Recipe Review

5 Iced Coffee Upgrades That Make It Even Easier to Get Your Caffeine Fix

updated Jun 3, 2019
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(Image credit: Jerrelle Guy)

Some may argue that iced coffee is such a perfect warm-weather drink, so why not just leave well and good alone? You see, I don’t agree because it’s a perfect template for experimentation. Coffee works well with so many other flavors that riffing on the beverage is not only fun, but it also turns out to be seriously successful. If you thought regular iced coffee was great, just wait until you give one (or all) of these twists a try.

Your Template for Flavoring Iced Coffee

Start with your

favorite iced coffee

1 glass iced coffee + flavoring agents

(Image credit: Jerrelle Guy)

1. Minty Coconut Iced Coffee

Fresh mint bumps up the refreshment factor of this tropical-leaning iced coffee that’s just the right amount of creamy. Place 4 mint leaves in the bottom of a glass. Use a muddler or back of a spoon to crush the leaves. Fill glass with ice and iced coffee. Add 3 tablespoons canned, full-fat coconut milk and stir to combine. Sweeten to taste if desired.

2. Orange Almond Iced Coffee

The bottle of almond extract is probably collecting dust in your pantry, and that’s a shame — its sweet, nutty flavor is the perfect match for bitter coffee and fragrant orange slices. Fill glass with ice and iced coffee. Add 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and 2 quartered orange slices and stir to combine. Sweeten to taste if desired.

3. Iced Coffee Float

This one-ingredient addition is what iced coffee dreams are made of. Put 2 scoops of ice cream into glass. Fill glass with iced coffee. Which flavor to use? No one will fault you for going with classic vanilla, but chocolate turns it into a party, coffee keeps the caffeine level high, and salted caramel is, well, ingenious.

4. Cashew Vanilla Iced Coffee

Vanilla bean paste lends pure, unadulterated vanilla flavor to this tastier take on an iced latte. Fill glass with ice, 1/4 cup cashew milk, and iced coffee. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste and stir to combine.

5. Sparkling Mocha Iced Coffee

Because coffee and chocolate were basically meant for each other. Finish this one with a splash of tonic water to make it extra light and refreshing. Fill glass with ice and iced coffee. Add 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup and stir to combine. Top with tonic water.