Iced espresso recipe –

Do you love the taste of iced espresso but don’t want to pay high prices at your local cafe? With a few simple ingredients and tools, you can make my delicious iced espresso recipe. So let’s dive straight in.

What is iced espresso?

We all know that an espresso is a very short very very strong black coffee. It has a topping called a crema and is used as the basis for lots of great coffees you know and love. These include, lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, cortados, macchiatos and mochas, to name a few.

Espresso is made by forcing pressurized hot water through finely-ground coffee beans. The result is an intense dose of pure coffee flavour. It delivers everything the beans have to offer. To turn it into an iced espresso, simply add 2-3 ice cubes to a glass and pour over 1-2 shots of espresso.

It will to cool and refresh you on hot days, whilst giving you an immediate energy boost.

But that’s not all, iced espresso gives you its crowning glory, the crema.

What is crema?

Crema on espresso is a layer of rich, creamy foam produced when brewing coffee under high pressure. It’s formed from many tiny bubbles of CO2 gas, released in the brewing process.

It won’t last long on an iced espresso, so drink it quickly to get that creamy rich texture before it melts away.

Best coffee beans for iced espresso

Making an espresso with ice will cut down a lot of the aroma, and can soften the flavors. So if you like a dark roast espresso it will still be strong but with some of the intensity smoothed over.

When I drink iced espresso I love to use strong espresso beans with plenty of flavor notes thhat still come through the chill of the ice cubes.

My current favorites are:

• Peet’s Coffee, Major Dickason’s Blend

It’s dark roast, but not as bitter as many coffees, plus it’s got amazing flavors and aromas that have notes of sweet earth, chocolate and exotic spices.

Just too good to ignore. Major Dickason’s Blend has been around forever, but it’s as good as ever. Even better you can get it as beans, pre-ground and even decaf.

• San Francisco Bay Coffee French Roast Whole Bean

Another amazing brand driven by quality. Made from 100% arabica beans sourced from Central and South America. It has intoxicating lavors and aromas of Cinnamon and Dark Chocolate with a smoky finish. It’s also available as whole beans and pre-ground.

• Kicking Horse Coffee, Cliff Hanger Espresso, Medium Roast, Whole Bean

I thought this list couldn’t get any better, but I was wrong. This Kicking Horse Coffee is a medium roast, so less bitter but with deep milk chocolate, blackcurrant and brown sugar notes. Plus, it’s certified organic, fairtrade and kosher.

Do you need an espresso machine to make iced espresso

If you have an espresso machine, homemade espresso shots are easy. Depending on your machine, either make two single shots, or select 2 shots and fire up the machine.

Don’t worry if you don’t have an espresso machine. Just check out my post on How to make espresso without a machine. You’ll find easy ways to make an espresso with any of the popular coffee makers, including moka pot, aeropress, French press, manual espresso maker, pod coffee maker and even with just a jar with a sealable lid and a spoon!

Making iced espresso at home

I’ll show you both ways to make a great shot of homemade iced espresso, either using an espresso machine, or with a coffee maker:

Equipment

• espresso machine or coffee maker
• Grinder
• Spoon
• Cup or glass
• Kitchen scales (optional)
• Kettle

Ingredients

• Coffee beans (18 grams)
• 2-3 ice cubes
• 36 grams hot water

With an espresso machine

Method

• Grind 18 grams of your favorite, freshest, dark-roast coffee beans to a fine consistency.
• Pour the grounds into the portafilter. Tap the portafilter on the work surface to evenly distribute the coffee. Then Tamp down the coffee grounds.
• Insert the filter into your espresso machine and press start.
• While the espresso is brewing, put 2-3 ice cubes in a small glass or cup.
• Once the brew has been completed (aim for a full extraction in about 25-30 seconds), pour the espresso over the ice cubes.

Without an espresso machine

Method

• The precise method of brewing a shot of espresso varies according to the coffee maker you are using. For a deep dive into how to make espresso with the popular types of coffee maker, check out my post on How to make espresso without a machine.
• While your espresso is brewing, put 2-3 ice cubes in a small glass or cup.
• Once the brew has been completed pour the espresso over the ice cubes.

FAQs

What is iced espresso?

Iced espresso is a cold variation of a classic espresso that’s brewed with hot water and then chilled by pouring it over ice cubes. It’s usually made with two shots of espresso, which are added to ice. It has a more intense flavor than regular iced coffee because of the concentrated shots of espresso.

How is iced espresso different from cold brew coffee?

Iced espresso and cold brew are two distinct types of chilled coffee drinks.

How cold brew is made

Cold brew is made by mixing coffee grounds with cold water and putting it in the fridge for several hours. Check out how to make great homemade cold-brew coffee.

How espresso is made

Espresso is a fast brewing process. It’s made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee under high pressure.

Taste of cold brew vs iced espresso

Cold brew has a more mellow flavor than iced espresso and is typically much less acidic. While it has plenty of flavor from the coffee used to make it, somehow cold brew just tastes mellow and smooth. While iced espresso remains a stronger deeper and pleasantly bitter taste.

Whichever you prefer, both espresso and cold brew coffees will give you a cooling but stimulating coffee experience. I love both, so for me it comes down to whether I can plan ahead to make a cold brew. Or whether I simply fire up the espresso machine and grab some ice cubes.

What are the benefits of drinking iced espresso?

Iced espresso gives you a more intense flavor than regular coffee and contains more caffeine per serving, making it a great pick-me-up for when you need a jolt of energy. It can also help keep you cool on hot days.

What is the best way to make iced espresso at home?

Making iced espresso at home is easy! Start by brewing two shots of espresso in an espresso machine (or coffee maker). Then add the shots to a cup of ice . Finally, stir in any additional flavorings such as vanilla extract or a flavored syrup for coffee and enjoy!

What are some creative ways to use iced espresso?

Iced espresso can be used for a variety of delicious recipes, such as iced cappuccinos, iced lattes, frappuccinos, and even milkshakes. It can also be used to make boozy coffee drinks like spiked mochas or affogatos.

Other great espresso based coffees

Espresso without a machine – even if you haven’t got an espresso machine, you can still make a pretty good espresso type coffee.

Shaken espresso – when it’s hot I reach for a shaken espresso. It’s cooling AND it gives me a big energy boost.