Last Updated on January 27, 2024 by Murat Aktas
Especially in hot weather, if you want a refreshing and strong cup of coffee or want to make the iced Americano you had at Starbucks at home, this recipe is just for you!
In this recipe from Best Coffee at Home, I will talk about the intricacies of making iced Americano at home without going into unnecessary details. If you trust me, you can make the same iced Americano you had at Starbucks in under 5 minutes at home.
What exactly is an Iced Americano?
Iced Americano, also known as Iced Caffè Americano, is an espresso-based beverage made with espresso, water, and ice. It is served by adding cold water and ice to the espresso. Iced Americano tastes similar to diluted espresso, with a bitter, rich, and strong flavor. It tastes more acidic and intense than a cold brew and iced filter coffee.
What Equipment Do You Need to Make Iced Americano at Home?
Iced Americano is an espresso-based coffee that should be made using an espresso machine.
Note: I have noticed that some popular websites suggest that iced Americano can be made using a Hario V60, French press, or any other filter coffee maker. However, this is not accurate. Iced Americano should be made using espresso.
How Much Caffeine is in an Iced Americano?
The caffeine content of a homemade iced Americano will vary depending on the coffee beans you use and the ratio of coffee in your espresso shot. Therefore, it is difficult to give an exact figure.
However, to give you an idea, you can refer to the caffeine content of Starbucks’ iced Americano in the following table. We have also included the caffeine content of iced coffee and cold brew coffee for comparison purposes.
Caffeine Content By Size | |||
| Drink | Tall (12 fl oz.) | Grande (16 fl oz.) | Venti (24 fl oz.) |
| Iced Caffe Americano | 150 mg | 225 mg | 300 mg |
| Cold Brew | 155 mg | 205 mg | 310 mg |
| Iced Coffee | 120 mg | 165 mg | 235 mg |
Starbucks-style iced Americanos use:
- 2 espresso shots in Tall
- 3 espresso shots in Grande
- 4 espresso shots in Venti.
Iced Americano ingredients:
- 1 shot (1 fl oz or 30 ml) of Espresso
- 5 oz (150 ml) of water
- Ice cubes (as much as you desire)
Related: All-Day Energy – Best Time Release Caffeine Supplements
Step by Step Iced Americano Directions
Americano is one of the most practical espresso-based coffees that can be prepared in less than 5 minutes, including preparation.
Step 1: Prepare Your Espresso
Prepare one shot of espresso in your espresso machine. I use the Gaggia Classic Pro espresso machine for iced Americano. To do this, I use 15 grams of freshly ground coffee beans to yield one shot (1 oz, 30 ml).
Step 2: Add Water and Ice Cubes
The typical ratio of espresso to water in an Americano can range from 1:3 to 1:6. The value you choose within this range is entirely up to your preference. You can use this ratio for iced Americano as well.
For those making iced Americano at home for the first time, I recommend using five water units for every 1 unit of espresso.
I used one shot (1 fl oz, 30 ml) of espresso and 150 ml of water in this recipe. This ratio significantly dilutes the strength of the espresso. You can adjust it to your taste preferences later.
Add the espresso, water, and ice cubes to your glass. The water you add can be cold or at room temperature.
Pro tip: If you use cold water instead of room temperature water for iced Americano, the ice cubes in the glass will melt more slowly. This can help prevent the coffee from becoming too diluted over time.
Step 3: Wait, Stir, and Serve
Wait for 1-2 minutes for your iced Americano to cool down. Stir it with a spoon and serve.
Serving Suggestion
- If your iced Americano is too strong for your taste, add a little water to make it milder.
- Iced Americano is typically served without sugar. Indeed, it can be challenging to dissolve sugar in a cold beverage. In this case, you can use simple syrup to sweeten your iced Americano.
- You can use coffee creamer or caramel syrup to add different flavors to your iced Americano. Both go well with coffee.
Note: If you want to add sugar to your iced Americano and don’t have simple syrup at home, stir some water and as much sugar as you like into a small glass. This way, the sugary water will mix easily with the coffee.
Conclusion on Homemade Iced Americano
Iced Americano is one of the easiest coffees to make at home. You don’t have to wait hours in a cold brew or deal with the filtering process like in Chemex or Hario V60.
Moreover, iced Americano is a strong coffee. It can be perfect for waking you up or helping you concentrate. You can also adjust the strength of your iced Americano by changing the water ratio to your taste and enriching your coffee experience with syrups with different flavors.
Iced Americano Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Shot (1 fl oz or 30 ml) of Espresso
- 5 fl oz (150 ml) of Water
- Ice cubes (as much as you desire)
Instructions
- Prepare Your EspressoPrepare one shot of espresso in your espresso machine. I use the Gaggia Classic Pro espresso machine for iced Americano. To do this, I use 15 grams of freshly ground coffee beans to yield one shot (1 oz, 30 ml).
- Add Water and Ice CubesThe typical ratio of espresso to water in an Americano can range from 1:3 to 1:6. The value you choose within this range is entirely up to your preference. You can use this ratio for iced Americano as well.For those making iced Americano at home for the first time, I recommend using five water units for every 1 unit of espresso.I used one shot (1 fl oz, 30 ml) of espresso and 150 ml of water in this recipe. This ratio significantly dilutes the strength of the espresso. You can adjust it to your taste preferences later.Add the espresso, water, and ice cubes to your glass. The water you add can be cold or at room temperature.
- Wait, Stir, and ServeWait for 1-2 minutes for your iced Americano to cool down. Stir it with a spoon and serve.
Notes
- If your iced Americano is too strong for your taste, add a little water to make it milder.
- Iced Americano is typically served without sugar. Indeed, it can be challenging to dissolve sugar in a cold beverage. In this case, you can use simple syrup to sweeten your iced Americano.
- You can use coffee creamer or caramel syrup to add different flavors to your iced Americano. Both go well with coffee.
