It’s so convenient to brew iced coffee using a Keurig and no special equipment is required — simply your Keurig brewer, ice, and your chosen K-Cup. You can serve your iced coffee to taste: black, sweetened, creamy, or flavored. Follow this simple guide.
☕ How to Make Iced Coffee with a Keurig – Easy Guide
What You’ll Need
✅ Any model Keurig coffee maker
✅ Your preferred K-Cup (darker roasts work best)
✅ Ice cubes
✅ A heat-safe mug (to brew into)
✅ Milk, cream, sweetener, or syrup (optional)
Step 1: Choose the Right K-Cup
For iced coffee, you’ll want to use a strong brew so that it doesn’t taste too watered down after the ice has melted. Some good options include:
- Dark roast coffee K-Cups (full-bodied and strong)
- Espresso roast K-Cups (if you want it even stronger)
- Special “Brew Over Ice” K-Cups (which are specifically made to brew over ice)
If you like flavored coffee (e.g., vanilla or caramel), you can also use flavored K-Cups.
Step 2: Fill a Cup with Ice
Use a cup that is heat-resistant and capable of handling direct hot brewing over the ice. Thin glass should be avoided except when tempered (like a mason jar). A stainless steel tumbler or insulated cup works best.
- Pour ice into the cup almost full.
- You can even include a little milk or cream to the ice itself if you want creamy iced coffee.
Step 3: Brew a Smaller, Stronger Cup
For iced coffee, you will want the coffee to be strong enough to compete with melting ice.
- Most Keurigs offer cup sizes of 6 oz, 8 oz, and 10 oz.
- Use the smallest cup size (6 oz) for the strongest coffee.
- If your Keurig also has a “Strong Brew” button, use it for an even stronger taste.
Step 4: Sweeten (Optional)
- Add sugar, simple syrup, or flavor syrup while the coffee is hot (sugar dissolves better in warm liquid).
- Stir well to combine.
Step 5: Cool and Customize
- You can add more ice to fill the cup if the ice melts quickly.
- You can add milk, cream, or non-dairy milk for a dairy beverage.
- You can add more flavorings like vanilla extract, cinnamon, or a pump of flavored syrup.
Step 6: Stir and Enjoy!
Once all that is mixed together, add a straw and enjoy your do-it-yourself iced coffee.
☕ Bonus: Tips for Better Iced Coffee
✅ Use Coffee Ice Cubes
Don’t like watered-down iced coffee? Brew coffee ahead of time, pour it into an ice cube tray, and freeze. Use coffee ice cubes instead of regular ice to make super-strong iced coffee.
✅ Experiment with Cold Foam on Top
Want that coffee shop vibe? Top your iced coffee with frothed cold milk (you can froth with a hand frother or by shaking milk in a jar) for a rich and high-end feel.
✅ Want It Double Strong?
Brew two short 6 oz cups into one large iced cup for a double shot of coffee.
✅ Try Cold Brew K-Cups
Some brands make K-Cups especially for iced coffee (“Brew Over Ice”). These are designed to brew stronger coffee that resists melting ice. Some of the popular ones are:
- Green Mountain Brew Over Ice Vanilla Caramel
- The Original Donut Shop Iced Coffee
- McCafé At Home Iced Mocha Latte
☕ Simple Iced Coffee Recipe (Quick Summary)
Step What to Do
- Fill cup with ice
- Choose a strong/dark K-Cup
- Brew smallest cup size
- Add sugar/syrup while hot
- Add milk/cream if desired
- Stir, add ice, and enjoy!
Want Something Creamier? Savor an Iced Latte!
If you want something richer and closer to a Starbucks iced latte, do the following:
- Insert a dark roast K-Cup.
- Brew 4 oz or 6 oz in an ice-filled cup.
- Insert half cup of cold milk (any type — whole milk, almond, oat, etc.).
- Insert vanilla syrup, caramel syrup, or pour of sweetened condensed milk.
- Stir thoroughly and finish with whipped cream if decadent.
Last Tip: Avoid Letting Brewed Coffee Sit for Too Long
If you want to prep in advance, brew the coffee and keep it in the fridge for later. But don’t leave coffee sitting in the Keurig for hours on end — it stales and gets bitter in a snap. Freshly brewed is always best.
