Cool and Simple: How to Make Iced Coffee with a French Press

Have a French press? Want to make a refreshing iced coffee?

You're in luck. Making iced coffee with a French press is easy and the resulting brew is delicious, as long as you craft it right.

Follow our six-step guide on making iced coffee with a French press and learn how to spruce up your summertime coffee with four alternative recipes in this read…

What You’ll Need: French Press Iced Coffee

Here’s what you’ll need to make iced coffee with a French press:

Ingredients & Equipment

• Coffee (whole bean or ground)
• Water
• Ice 
• Milk (optional)
• Sugar (optional)
• Kettle 
• Coffee measure
• French press
• Tall glass
• Stirring spoon
• Coffee grinder (if using whole beans)

Coffee Recommendations

The type of bean you use for iced coffee is important. The flavors of the coffee are often more pronounced in cold beverages. A strong, dark, bitter blend can be overwhelming in an iced coffee.

Whether you want to consume the iced coffee black or with milk (or a plant-based dairy alternative) may also affect the coffee you choose. 

Arabica coffee works better for black iced coffee because it produces subtle, sweet, fruity notes without much bitterness. Arabica and robusta blends work well for milky iced coffee — the dark, nutty, chocolatey notes shine through the creaminess of the brew.

100% robusta blends work well for sweetened milky iced coffee; especially those made the traditional Vietnamese way with condensed milk. 

For black iced coffee, we recommend Cafely DaLat (100% Arabica).

For milky iced coffee, we recommend Cafely SaiGon OG (Robusta, Arabica, & Peaberry).

For sweetened milky iced coffee, we recommend Cafely HaNoi (100% Robusta).

Step-By-Step Guide: Making Iced Coffee with a French Press

Learn how to make iced coffee with a French press in six simple steps…

1. Grind the Coffee

If you're using whole-bean coffee, grind the beans to a "coarse grind." The resulting coffee should have the consistency of sea salt. If you're using pre-ground coffee, make sure it's coarsely ground and skip this step.

2. Measure the Coffee

To make iced coffee using a French press, we need a concentrated brew. A rough ratio of 1:10 is required — for every 170 milliliters of water, 17 grams of coffee is needed.

Here’s a serving guide:

Servings	Coffee	Water
1 serving	17 grams (2–3 tbsp)	170 mL
2 servings	27 grams (4–5 tbsp)	350 mL
4 servings	54 grams (8–10 tbsp)	680 mL

Related: How to Brew the Perfect Coffee Using a French Press

3. Brew the Coffee

Add the desired amount of coffee to the French Press along with the appropriate volume of water. Place the plunger on top but don't press yet. Leave the mixture to brew for four to six minutes.

4. Strain the Coffee Concentrate

After four to six minutes, slowly press the plunger down and pour the brew into a heat-safe pouring jug or coffee mug. If you wish to sweeten the coffee, add sugar and stir. 

Leave the coffee to cool for 20 minutes — this will prevent as much dilution when it’s put on ice. 

5. Prepare the Serving Glass

Next, fill a tall serving glass with ice and fill two-thirds with milk or cold water — depending on whether you want a black or milky iced coffee. 

6. Assemble the Iced Coffee

To the prepared glass, pour in the coffee concentrate — filling the rest of the glass. Stir to combine and enjoy. 

Other Ways to Make Iced Coffee

The method above isn’t the only way to make iced coffee. You can make iced coffee using a regular coffee maker, pour-over, espresso shots, and instant coffee. 

Here are four alternative ways to make iced coffee at home:

1. Instant Iced Coffee

Using instant coffee is one of the easiest ways to make iced coffee. We recommend Cafely’s Vietnamese Coffee (Instant Espresso).

Here’s how to make it:

1. In a mug, add one sachet of instant black coffee.
2. Add 50 mL of boiled water. Stir to dissolve.
3. Add sugar and dissolve (optional).
4. In a glass, add ice and water or milk. Leave room for the concentrated coffee.
5. Add the coffee, stir, and enjoy. 

Learn more: How to Make Iced Coffee with Instant Coffee

2. Iced Drip Coffee (Regular Coffee Maker) 

If you have an automatic drip coffee maker, you can use it to make iced coffee.  

Here’s how to make it:

1. Measure the ingredients. Add your usual amount of coffee to the filter but half the amount of water to the tank.
2. Add ice to the carafe (coffee pot) — this will instantly cool and dilute the concentrated coffee as it drips.
3. Turn on the coffee maker and allow it to brew.
4. Once complete, the resulting coffee can be poured into a glass with ice and combined with milk or cold water (if the straight brew is too strong). 

3. Pour-Over Iced Coffee

Making iced coffee with the pour-over brewing method is relatively simple. This method is perfect for crafting complex iced black coffees but works well with milk, too. 

Here’s how to make pour-over iced coffee:

1. Measure enough coffee for a mug of pour-over coffee, but use around half the water. 
2. In the glass below the filter, add plenty of ice.
3. Fill the filter with the coffee grounds and “bloom” with a small amount of water. 
4. Pour the remaining hot water over the coffee and wait for the brew to drip onto the ice below. 
5. Once brewed, add cold water or milk (to taste), stir, and enjoy. 

4. Iced Espresso Coffee

Espresso coffee provides a strong caffeine hit with minimal liquid. It’s possible to make iced espresso at home in a few simple steps, but it’s a little more complicated than the other methods on this list. 

Here’s how to make iced espresso:

1. Fill a stainless steel cocktail shaker with ice and allow to cool.
2. Add ice to a small glass and allow to cool. 
3. Pull a shot of espresso using an espresso machine as normal.
4. Empty the ice from the cocktail shaker and immediately add the espresso shot. Gently swirl the coffee in the shaker to cool. 
5. Tip the ice out of the glass and pour the cooled espresso. 
6. Iced espresso can be served over ice, but it will dilute the shot slightly. 

5. Traditional Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Cà Phê Sữa Đá)

Traditional Vietnamese iced coffee is the perfect way to enjoy the Saigon OG blend in summer. This brewing method produces a bold, strong cup of chilled robusta coffee that’s sweetened with condensed milk. 

Here’s how to make Vietnamese iced coffee:

1. Measure and grind the coffee — 14 grams of coffee to 120 mL of water.
2. Assemble the Vietnamese phin filter and add the coffee. 
3. Lightly tamp the coffee grounds with the gravity press and bloom with a small amount of hot water. 
4. Pour over the hot water and wait for five to seven minutes until the brew is complete.
5. To a glass, add the coffee, ice, and two tablespoons of condensed milk. Stir and enjoy. 

Learn more: Guide to Brewing Authentic Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Cà Phê Sữa Đá)

Four Ways to Elevate Your Iced Coffee

Looking for ways to change up and make your iced coffee more exciting?

Check out these four alternative ways to enjoy iced coffee this summer:

1. Irish Iced Coffee

If you love a warm boozy, wintertime Irish coffee, you’ll love Irish Iced coffee.

Making Irish iced coffee is simple. Brew four ounces of strong black coffee using a French press or another one of the methods above. 

Allow the brew to cool completely, and add to a glass with ice, brown sugar, and a shot of Irish whiskey. Top with whipped cream and serve immediately.

2. Iced Mocha

If you have a sweet tooth and enjoy chocolate, iced mocha is a great way to enjoy a summertime coffee. 

Here’s how to make it: 

1. Make a concentrated coffee using a French press, drip coffee machine, or espresso maker and leave to cool. 
2. Whisk together cocoa powder (or dark chocolate), sugar, and a small amount of milk over medium heat until the ingredients are combined.
3. Add the cooled coffee and more milk. Stir to combine before pouring over ice.
4. Top with whipped cream and flaked chocolate (optional).

3. Salted Caramel Iced Coffee

Elevate your iced coffee with the sweet flavors of salted caramel. Follow the steps for making iced coffee with a French press above, but add a drizzle of salted caramel to the glass before serving. 

You can also top the beverage with whipped cream and another drizzle of salted caramel to garnish. 

4. Iced Boba Coffee

Love boba tea but prefer the caffeine kick of coffee?

Why not make an iced boba coffee? 

Make iced coffee using a French press or one of the other methods mentioned above. Mix the brew with plenty of milk to produce a rich, creamy coffee. 

Add tapioca pearls and ice to a glass before pouring over the cold milky coffee. Serve with a large straw, and enjoy. 

FAQs: Making Iced Coffee With a French Press

Want to learn more about iced coffee and other coffee brewing techniques?

Check out the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions below:

1. What’s the Best Coffee for Iced Coffee?

The best coffee to make iced coffee with should be full-bodied with sweet, creamy, chocolatey notes. Dark roasts work well with milky iced coffee, and light or medium roasts work well with cold brews and black iced coffee. 

We recommend DaNang Coffee (Arabica & Robusta) for the perfectly balanced glass of iced coffee. 

2. What Type of Instant Coffee Should I Use for Iced Coffee?

Instant coffee can be a little bitter — not a good trait for iced coffee. To ensure you produce the best iced coffee, choose a high-quality blend such as the Vietnamese Instant Milk Latte or the vegan Vietnamese Instant Coconut Latte.

3. Can I Store Iced Coffee in the Fridge?

Yes. If you’ve made too much iced coffee, it can be stored in the fridge inside a sealed container. It’s best to remove the ice — as it melts, it will dilute the brew. If you regularly drink iced coffee in the summer, make a large batch and store it in the fridge.

4. Can You Make Iced Coffee With Decaf? 

Yes. You can make iced coffee with decaffeinated coffee. Instant or ground decaf coffee makes a delicious iced coffee that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.

5. How Much Caffeine is in a Glass of Iced Coffee?

A typical 8 oz. iced coffee contains 60 to 90 mg of caffeine. Larger servings can contain up to 350 mg of caffeine. However, the caffeine content in a cup of iced coffee can vary dramatically depending on the strength and type of brew used. 

6. Is Iced Coffee Vegan?

Most iced coffees contain milk. However, black iced coffee is vegan, and it’s possible to make and buy dairy-free brews that contain plant-based milk alternatives.

7. Is Cold Brew Different From Iced Coffee?

Although both cold and often served on ice, these two brews are different. Cold brew coffee is made using cold water extraction — it must be brewed in the refrigerator overnight. Iced coffee is usually made with hot water extraction — the resulting coffee is cooled and combined with ice before serving.