Iced Coffee has always been one of my favourite hot weather drinks. Before Starbucks, Costa et al became the in thing, we were drinking ice cold coffees in kopitiams in Singapore and Malaysia!
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
What is Kopitiam, you ask?
Kopitiam is an old fashioned coffee shop found in many parts of South East Asia, and known by different names depending on which country you are in. In Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, these coffee shops are called kopitiam.
Kopi – is coffee in Malay
Tiam – is shop in Hokkien (Chinese dialect)
Kopitiam = coffeeshop
There are so many ways to make iced coffee and, largely, it depends on whether you drink freshly brewed coffee from beans or you go down the instant route. We’ll leave the instant coffee for another day!
When using coffee beans, the best method, to me, is the cold brew method.
What is the Cold Brew Method for Iced Coffee?
The cold brew method simply means that you steep your ground coffee beans in cold water, overnight, in the fridge. Sound strange?
It’s the method preferred by baristas (baristi, bariste – a bartender by any other name!). And let me tell you, it really works and produces a better glass of iced coffee!
The 2 biggest advantages to the cold brew method are:
- You’re not starting with hot coffee that is diluted with the ice you inevitably pour it over.
- Coffee brewed this way, while retaining all its flavour, is a touch mellower on the tongue and a touch less bitter, almost like drinking Kopi Luwak (Civet cat coffee).
The recipe here will give you a medium milky coffee, not quite latte milky. As you can see, we are using equal amounts of milk to coffee. You can always increase the milk (or decrease it), and even use cream for a creamier coffee, especially if that’s how you like to drink your regular hot coffee.
How to sweeten your Cold Brew Iced Coffee
I drink the iced coffee here without any sugar, as I drink hot coffee without sugar, most of the time. I only add sugar if it’s bad coffee! Don’t forget that if you are planning to add ice cream to your iced coffee, for a coffee float, that is also going to sweeten your iced coffee somewhat.
Since any added sugar is going to have a long old time trying to dissolve in your cold brew, we make some simple sugar syrup to add to the coffee, to sweeten.
Keep the leftover syrup in the fridge, it will last a week. It’s perfect for cocktails and mocktails.
Well, that’s it. Shall we go enjoy a tall glass of iced coffee?
If you like the recipe and article, don’t forget to leave me a comment and that all important, 5-star rating! Thank you!
And if you make the recipe, share it on any platform and tag me @azlinbloor, and hashtag it #linsfood
Lin xx
Homemade Iced Coffee (Cold Brew Method)
Ingredients
- 150 g coffee beans, coarsely ground
- 500 ml cold water
- 500 ml full fat milk
- Ice cubes as needed
- Vanilla ice cream to finish off if you fancy
Simple Sugar Syrup
- 200 g white sugar
- 125 ml water
Instructions
The Night Before
- Place your ground coffee in a French press or in a jug.
- Top with the cold water, stir, cover with cling film and leave in the fridge overnight. Don’t use the plunger at this point.
The Next Day, to serve
- Plunge your French press as you would usually, or strain through a fine mesh strainer.
- Divide equally amongst 4 tall glasses.
- Top with cold milk.
- Add sugar syrup, if needed, and stir to mix. I love it without sugar.
- Either add ice cubes or top with ice cream.
In Greece is always hot for a cold coffee! I don’t drink coffee but I can make it for my friends!
Oh my god I am already tempted to try this at home. I loved this recipe of Iced coffee and am gonna try out right away.
Not really a coffee drinker but this iced version sounds very appealing during the hot summer months. I love the idea of adding a dollop of ice-cream to it to make a summer float on top. Yummy!
They look like they put together some amazing coffee there and I’m not a huge coffee drinker. I would love to try this out.
I am a bog fan of coffee. Cold hot all are welcomed. The picture looks it must be yummy.
Great! I am a huge fan of coffee, I’ll try this some time! Thank you for this!
After seeing the photo and reading the first few paragraphs I wondered if I would have to go back to Malaysia or Singapore to get an authentic fix! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
I love coffee and this looks totally divine! Thanks for sharing the recipe and can’t wait to try it out!
You have made us drool all over the keypad ! Such gorgeous pictures ! What camera do you use ?
This looks perfect, Azlin. So cool for a hot summer’s day. Thank you.
Just addicted to cold coffee. You might find it odd but I don’t like hot coffee. The traditional way to make ice coffee seems like a great taste to try.
I love cold coffee. It sounds like a perfect recipe 🙂
Too bad for me who hasn’t had iced coffee yet since it looks very appetizing; would be just awesome for that hot afternoon and I love how it foams up. Looks so refreshing!
I love me some iced coffee! I got hooked on cold coffee when stationed in Japan many years ago. In Japan, you are able to get cold (canned) coffee from vending machines and it was amazing! Plus, hot coffee on a hot day just isn’t pleasant!
That must have been an awesome experience, stationed in Japan!
Sounds a perfect drink in this warm weather. Great tips, I would never have known to leave in the fridge overnight.
Sure is, thanks Joanne!