Any Keurig brewer can whip up refreshing iced coffee in minutes.
No need for traditional cold brewing or extra gadgets. With just the Keurig and K-Cup pod, you can quickly prepare chilled iced coffee.
In this article, I’ll walk through how to make smooth, delicious iced coffee using any Keurig model. I’ll also share pro tips for getting the right flavor balance and recommend top K-cups for iced coffee.
Ingredients for the Best Keurig Iced Coffee
First things first, you’ll have to gather your supplies or ingredients.
1) The Best K cups for Iced Coffee
The Best K cups for iced coffee really depend on your taste. However, in general, medium or dark roasted K cups with low acidity are preferred.
Here are some of my favorite K-cup coffee pods for Iced coffee.
Death Wish Coffee (Perfect for Strong coffee lovers)
This dark roast blend has robust and rich flavors that stand up firmly with ice. The beans are carefully sourced and expertly roasted to bring out the full-bodied taste that Death Wish is known for.
It’s perfect for those who crave a strong cup of iced coffee.
Check out strongest K Cup Coffee pods in 2023
The Original Donut Shop Medium Roast (Best for Smooth Iced Coffee)
This Medium Roast blend from Original Donut Shop is perfect for those who prefer flavorful, smooth, and mellow iced coffee drinks.
Check out our top Iced Coffee K cups
2) The Keurig machine
If you’re looking for the ideal Keurig machine to make iced coffee, opt for the one with “brew over Ice settings”.
To prevent dilution and maintain the quality of the iced coffee, this feature starts with hot water to brew the coffee and then switches to cool water. This results in a more flavorful and less watery iced coffee.
However, if your model doesn’t have this setting, No problem! You can still make delicious iced coffee with a regular Keurig by simply pressing the “strong button” or selecting the smallest brew size.
Check Out the Best Keurig Models for Iced Coffee
3) Ice Cubes or Coffee cubes
Obviously! Ice cubes are a must-have for any iced coffee. But do you wanna know how Pros make Iced Cubes?
They simply freeze freshly brewed coffee in ice cube trays and use them to chill coffee.
Not only does this technique help maintain the strength and boldness of your brew, but it also adds an extra layer of complexity to your iced coffee experience.
Sure! you have to plan for it at least 6 hours earlier!
4) Milk or Creamers
This is optional, but many people like to add a splash of milk or cream to their iced coffee to give it a creamy texture and taste.
Whole milk is a classic choice that adds a rich and creamy dimension to your drink. Its natural sweetness helps balance out the bitterness of the coffee, while its velvety texture gives the drink a smooth and satisfying mouthfeel.
And for those looking for a dairy-free option, oat milk is an excellent choice.
5) Sweeteners or Syrups
Again, this is optional, but you may like to add a sweetener like sugar, honey, or flavored syrups to make your iced coffee sweet and more flavorful.
Also, you can add flavorings like vanilla extract, chocolate syrup, or caramel sauce to give your drink a different flavor profile. Personally, I always like to add a pump of chocolate syrup to my iced coffee.
Keurig Iced Coffee Recipe
Equipment
- Keurig Machine
Ingredients
- Coffee pod (Dark Roast Preferred)
- A glass filled with Iced Cubes
- Milk or Flavorings (Optional)
Instructions
- Fill a tall glass or tumbler with Ice Cubes.Pro tip: Instead of regular ice cubes, make coffee cubes in advance by freezing leftover coffee in an ice cube tray.
- Insert the K cup coffee pod into your Keurig machine. Dark-roasted K cups are preferred for iced coffee as they have stronger flavors and low acidity.
- If your Keurig machine has a "brew over ice" button, simply press it and let the machine do the rest. If not then your Keurig model might have "strong button", press that!If you have a basic Keurig model like K Mini or K classic then simply brew the smallest cup size available. As, the smaller the brew size the stronger the drink!
- Looking to take your iced coffee game to the next level? Add some extra flavor and texture with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. For a sweeter kick, add sugar or your favorite flavored syrup like vanilla, caramel, chocolate, or hazelnut.To make it creamy, mix in some milk or a non-dairy alternative like almond or coconut milk. Want an even richer taste? Try half-and-half or a flavored creamer.
Tips for making Keurig Iced Coffee better
Want to take your Keurig iced coffee to the next level? Here are some tips to make it even more strong and flavorful:
1. Frozen Coffee Cubes
To prevent your iced coffee from becoming watered down, use coffee ice cubes instead of regular ice cubes.
Coffee ice cubes will melt slowly and evenly, ensuring that your iced coffee remains cold and flavorful from the first sip to the last.
2. Always Use Smallest Cup Settings
Use the smallest cup size on your Keurig machine to ensure your drink is strong and flavorful. I always use a 4 oz or 6 oz brew size when making Iced Coffee with Keurig.
When you use a larger cup size it will result in weak and watery Keurig coffee. Make two smaller cups of coffee instead of one 12 oz cup if you want a larger serving.
3. Use Hyper Chiller
If you want to make Keurig Iced coffee without watering it down even a little; then use Hyper Chillers!
A hyper chiller is a specialized device designed to quickly cool down hot liquids, without diluting them.
The hyper chiller cools down your coffee within a minute or two, while still preserving its full flavor and strength.
4. Sweetened Condensed Milk
Sweetened condensed milk in iced coffee is like the perfect power couple – they just work together so well.
Not only does sweetened condensed milk add a luxurious texture to your iced coffee but also improves the taste and flavors
If you have a sweet tooth you should definitely give it a try.
5. Always use Filtered Water
It’s always a best practice to use filtered or bottled water in Keurig. Bad water can easily ruin the taste of coffee. After all brewed coffee is 98% water.
Filtered water has the perfect amount of minerals, typically less than 100 ppm, which prepares a perfect cup of iced coffee.
6. Use Flavored Syrups
In addition to adding flavor and sweetness to iced coffee, flavored syrups can also add an extra burst of flavor as well. Vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, and mocha syrups are some of the most popular flavored syrups.
I love adding Mocha syrup as it adds a rich and indulgent chocolaty flavor to iced coffee.
These are just a few ideas to improve your Keurig iced coffee. Feel free to experiment with other additions like cinnamon, caramel, or even a scoop of ice cream for a delicious coffee dessert.
Read a guide on how to make Keurig coffee stronger
How to prepare the milk for an Iced Latte?
If you are craving for an Iced Latte instead of a regular Black iced coffee. Here’s how you can prepare the milk.
One way is to pour cold milk directly over iced coffee (That’s how normal People do it!)
Another option is to use a milk frother to create a creamy and frothy texture that adds rich flavor to your latte. (That’s how Pros do it!)
If you have frother then froth the cold milk in it! If you don’t have a frother here are two ways to do it manually.
- Pour cold milk into a mason jar, filling it about halfway. Close the jar tightly and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Pour cold milk into a blender and blend on high for 15-30 seconds, until the milk becomes frothy and bubbly. This method works best with larger quantities of milk.
Regarding the best milk for iced coffee; it mainly depends on your personal preference. Whole milk offers a creamy and rich flavor and is always the best choice for iced coffee.
You can also use non-dairy milk alternatives, such as almond, soy, or oat milk if you are lactose intolerant or prefer a plant-based diet. Also, Skim or low-fat milk is a lighter option that still adds a creamy texture to your iced coffee without adding extra fat and calories to your drink.
Also Read: How to make Latte with Keurig
Which Keurigs have an iced coffee option?
Having “Brew over settings” in Keurig is a desirable feature and actually enhances the flavors of iced coffee. That’s why I love my Keurig K-Elite.
The Cold button on Keurig start the brewing process with hot water to maximize flavor, then switch automatically to cool water to minimize ice melt. This prevents your coffee from tasting watered down.
The following Keurig models have Iced coffee options:
- Keurig K Elite
- All Keurig Supreme Models
- Keurig K Mini Plus
- Keurig K Cafe Smart
- Keurig K-Slim + Iced
- Keurig K Iced
Final thoughts
Congratulations! You’re now a Keurig iced coffee expert. With the ability to brew your own perfect iced coffee using your Keurig machine, you’ll never have to spend extra bucks on buying iced drinks from cafes.
Plus, with the variety of K-cup flavors available, you’ll never get bored with your coffee choices.
You can even experiment with different add-ins like flavored syrups, whipped cream, and sprinkles to really take your iced coffee game to the next level. So, get creative and brew up your perfect Keurig iced coffee today!
FAQs
Can You Put Ice Water In My Keurig?
Yes, you can definitely put iced water in Keurig, I mean you can do everything you want.
But it will not serve any purpose!
Keurig only brews coffee with hot water, so the machine will first heat the water before brewing.
The cold will require more energy to get hot, so it will increase energy consumption.
Can you put milk in Keurig?
No, you should not put milk directly into your Keurig machine. The machine is designed to brew coffee or other hot beverages using water only.
Putting milk in the Keurig can damage the machine and cause hygiene issues.
Can you make Cold Brew in Keurig?
While it is possible to make cold coffee using a Keurig but you can’t make “Cold Brew” Coffee in Keurig as it is a completely different brewing method.
Cold brew requires steeping coarse coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period of time, usually 12-24 hours, which is not possible with a Keurig machine. Cold brew doesn’t require any machine.
