Today we’re going to make a classic iced coffee that’s smooth, refreshing, and perfect for hot days or a little afternoon pick-me-up.

This drink combines high-quality coffee with ice to create a crisp, clean flavor without any complicated machines. We’ll walk you through a single serving step by step, so we can enjoy a coffeehouse-style drink right at home anytime.

Ingredients and Tools We Need

Ingredients (for 1 cup, ~250–300ml):

- Coffee beans: 25 grams

- Hot water: 200 grams (90–92°C)

- Ice cubes: 120 grams

- Optional: extra ice for dilution if we want a lighter flavor

Tools:

- Coffee grinder

- Dripper with filter paper

- Coffee server or glass

- Scale

- Kettle with temperature control

We make sure everything is ready before we start. Accurate measurements and preparation help keep the flavor consistent every time we make iced coffee.

Step 1: Grind the Coffee

We start by grinding 25 grams of coffee beans to a medium-fine level—slightly finer than white sugar. If the grind is too coarse, the coffee will taste weak; too fine, and it may become bitter. A consistent grind ensures even extraction and maximum flavor. Taking this step seriously makes a huge difference in the final cup.

Step 2: Prepare Ice, Filter, and Water

Next, we put 120 grams of ice cubes into our serving glass or coffee server. Place a filter paper in the dripper and rinse it with hot water to remove any paper taste and preheat the dripper. Then we measure 200 grams of hot water at 90–92°C. Using slightly lower temperature than normal pour-over water helps avoid over-extraction and keeps the coffee clean and aromatic when it hits the ice.

Step 3: Pour in Stages

Pouring in stages is key for balanced flavor:

1. Bloom: Pour 40 grams of hot water over the coffee grounds just enough to wet them. Wait 40–45 seconds. This releases gases and improves aroma.

2. Main Pour: Slowly pour 120 grams of water in a circular motion, evenly saturating all the coffee grounds.

3. Final Saturation: Divide the remaining 40 grams of water into two smaller pours (20 grams each) to ensure the coffee is fully soaked.

4. After about 20 seconds, remove the dripper and let the coffee drip completely over the ice.

This method ensures the iced coffee stays smooth and flavorful without becoming watery too quickly.

Step 4: Adjust Flavor to Taste

We can easily customize the strength of our iced coffee:

- Lighter flavor: Grind slightly coarser, reduce coffee to 20–22 grams, or add extra ice.

- Stronger flavor: Grind finer, increase coffee to 28–30 grams, or reduce ice.

By adjusting grind size, coffee weight, or ice, we can make a cup exactly how we like it. Trying different adjustments lets us experiment until we find our perfect iced coffee balance.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Once brewed, we gently stir the iced coffee to mix the melted ice with the coffee. The aroma should be rich and inviting, with a clean, refreshing taste. We can enjoy it alone, pair it with a light snack, or share with friends. Pre-chilling the glass or using filtered water can enhance the flavor even more.

Extra Tips for the Perfect Cup

- Use fresh coffee beans for maximum aroma.

- Measure everything with a scale for consistency.

- Don’t let the coffee sit too long after brewing.

- Experiment with different beans, grind sizes, and ice amounts for a flavor that suits us perfectly.

These small adjustments make iced coffee a fun, easy, and satisfying routine rather than a complicated task.

Final Thoughts

Lykkers, making iced coffee at home is easier than it seems. By following these steps—grinding correctly, careful pouring, adjusting strength, and serving with ice—we can create a delicious, refreshing drink anytime. So grab your favorite beans, some ice, and your dripper, and let’s enjoy this simple, rewarding treat together!