Make Iced Coffee at Home (and Save a Ton of Money!)
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Iced coffee lovers, unite! If you’re anything like me, you appreciate a refreshing iced coffee, even if it’s not an everyday indulgence.
While I personally enjoy an iced chicory root latte, I make my husband his iced coffee every morning without fail. We are proudly team iced coffee year-round, and after spending way too much money at coffee shops, we finally perfected the art of making iced coffee at home.
Not only is it incredibly easy, but it also saves us a ton of money while allowing us to use organic, high-quality ingredients (which is a huge deal, considering how many toxins are found in conventional coffee).
So, if you’re ready to enjoy a delicious, easy iced coffee recipe at home for under $3, keep reading! I’ll also share my favorite instant organic coffee, our go-to natural sweeteners, and the fun ice maker we use that makes our coffee-making experience even better.
Plus, I’ll spill a few barista secrets from my days working in a coffee shop!
Why Make Iced Coffee at Home? (Hint: It's Way Better and Cheaper!)
We all love a good iced latte from Starbucks, but let’s be real—spending $8 per drink isn’t sustainable. Especially when you realize that most coffee shop drinks aren’t even organic, which means they can contain pesticides, mold, and mycotoxins (yikes!).
Instead, by making iced coffee at home, we:
Save money (under $3 per drink!)
Control the ingredients (only the best organic options!)
Add extra nutrition (hello, collagen and colostrum!)
Customize flavors and sweetness levels
And the best part? You don’t need any fancy equipment! While I dream of owning a high-end espresso machine someday, we’re currently focused on becoming debt-free and this simple method works beautifully in the meantime.
The Best Easy Iced Coffee Recipe (That Tastes Just Like a Coffee Shop!)
Making iced coffee at home is shockingly easy, and you don’t even need to brew hot coffee ahead of time. This method keeps it quick, smooth, and perfectly chilled with no extra effort.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of our favorite organic instant coffee
4 ounces of cold, filtered water
Ice cubes
1 teaspoon of natural sweetener (or 1 tablespoon/1 pump of clean-ingredient coffee syrup)
4 ounces of organic grass-fed, pasture-raised milk or half-and-half (for extra nutrients!)
Instructions:
Dissolve the instant coffee – In a glass, add your organic instant coffee and cold filtered water. Stir well until completely dissolved. (No hot water needed!)
Add your sweetener – Stir in maple syrup, honey, or your favorite clean syrup.
Fill with ice – Add a generous amount of ice cubes. If you have a fun ice maker like us, this part is extra satisfying!
Top with milk – Pour in your organic milk or half-and-half for a creamy finish.
Stir, sip, and enjoy!
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Extra Goodness: Boost Your Iced Coffee with Superfoods
One of the best things about making iced coffee at home is that you can supercharge it with nutrient-dense add-ins. We love boosting our coffee with:
Collagen peptides (great for skin, hair, and joints!)
Colostrum (amazing for gut health and immunity!)
Bee pollen (a powerhouse of vitamins and antioxidants!)
Adaptogens like ashwagandha or maca for stress relief
Simply stir in a scoop of your favorite add-in before the ice for a next-level iced coffee experience.
The Ice Maker That Makes It Even More Fun
I have to mention our favorite ice maker because it’s seriously the best. It makes the perfect ice for iced coffee, and honestly, it just makes the whole experience more fun. If you love your iced drinks as much as we do, you need one of these! Bonus its budget friendly!
Price & Quality Comparison: Home Iced Coffee vs. Starbucks
A typical iced latte from Starbucks costs about $8, and it’s not even organic. When we make iced coffee at home, we’re using high-quality, organic ingredients, and it costs us under $3 per drink! Plus, we get to control exactly what goes into it—no artificial flavors or mystery dyes.
Making coffee at home means better quality, more nutrition, and huge savings over time. If you grab a coffee daily, that’s over $1,800 saved per year just by switching to homemade iced coffee!
Pro Barista Tips for the Best Iced Coffee at Home
Since I used to work as a barista, I’ve picked up a few tricks to make iced coffee even better:
Use filtered water – This makes a huge difference in flavor.
Chill your glass – Pop your glass in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes before making your coffee.
Experiment with flavors – Try a dash of cinnamon, vanilla extract, or even a tiny pinch of sea salt for a gourmet touch.
Shake it up! – Instead of stirring, add everything to a mason jar with ice and give it a good shake. It creates a creamy, coffee-shop-style texture!
Are You Team Iced Coffee Year-Round?
Iced coffee isn’t just a drink—it’s a lifestyle. Whether it’s summer or snowing outside, my husband and I will always reach for our a homemade iced coffee over overpriced, low-quality coffee shop drinks.
Plus, it’s so satisfying to know we’re saving money while actually improving our health with clean, organic ingredients.
So, are you team iced coffee year-round like us? Let me know in the comments! And if you try this easy iced coffee recipe, I’d love to hear how you like it!
Cheers to better (and cheaper!) iced coffee! ☕❄️
For more easy iced coffee recipes follow me on Pinterest!
Updated on: 02/25/2025