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Home » Recipes » Drinks

How to Make Iced Coffee with Instant Coffee

Modified: Apr 16, 2024 · Published Apr 16, 2024 · by Jacqueline Piper · 6 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links. Read our privacy policy.

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iced coffee in a glass with a straw
iced coffee in a glass with a straw
Light-colored coffee in a glass with a straw and ice cubes with the text iced coffee with instant coffee.
Light-colored coffee in a glass with a straw and ice cubes with the text iced coffee with instant coffee.
Light-colored coffee in a glass with a straw and ice cubes with the text iced coffee with instant coffee.

Easy Iced Coffee | Learn how to make iced coffee with instant coffee - and in less than five minutes. The quickest way of making iced coffee is to use instant coffee granules, because it dissolves instantly, so there is no waiting time for coffee to brew. With this little hack, you use less hot water, so there is literally no cooling time, just delicious, strong iced instant coffee.

Light-colored coffee in a glass with a straw and ice cubes.

So you want to make yourself and your besties some iced coffee to combat the hot temperatures this summer? Me too!

What if you don't have an espresso machine or even a percolator? Instant coffee granules to the rescue!

You'll have cafe-style cold drinks in no time (like seriously, you can make iced coffee with instant coffee in less than five minutes!) and your guests will name you their new favorite barista, I'm sure of it.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • What kind of instant coffee should you use?
  • Instructions
  • Substitutions
  • Variations
  • Storage
  • Recipe Tips
  • Snacks to serve with Iced Coffee
  • FAQs
  • Recipe
Light-colored coffee in a glass with a straw and ice cubes.

Cold coffee is usually made with shots of espresso, cold water, and then milk or cream.

But you can switch out the espresso for a strong mix of instant coffee - no special tools are needed besides a kettle or microwave for heating the water. Easy peasy. Making iced coffee with instant coffee takes only a few minutes!

Also - you can skip boiling the water it you want to, and I'll show the results below in the step-by-step photos - it works nearly as well as using boiling water.

Stay tuned to my website to find out how to make a Greek-style frappe with instant coffee - a beautiful whipped cold coffee that I've been drinking for years.

Ingredients

Here's an overview of the ingredients. See the recipe card below for exact amounts.

Ingredients on a white marble counter labeled lots of ice, milk of choice, boiling water (optional), instant coffee granules, cold water, and cream.
  • Instant coffee granules - use your favorite brand. You can also use decaf if that's your thing! I prefer Nescafe Instant Coffee.
  • Hot water - just a little bit of hot water to dissolve the instant coffee granules (optionally, you can skip this and I'll show you how below.)
  • Ice - a bunch of ice to make your iced coffee dreams come true. I use 8-10 large ice cubes in each tall glass.
  • Sweetener (optional) - I don't sweeten my coffee but you can use whatever sweetener you prefer like, brown sugar, white sugar, simple syrup, maple syrup, honey, or coconut sugar. Try a flavored coffee syrup or my gingerbread syrup for flavored ice coffee.
  • Milk + cream - again, use what you like. I prefer plant based milks and creams but you can definitely use cow's milk in the fat percentage you like. You can skip the cream if you like. For this recipe I like Almond Breeze Unsweetened Coconut Milk and Silk's Oat + Coconut Half and Half.
A jar of Nescafe Instant coffee.

What kind of instant coffee should you use?

I prefer Nescafe and opt for the Rich or Intense version when my grocery store has it in stock. I prefer the flavor of Nescafe over something like Maxwell House, but you can use whichever instant coffee you prefer.

Nescafe even has flavored instant coffee like vanilla and hazelnut.

Instructions

Using boiling water

To make iced coffee with instant coffee, boil a kettle of water and gather all of your ingredients as well as a tall glass or mason jar for serving.

  1. Add a tablespoon of instant coffee to your glass. Add about the same amount of hot water and stir.
  2. Add the cold water. This cools everything down and helps ensure all of the ice doesn't melt immediately.
  3. Add the ice. I fill my glass to the top.
  4. Finish with milk and cream. Stir and enjoy!
Water is poured into a tall glass.
Instant coffee granules are poured into a tall glass with a bit of water in it.

Add the water to a serving glass along with the instant coffee. You only need a tablespoon or two of hot water to mix.

Coffee is stirred in a tall glass.
Water is poured into a glass with coffee in it.

Stir for 30-60 seconds to make sure the instant coffee dissolves into the hot water and then add the cold water. This helps ensure that the ice doesn't melt.

Coffee is stirred in a glass.
Ice is added to a glass of coffee.

Stirring the cold water into hot water helps cool everything down. Add ice next. I like a bunch of ice, especially in the summer.

Cream is poured into a glass of coffee.
Cream is stirred into coffee with a straw.

Adding milk and cream finishes off the drink and adds creaminess and flavor. I use a small splash of coffee creamer, sometimes a flavored one like caramel and then almond or oat milk.

An icon with a black cast iron skillet and the word Tip in white handwritten font.

Tip: You can use more cold water and less milk if prefer less milky coffee. Taste test and adjust your drink to your liking.

Using all cold water

  1. Add the instant coffee to a glass. I like to use one glass to mix and then a different glass to serve.
  2. Add about ¼ cup of cold water. Stir well for about a minute, really making sure to touch the bottom of the glass and get the granules moving.
  3. Optional step: pour the coffee mix into a serving glass. As you can see below the coffee doesn't quite mix all the way when using cold water instead of hot water.
  4. Add the ice.
  5. Finish with milk and cream. Stir and enjoy!
Instant coffee dissolving in a glass of water.
Remnants of water and instant coffee mixed in the bottom of a glass.
An icon with a black cast iron skillet and the word Tip in white handwritten font.

When using all cold water, the coffee sometime doesn't mix all the way. In this case, I like to use one glass to mix the coffee and water together and another glass to serve, to eliminate any clumps of instant coffee.

Light-colored coffee in a glass with a straw and ice cubes.

Substitutions

To enjoy the flavor of coffee without the jitters, use decaffeinated instant coffee granules.

To make this iced coffee dairy-free, use plant milk and plant-based cream.

Variations

To take this over the top for guests, serve cafe-style iced coffees with a pretty swirl of whipped cream on top.

Low carb - this fits in a low carb/keto lifestyle if you skip the sweetener or use a keto-approved sweetener like erythritol or something similar.

Try flavored creamer for different flavored iced coffee.

Try my kid-friendly Peppermint Hot Chocolate for a caffeine-free cafe-style drink for children.

Light-colored coffee in a glass with a straw and ice cubes.

Storage

If you accidentally (or purposely) make too much coffee you can pour the extra coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze it. Add the coffee ice cubes to your next iced coffee. As the ice cubes melt they won't water down and dilute your drink - keeping all the great coffee flavor!

Recipe Tips

EXPERT TIP: Pour the plant milk on top of the coffee and then add a splash of cream. You'll get a really beautiful effect as the coffee and milk swirl together. If you're serving his drink to guests be sure to serve right away and with a straw for each person to stir their drink themselves.

Light-colored coffee in a glass with a straw and ice cubes.

Snacks to serve with Iced Coffee

If you're feeling like a summer-time cafe style afternoon snack, try my pretty cinnamon twists, a slice of baked croissant French toast, or delicate Florentine cookies.

Or try a thick slice of a peanut butter banana bread, double chocolate loaf, or pumpkin walnut bread.

FAQs

How much caffeine is in instant iced coffee?

Nescafe states that there is between 50mg to 90mg of caffeine per serving (2g) of their instant coffee granules.

Can you mix instant coffee with cold water?

Yes, you can, it just takes a bit longer to dissolve.

How do you make iced coffee without a coffee maker?

Easy - use this recipe to make an iced coffee with instant coffee!

What's the fastest way to cool coffee for iced coffee?

The best way to cool hot coffee is by adding cold water or shaking your coffee with ice as you would a cocktail. Cooling coffee in the freezer takes longer. Or simply make your drink with instant coffee.

Recipe

Light-colored coffee in a glass with a straw and ice cubes.
5 from 13 votes

Iced Coffee with Instant Coffee

Author : Jacqueline Piper
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 1
It only takes 5 minutes to make this delicious iced instant coffee. Use your favorite instant coffee brand and milk to make your perfect cold coffee at home.
RATE PRINT PIN SAVE Saved!

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 tablespoon Instant coffee granules your favorite brand, I use Nescafe
  • ¼ cup water, divided
  • 1-2 cups ice
  • ⅓ cup milk of choice approximately, I used coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon cream of choice optional, I use oat + coconut cream

Instructions

  • Boil water in a kettle.
  • Add instant coffee to the serving glass.
  • Add 1-2 tablespooons hot water and stir.
  • Add 2-3 tablesppons cold water.
  • Add ice
  • Fill with milk of choice and splash of cream.
  • Serve with a straw for stirring and drinking.

Equipment

  • Kettle
  • Small Mason Jars

Video

Notes

Use your preferred milk and cream products.  Make this drink a few times and you'll learn how much milk and sweetener you prefer.
Use more water and less milk and cream if you prefer.
To make this without using boiling water, mix the instant coffee granules with cold water and stir well. Pour the mixture into a serving glass to eliminate any clumps of coffee on the bottom of the glass. Add ice, milk, and cream, stir, and serve.
Substitutions - Use decaf coffee if you prefer.
Storage - Freeze extra coffee as ice cubes.

Nutrition

Calories: 36kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Fat: 3g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g

Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used. Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.

Have you tried this recipe?Tag @pipercooksblog on Instagram so we can see it!
Light-colored coffee in a glass with a straw and ice cubes with the text iced coffee with instant coffee.

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iced coffee in a glass with a straw
iced coffee in a glass with a straw
iced coffee in a glass with a straw
iced coffee in a glass with a straw
iced coffee in a glass with a straw

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Comments

    5 from 13 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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  1. Amanda M says

    November 03, 2021 at 10:08 pm

    I have been making my at home iced coffee this way since the 90s! It is the quickest and easiest way to make and enjoy my favorite beverage. I wouldn't make it any other way!

    Reply
    • Jacqueline Piper says

      November 04, 2021 at 4:38 pm

      It's definitely easy, quick and so satisfying! Thanks for commenting 🙂

      Reply
  2. Michael D says

    August 07, 2023 at 10:00 pm

    My wife loves iced coffee this way. I follow it to a tee. She also loves Matcha powder. Do you have any ideas how i can do this pretty much same recipe and add matcha? any ideas

    Reply
    • Jacqueline Piper says

      August 09, 2023 at 8:36 am

      Hi Michael, I'm glad your wife is enjoying this drink! You can definitely make an iced matcha using the same method. First, whisk your matcha powder with a bit of water then add it to a glass. Add ice, and fill with your choice of milk! Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. karen marie says

    August 14, 2023 at 6:09 pm

    Have you ever had coffee milk? That's what your iced coffee reminds me of.

    I discovered coffee milk when I lived in SE Massachusetts. It's very popular there and in Rhode Island. Autocrat coffee syrup is my go-to.

    The difference between your iced coffee and coffee milk is sugar. The coffee syrup is sweetened. Not overly so. I recommend it!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_milk

    Reply
    • Jacqueline Piper says

      August 30, 2023 at 5:49 pm

      I haven't heard of that before but it sounds really interesting! As a coffee lover, I'll have to try it.

      Jacqueline

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Jacqueline!

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