In the sweltering summer heat, there’s nothing like a good iced coffee. In this article, we’re describing the taste and texture, cold brew versus regular iced coffee, recipe tips and more.
Let’s dive right into it…
What Does Iced Coffee Taste Like?
There’s something about iced coffee that softens the bitterness of hot coffee just a tad. In this way, it tends to be milder-tasting. However, if the coffee is acidic, chilling it won’t change that.
Often, iced coffee is made with flavored syrups, sugar and some sort of milk or creamer (brands like Califia Farms are making incredible almond and coconut creamers). With these fixings, iced coffee turns into a sweet beverage like melted ice cream.
Iced Coffee Texture
A straight-up iced coffee is liquidy with ice cubes clinking around in it. As it sits, the ice will melt and eventually turn it into a glass of coffee-flavored water if you don’t get to it quickly enough.
There are also frozen iced coffees, which take the makings of iced coffee and chuck them into a blender to make a slushy type of drink, though it’s smoother and creamier than a slushy.
But frozen iced coffees are not necessarily veganizable and allergy friendly. There are thick, syrupy coffee bases that contain dairy, so check before you order at a cafe.
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Does Iced Coffee Taste Good?
It would be a singularly difficult task to find someone who really dislikes iced coffee. Certainly, it’s not everyone’s favorite, but don’t be surprised if you see a lot more iced coffees than hot in people’s hands when the weather turns warmer.
The cooling sensation of iced coffee can’t be beat, and there’s just something about it that feels more decadent than hot coffee. Plus, there’s cold brew, which you need to know about…
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Does Cold Brew Taste Different than Iced Coffee?
Cold brew tastes significantly different than regular iced coffee in that it’s naturally sweeter with more well-defined flavors. This is because the cold brewing method doesn’t extract bitterness from the beans the way the hot water method does.
But that doesn’t mean that cold brew tastes nothing like regular iced coffee. At the end of the day, it is iced coffee. It’s just gentler and sweeter.
How Do You Make Iced Coffee Taste Better?
What do you do if your iced coffee doesn’t taste good? Well, it depends on the reason for the bad taste. If it was made from hot coffee that was burned before it was chilled, there’s not much you can add to totally mask the acidic and biting flavors.
If you’re just not into plain iced coffee, try popular flavors and syrups like vanilla and hazelnut. Add some sugar, vegan creamer and a dash of cinnamon or cocoa powder, and voila. A brand new beverage.
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Iced Coffee Recipe Tips
Even if you weren’t a fan of an iced coffee you purchased from a coffee shop in the past, you’re going to be pleasantly surprised by how delicious these recipes are.
Vegan condensed milk makes this Vietnamese-style iced coffee an incredibly rich drink. If you don’t have espresso powder, you can skip it (and the hot water) and just used brewed iced coffee.
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Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Espresso powder
- Hot water
- Vegan condensed milk
- Ice cubes
How do you feel about pumpkin spice? If you love it, try this vegan Thai iced coffee.
Here’s what it’s made with:
- Iced coffee
- Plant milk
- Vegan sweetened condensed milk
- Pumpkin spice blend
- Coffee ice cubes (regular ice cubes work just as well)
- Cinnamon
Make a better version of a Starbucks Frappuccino the vegan way. This recipe uses almond milk, but if you have coconut milk, you’ll end up with an even smoother, creamier blended iced coffee.
Have these ingredients ready:
- Espresso powder
- Hot water
- Almond milk (or any vegan milk)
- Vegan whipped cream (optional)
Wrap Up
Iced coffee is milder in flavor than hot coffee and can be made with ice cubes or blended up into a frozen treat. It’s one of the most satisfying things to make at home since you get to invent all kinds of delicious variations. Take the basic vegan Frappuccino recipe, some flavor extracts and spices and run with it.
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Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
