Brewing
As the temperature starts to rise, that means iced coffee season is upon us! So, if you’re a coffee lover but want to dial down the heat of your favourite brew during the warmer summer months, an iced Americano is a simple cold coffee to make at home. To help you out, we’ve put together this easy recipe and step-by-step guide so you can sip on iced Americanos all summer long. We’ll cover:
If you’re in the mood for a cold coffee, it doesn’t get much easier than an iced Americano. This is a chilled black coffee made using espresso and poured over ice or iced water. It’s quick and easy to make and is sure to keep you cool and caffeinated on a hot day.
You’ll need:
Espresso machine
Freshly roasted coffee (beans or ground)
Ice
Cup
Make a double shot of freshly brewed espresso using an espresso machine. To put it simply, if it’s not brewed with an espresso machine, it’s just not an Americano.
Fill your serving glass with ice and water before adding your freshly brewed espresso. If you do not want to dilute the coffee flavour, you can make coffee ice cubes the day before (more on that later).
Once you’ve added all of the coffee, give your iced Americano a stir and add some additional ice cubes to keep it extra cool. Add a straw, and enjoy!
You’ll get a cold coffee from both an iced Americano and a cold brew. However, the key difference between these iced beverages is the brewing method. An iced Americano is made by pouring freshly brewed espresso over iced water whereas a cold brew is brewed by immersing coffee grounds in cold water for around 20 hours to extract the flavour.
A rich, full-bodied roast works best for an iced Americano, as long as it is brewed correctly as an espresso. We love a light to medium roast at Neighbourhood Coffee. So, we’d recommend using coffee beans from Colombia or Peru for the best flavour which makes our Sip Me Baby One More Time a great option for your iced Americano.
To make a drink that’s truly classed as an iced Americano, you’ll need to brew your coffee using an espresso machine. Any other brewing method will make you an iced coffee, but it won’t be an iced Americano. So, we’d recommend using freshly roasted coffee beans (from yours truly) and brewing a double shot of espresso for an iced Americano.
While you can make a damn good cold coffee drink without an espresso machine, a French press (or cafetiere), AeroPress, moka pot in particular, won’t make the iced Americano you’re looking for.
The best grind for an iced Americano is a fine espresso grind as you’ll need to use an espresso machine to make the coffee. Freshly ground beans pack the most punch when it comes to flavour but we can grind your coffee beans to order if you don’t have a grinder.
Yes! Once you have made your espresso, you should pour it into a glass filled with ice and water and the hot espresso will melt the ice as it is added.
A great hack for keeping your iced Americano cool without diluting the coffee flavour is to make coffee ice cubes. You can do this the day before by simply making an espresso or Americano and pouring the drink into an ice tray to freeze overnight.
Ultimately, you can only make what can be called an iced Americano using an espresso machine. If you’re looking for a cooler caffeine fix on warmer days, an iced Americano is super simple to make and is guaranteed to leave you wanting more of this deliciously chilled coffee. Ready to get brewing? Check out the latest coffee beans and blends to join the Neighbourhood.
