The Son of a Barista guide to iced coffee
These 3 Iced Coffee Recipes are sure to please during the summer months! In this post, we teach you how to make an iced vanilla latte, iced mocha and iced caramel macchiato, and the three homemade syrups you’ll make will last in the fridge for more summer coffee drinks!
Did you know that every morning, rain or shine, sleet or snow, we drink coffee at Son of a Barista!
It’s our absolute favorite way to wake up – there’s something so cosy about a cup of coffee, but the same old thing every morning can get boring so we’re here to bring you outside your routine to try a few new spins on everyone’s favorite iced coffee drinks.
Iced coffee is kind of like a dessert in a glass: add in your ice, your Son of a Barista coffee pod, a splash of flavored syrup and a Son of a Barista Milk Pod or a Son of a Barista Almond Milk Pod. It’s an amazing combination worth trying, and it’s SO easy to do at home!
What type of coffee should I use?
Like any cup of joe, you should choose high-quality coffee beans to make the coffee for your iced coffee recipe. At Son of a Barista we only use organic and fair trade coffee beans in our coffee pods. We have a coffee pod for every palette so check out our options here to find the coffee that’s right for your iced coffee.
Our blends
Cremoso
At once easygoing and exciting, our Son of a Barista Cremoso espresso pod is crafted as a blend of Arabica from South America and Africa, along with Robusta from Southeast Asia. The combination of 50% Arabica beans from South America and Africa, and 50% Robusta beans from Southeast Asia blended together in a perfect Son of a Barista coffee pod, creating a balanced, spicy, and fruity aroma, combined with toasted notes, resulting in an enveloping and creamy espresso.
Cremoso Decaf
For those who don’t want a caffeine kick, we’ve crafted this decaffeinated blend to fully capture the finest points of our cremoso espresso. The easygoing Son of a Barista Cremoso Decaf is a blend of 50% Arabica from South America and Africa, along with 50% Robusta from Southeast Asia. You’ll get all of the spicy and fruity aromas combined with toasted notes as you get from our original cremoso pod – just without the caffeine.
Aromatico
Named “aromatic” for a reason, Son of a Barista’s Aromatico coffee pod consists of a blend of Arabica beans from Brazil and Africa. Our delicious, aromatic Aromatico coffee pod offers bold scents, and rich, nuanced flavor. In a delightful cup of Aromatico, you’ll notice aromas of dried fruits and nuts, with hints of rich cocoa.
Puro
Deliciously potent, our Son of a Barista Puro coffee pod is created using single-origin 100% Ethiopian Sidama Arabica beans. Ethiopia was the world’s first coffee bean exporter, and it’s still a coveted, almost mythical source. Our puro coffee pod is defined by citrus notes, bergamot, candied and tropical fruit, complemented by elegant floral aromas.
The benefit of using espresso
Proper iced coffee using brewed coffee takes an hour or two to chill, and who wants to wait that long for their caffeine kick?! You can choose either method, but just be aware that you’ll have your iced coffee in hand much quicker by using short espresso shots and pouring them over ice.
What type of coffee machine should I use?
It’s incredibly important to have the proper machine with which to make your iced coffee. Son of a Barista’s new coffee machine is designed to satisfy the palate of the pickiest Italian. Our Made in Italy water pump pushes water at a 19 bar pressure. The perfect pressure for espresso. The water heater built in our machine is set to keep the water at a constant temperature of 93°C (199.4°F) – the exact temperature needed to extract the caffeine without ruining the coffee.
What type of ice is best for iced coffee?
We know this may not seem important but choosing the right ice for your iced coffee is key! Here are your options:
- Crushed ice – this is what you see in this recipe.
- Medium-sized ice cubes – this is usually what people have on hand in their freezer and we say go for it!
- Large ice – we like to use larger blocks of ice if we’re going to enjoy our iced coffee outside. They are slower to melt this way!
Can you store leftover iced coffee in the fridge?
Yes and no. This really depends on how much of a coffee snob you are. If you’re used to a fresh brew, storing any leftovers in the fridge may not be a good idea. Cold brew typically lasts 2-3 days in the fridge if you’ve covered it properly – the flavors will last a bit longer because it’s brewed cold.
Iced coffee add-ins
We’ve listed three different iced coffee recipes below for you to try, but just know that the sweeteners and milks you can add are limitless! Here are some more ideas to take your iced coffee over the top!
- Mint extract
- Vanilla extract
- Coconut extract
- Coconut milk
- Son of a Barista Almond milk pod
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Vanilla ice cream
- Coffee ice cubes
- Nutella
- Chocolate milk
- Chocolate syrup
- Kalua or Bailey’s
Making simple syrup
Since sugar doesn’t dissolve very well in a cold drink, we highly recommend that you make a simple syrup for iced coffee. All you have to do is:
- Boil 1 cup water
- Mix with 1 cup sugar
- Add any applicable extracts (vanilla, caramel, coconut, etc.)
- Chill in the fridge for 1 hour before using (or speed up the process by chilling in the freezer)
Iced Caramel Macchiato
The trick to this Iced Caramel Macchiato recipe is making the rich dulce de leche caramel syrup and layering the espresso and milk; it’s way easier than you think too!
Start with an empty cup full of ice, then add a couple tablespoons of the syrup. Brew your Son of a Barista coffee pod of choice, and pour it very delicately over the milk Son of a Barista Milk pod or the Son of a Barista Almond Milk pod of your choice.
If you don’t have dulce de leche at home (you can usually find it with the jams or in the ice cream isle of your local grocery store), simply boil a can of sweetened condensed milk for 3 hours in a large pot of gently boiling water.
Iced Vanilla Latte
Vanilla lattes are so easy to make and you don’t need to splurge on an expensive vanilla bean to get good flavor with this syrup. Like the rest of the syrups here, the formula is pretty straightforward. Make a plain simple syrup by mixing boiling water and sugar together, then add in your flavoring of choice.
For this vanilla latte, we use plain old artificial vanilla extract but you could use the more expensive pure extract or opt for the vanilla bean if you can find them. But really, the vanilla latte is the easiest of all to make. Like the macchiato, start with an empty cup full of ice. Make a double shot of your choice of any Son of a Barista coffee pod and pour them over the ice, then stir in 1 cup of Son of a Barista Milk pod or Son of a Barista almond milk pod and add vanilla syrup to your taste. Yum!
Iced Mocha
This chocolate iced mocha is made very similarly to the vanilla latte, and you probably already have the main ingredient at home: cocoa powder! Make the simple syrup from the Vanilla recipe above, mix in a tablespoon of cocoa, and you’re good to go. Start with an empty cup full of ice, pour in your Son of a Barista espresso shots, mix in your Son of a Barista Milk pod or Son of a Barista Almond Milk pod and some chocolate syrup. Super easy!
If you really want to take this iced mocha over the top, you could also use chocolate milk, or even add in a little mint extract to make it an iced peppermint mocha. Amazing combo right?! There are so many ways to get creative with iced coffee!
Ingredients
Iced Vanilla Latte syrup
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup simple syrup
Iced Mocha syrup
- 1 cup simple syrup
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
Iced Caramel Machiatto syrup
- 1 cup simple syrup
- 1/4 cup dulce de leche
Simple Syrup base
- 3 cups water
- 3 cups sugar
FOR EACH DRINK
- Handful of ice cubes
- 2 espresso shots
- 1/2 cup milk (I use 2% but you can use skim or whole as well!)
Instructions
- Prepare in advance: Bring water and sugar to a boil in a large pot on the stove. Divide into 3 heat-safe bowls or measuring cups, then add flavourings according to above. Chill for 30 minutes to an hour in the fridge (or freezer if you’re in a rush!) Syrups can be kept in the fridge up to 4 weeks.
- For the Iced Drinks: Brew espresso shots using a coffee machine. Add ice to a large glass, then pour espresso shots and milk over top. Add in 1-2 tbsp syrup of your choice. Serve and enjoy!
