Iced Coffee Recipe Instant Coffee

Learn how to make this quick iced coffee recipe, at home, with instant coffee. It’s a delicious way to save time, money, and effort.

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I have always preferred a cold coffee drink over hot coffee.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a hot summer day or the middle of a blizzard, I will always choose a delicious iced coffee. 

Making one with instant coffee is perfect for those days when you need a caffeine fix RIGHT away. 

Or you’re just too tired to be bothered. (Does anyone else have those type of days?)

You don’t have to drive to your favorite coffee shop or wait for regular brewed coffee to cool. 

This cold coffee recipe is ready INSTANTLY. (😉)

Want more of the best iced coffee recipes? Check out:
- Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso Recipe
- Iced Coffee Recipe with Ice Cream
- Strawberry Latte Recipe

Can you make iced coffee with instant coffee?

Absolutely. Using instant coffee to make iced coffee is incredibly convenient, cost-effective, and time saving. 

The best way to make good iced coffee with instant coffee is to make a little coffee concentrate by combining the instant coffee granules with a small amount of warm or hot water. 

The coffee crystals quickly and easily dissolve in heated water. 

BUT, they will dissolve in cold or room temperature water as well. 

It just takes a little more time and mixing to make sure the coffee concentrate is smooth. 

Best Instant Coffee for Iced Coffee

The best brand of instant coffee depends on your own personal preference. 

Nescafe Clasico Instant Coffee

I like to use Nescafe Clasico Dark Roast Instant Coffee in this DIY iced coffee recipe. 

It offers a stronger coffee flavor that is rich, bold, and pairs well with cold milk. 

Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee

If you want to pretend you’re in a local coffee shop, I recommend using Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee in Medium Roast or Dark Roast. 

The smooth, balanced, and familiar taste offers a coffee shop-like experience at home.

Maxwell House Original Roast Instant Coffee

This popular brand of instant ground coffee is usually praised for its smooth, full-bodied flavor and classic taste. 

It’s widely available in grocery stores, making it an extra convenient choice for homemade iced coffee. 

Can I use decaffeinated instant coffee in this easy recipe?

Yes, of course!

All the steps in this simple recipe stay the same. Just use decaffeinated instant coffee granules instead of regular instant coffee.

Decaffeinated instant coffee, like Nescafe Rich Decaffeinated Dark Roast Instant Coffee and Maxwell House The Original Roast Decaf Instant Coffee, still provides classic coffee flavor without the stimulating effects of caffeine. 

Tips and Tricks

• Make and use coffee ice cubes.

This way, when the ice cubes start to melt in your delicious cold coffee, it won’t water it down. It simply adds extra coffee. 

To make coffee ice cubes, fill regular ice cube trays with the appropriate amount of coffee and freeze overnight. 

• Use filtered water. The chemicals in tap water can change the taste of your cold drink.

Possible Additions

The best part of this iced coffee recipe instant coffee is that it's customizable, which means you are free to add your favorite milk, sweetener, or coffee syrup.

Milk

For a creamy iced coffee, I recommend using whole milk or oat milk.  

If you’re watching calories, almond milk is a good choice.

More Caffeine (or Coffee Flavor)

Want (or need) a stronger coffee? Add another teaspoon of instant coffee while making the coffee concentrate.

Syrup 

If you would like to add chocolate syrup or any other coffee syrup, you totally can.

I just recommend adding a little bit of the new ingredient at a time, while tasting, until you reach your desired amount of flavor and sweetness. 

Craving a vanilla iced coffee? Use this DIY Vanilla Syrup for Coffee in your instant coffee drink.

Pumpkin Cold Foam

Turn it into a cozy fall drink by adding delicious pumpkin cold foam on top, like in this Iced Chai Latte with Pumpkin Cold Foam Recipe.

Ice Cream

Thinking about adding ice cream to your iced coffee on a hot afternoon? Check out this Iced Coffee with Ice Cream Recipe. It can easily be made with this instant iced coffee.  

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can. 

I like to make it the night before a hectic morning and put it in the fridge so it's ready to go as soon as I wake up.

I store it in one of these Mason Jar Drinking Glasses with Handles.

You can even make a big batch of it, so it’s ready every day of the week with no additional effort or thought. 

Simply transfer the prepared cold coffee, sans ice, to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to two weeks. 

Add the ice cubes right before consuming. Otherwise, they will melt in the fridge and water down your refreshing beverage. 

Looking for more instant coffee recipes? Check out:
- Coffee Cookies {made with Instant Coffee}
- Homemade Matcha Coffee
- Pumpkin Sauce for Coffee

If you make this recipe and love it, please remember to rate and/or comment below. I’d love to hear which brand of instant coffee is your favorite.