9 Cafe-Style Iced Coffees You Can Make at Home

Iced coffee from a cafe costs a lot, and it adds up fast. The good news is that you can make the same drinks at home in about 5 minutes with ingredients you probably already have. All you need is strong coffee, milk, ice and one flavor.

Below are 9 cafe-style iced coffees, from a simple classic latte to a rich iced turtle latte. Each recipe makes one tall glass, and every one uses the same easy method, so you can swap flavors whenever you like.

Before You Start: The Basics

A few small things make the difference between a watery drink and a real cafe-style one.

• Use strong coffee. Ice melts and dilutes the drink, so brew it stronger than normal. Espresso is best. If you do not have a machine, use instant espresso powder, a moka pot, or double-strength brewed coffee.
• Make coffee ice cubes. Freeze leftover coffee in an ice tray. Your drink stays cold without getting weak.
• Dissolve sweeteners in hot coffee. Sugar, honey, syrups and sauces mix best into warm espresso, not cold milk.
• Use cold milk. Any milk works, including oat, almond or whole milk. Whole milk gives the creamiest result.
• Pick a tall glass. You need room for ice, milk and coffee, and it looks better too.

1. Classic Iced Latte

The simple base for every drink on this list. Once you nail this one, the rest are just a spoonful of flavor away.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• 1 tsp sugar or simple syrup (optional)

Instructions

1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
2. Pour in the cold milk.
3. Slowly pour the espresso over the milk so it swirls through.
4. Stir, taste, and add sugar if you like it sweeter.

Tip: Pour the espresso last. You get that pretty layered look and the milk stays cold.

2. Iced Vanilla Latte

Smooth, creamy and lightly sweet. This is the one that tastes the most like your favorite cafe order.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 2 tbsp vanilla syrup
• 1½ cups ice cubes

Instructions

1. Stir the vanilla syrup into the hot espresso until it dissolves.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the milk.
3. Pour the vanilla espresso over the top.
4. Give it a quick stir and serve.

Tip: Out of syrup? Mix 1 tbsp sugar with ½ tsp vanilla extract into the hot espresso.

3. Iced Mocha

Coffee and chocolate in one glass. Top it with whipped cream and it feels like a dessert.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup, plus extra for the glass
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Whipped cream and chocolate shavings (optional)

Instructions

1. Drizzle chocolate syrup inside a tall glass.
2. Stir 2 tbsp chocolate syrup into the hot espresso.
3. Fill the glass with ice and pour in the milk.
4. Add the chocolate espresso, then top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Tip: Mix the chocolate into the hot espresso. It dissolves fully and you avoid sludge at the bottom.

4. Iced Salted Caramel Latte

Sweet caramel with a tiny pinch of salt. That salty-sweet balance is what makes this one so easy to love.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 2 tbsp caramel sauce
• 1 small pinch flaky sea salt
• 1½ cups ice cubes

Instructions

1. Swirl a little caramel sauce around the inside of the glass.
2. Stir the rest of the caramel into the hot espresso.
3. Add ice and cold milk to the glass.
4. Pour in the espresso and finish with a tiny pinch of sea salt.

Tip: Go light on the salt. A small pinch is enough to lift the caramel without tasting salty.

5. Iced Brown Sugar Cinnamon Latte

Warm, cozy flavors in a cold drink. Brown sugar gives it a deep, almost toffee-like sweetness.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1½ cups ice cubes

Instructions

1. Stir the brown sugar and cinnamon into the hot espresso until fully dissolved.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice.
3. Pour in the milk.
4. Add the spiced espresso and stir gently.

Tip: The sugar must go into the espresso while it is hot, or it will sink and stay gritty.

6. Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte

A softer, more natural sweetness. Honey and cinnamon work really well with coffee.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1½ tbsp honey
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1½ cups ice cubes

Instructions

1. Stir the honey and cinnamon into the hot espresso until smooth.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the milk.
3. Pour the honey espresso over the top.
4. Stir and enjoy.

Tip: Honey does not dissolve well in cold liquid, so always mix it into the warm espresso first.

7. Iced White Chocolate Mocha

Creamy, sweet and mellow. A great pick if regular mocha feels too strong for you.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 2 tbsp white chocolate sauce
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Whipped cream and white chocolate shavings (optional)

Instructions

1. Stir the white chocolate sauce into the hot espresso until melted.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the milk.
3. Pour the espresso mixture over the top.
4. Finish with whipped cream and white chocolate shavings.

Tip: White chocolate sauce is quite sweet, so start with 1½ tbsp and add more if needed.

8. Iced Hazelnut Latte

Nutty, smooth and easy to make. Hazelnut syrup is one of the best flavors to keep in your kitchen.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 2 tbsp hazelnut syrup
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• 1 tbsp chopped hazelnuts (optional)

Instructions

1. Stir the hazelnut syrup into the hot espresso.
2. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the milk.
3. Pour the hazelnut espresso over the top.
4. Sprinkle chopped hazelnuts on top if you like.

Tip: Toast the chopped hazelnuts in a dry pan for 2 minutes for a stronger nutty flavor.

9. Iced Turtle Latte

Caramel, chocolate and pecans together. It is the most indulgent drink on this list.

Ingredients (makes 1 glass)

• 2 shots espresso (or ½ cup strong brewed coffee)
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 tbsp caramel sauce
• 1 tbsp chocolate sauce
• 1½ cups ice cubes
• Whipped cream, extra caramel drizzle and chopped pecans (optional)

Instructions

1. Drizzle caramel and chocolate sauce inside a tall glass.
2. Stir the remaining caramel and chocolate into the hot espresso.
3. Add ice and milk to the glass, then pour in the espresso.
4. Top with whipped cream, a caramel drizzle and chopped pecans.

Tip: Chill the glass in the freezer for 10 minutes first. The drizzle sticks better and the drink stays colder.

Common Questions

Can I make these without an espresso machine?

Yes. Use ½ cup of very strong brewed coffee, a moka pot, or 2 tsp instant espresso powder dissolved in ¼ cup hot water for each drink.

How do I stop my iced coffee from tasting watery?

Brew the coffee extra strong and use coffee ice cubes instead of regular ice.

Can I use plant-based milk?

Yes. Oat milk is the creamiest and works best, while almond and soy milk are lighter. Shake the carton well before pouring.

Can I make a big batch ahead?

You can brew and sweeten the coffee base, then keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Add ice and milk right before serving.

Which flavor should I try first?

Start with the Classic Iced Latte or the Iced Vanilla Latte. They are simple, and you can add other flavors after that.

Final Thoughts

With just coffee, milk, ice and one simple flavor, you can make any of these 9 drinks in minutes. Pick one this week and see how close it gets to your favorite cafe. Save this post for later, and tell us in the comments which one you made!