefully curated selection of beans ensures that you always have the best coffee on hand to create the perfect iced coffee.

The Essentials for Making Iced Coffee

To make iced coffee at home, you’ll need a few basic tools and ingredients:

1. Specialty Coffee Beans: The foundation of your iced coffee. Choose a light to medium roast from Bean Smitten for a balanced and flavourful brew.

2. Coffee Grinder: Freshly ground coffee makes a significant difference in taste.

3. Coffee Maker: You can use a drip coffee maker, French press, or pour-over setup.

4. Filtered Water: Quality water ensures a clean taste.

5. Ice: Lots of it!

6. Milk or Cream (optional): For those who like a creamy iced coffee.

7. Sweetener (optional): Sugar, simple syrup, or flavoured syrups.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Iced Coffee

1. Grind Your Coffee

Start by grinding your speciality coffee beans to a medium-coarse consistency. The freshness of the grind plays a crucial role in the flavour of your iced coffee. If you don’t have a grinder, you can request freshly ground coffee from Bean Smitten when you place your order.

2. Brew Your Coffee

There are several methods you can use to brew your coffee for iced coffee. Here are two popular ones:

Cold Brew Method - Cafetiere

Cold brew coffee is smooth and less acidic, making it a favourite for iced coffee lovers.

• Ratio: Use a 1:4 coffee-to-water ratio. For example, 1 cup of coarsely ground coffee to 4 cups of filtered water.

• Steps:

  1. Combine the ground coffee and water in a cafetiere.

  2. Stir to ensure all grounds are saturated.

  3. Cover and let it steep in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours.

  4. Strain the coffee through a fine-mesh sieve or coffee filter into a clean container.

Hot Brew Method – V60 (Japanese pour over method)

If you prefer a quicker method, you can brew hot coffee and then cool it down.

• Steps:

  1. Brew a strong pot of coffee using your preferred method (drip, French press, pour-over).

  2. Use double the amount of coffee grounds to make it stronger since it will be diluted with ice.

  3. Let the coffee cool to room temperature or refrigerate it until cold.

3. Prepare Your Glass

Fill a tall glass with plenty of ice. The ice will not only chill your coffee but also slightly dilute it, balancing the strong brew.

4. Combine and Customise

Pour your brewed coffee over the ice. Here’s where you can get creative:

• Milk/Cream: Add a splash of your favourite milk or cream for a creamy texture.

• Sweetener: Stir in your preferred sweetener to taste. Simple syrup works well as it blends easily.

• Flavour Enhancements: For an extra touch, add a dash of vanilla extract, a sprinkle of cinnamon, or even a flavoured syrup.

5. Stir and Enjoy

Give your iced coffee a good stir to mix everything together. Take a moment to appreciate the aroma and flavour of your speciality coffee. Sip and savour your homemade iced coffee, knowing that you’ve crafted a drink that rivals any café creation.

Making Home Cafes Easier

The perks of creating a home café are not complete without a subscription service for your coffee beans. You never have to think about whether you need to top up your beans or worse, realise you have no more just as you’re about to make your morning cup.

You’ll love the quality of the beans and the freshness of the grind. Bean Smitten offers a variety of exceptional beans through our coffee subscription service, making it easy for you to enjoy top-tier coffee at home. So, why not give it a try?