How to Make a Caramel Iced Coffee: A Deliciously Simple Process

Caramel and coffee are a match made in heaven. The salty, sweet notes of caramel blend perfectly with the bold, dark flavors of coffee. The two work well in hot brews, but the pair shine even brighter when used for creamy iced coffee. 

This guide teaches you how to make the ultimate caramel iced coffee. You’ll also learn five other iced coffee recipes and discover the best ways to make iced coffee so you can level up and diversify your summertime brews. 

What You’ll Need to Make a Caramel Iced Coffee

This simple chilled coffee requires few ingredients and can be adjusted to suit the equipment you have at home.

Here’s what you’ll need to make caramel iced coffee:

Ingredients

• Arabica coffee or an arabica x robusta blend
• Water
• Ice
• Whole milk (or dairy-free alternative)
• Salted caramel sauce

Equipment 

• Coffee grinder (if using whole beans)
• French press, drip coffee maker, or espresso machine 
• Large glass
• Tablespoon

Coffee Recommendations

The best coffee for caramel coffee should be a dark roast. Dark roast arabica coffee creates a smooth, rich coffee with a mild caffeine hit. A dark roast arabica and robusta blend produces a stronger, darker coffee with nutty chocolatey hints. 

Whether you choose pure arabica or a blend is down to you. If you prefer subtle, Mild coffee straight arabica is best. If you prefer stronger, more bitter brews, an arabica and robusta blend is best. 

We recommend Cafely DaLat (100% Arabica) for a smooth, creamy caramel iced coffee. 

We recommend Cafely DaNang Coffee (Arabica x Robusta) for a dark, rich, nutty caramel coffee. 

How to Make a Caramel Iced Coffee: 4-Step Guide

Making caramel iced coffee is a simple process. If you've ever made iced coffee before, you'll be able to make this tasty variant easily. 

Follow this 4-step guide to make a deliciously simple caramel iced coffee:

1. Brew a Strong Coffee

First, brew a concentrated shot of coffee. If you have an espresso machine, brew a regular shot of espresso. If not, use a French press, moka pot, pour-over, or phin filter to brew a strong coffee. Increase the amount of coffee and reduce the amount of water you'd normally use. 

Once brewed, add two tablespoons of salted caramel, stir to combine, and allow the coffee to cool to room temperature (20 to 30 minutes).

2. Prepare the Glass

In a tall serving glass, squirt a dash of salted caramel sauce around the inside. Then, add ice.

3. Assemble the Iced Coffee

To the glass, add the shot of espresso or concentrated coffee followed by whole milk or a dairy-free alternative. Stir gently to combine without disturbing the caramel on the inside of the glass. 

4. Serve and Enjoy

Serve the coffee as is, or add a small amount of whipped cream topped with a dash of salted caramel. Enjoy it while it's cold. 

Five Alternative Iced Coffee Recipes to Try

Does caramel iced coffee sound too sweet or creamy? Try one of the five alternative iced coffee recipes below or explore more creative ways to make iced coffee.

Try one of the five alternative iced coffee recipes below:

1. How to Make Vanilla Iced Coffee

Vanilla iced coffee combines the tropical sweetness of vanilla with the bold richness of coffee. This coffee is simple to make but it does require some prep work and takes longer to brew the first time because you'll have to make a vanilla syrup. Here's how to make it:

Ingredients:

• Cafely DaNang (Robusta & Arabica) beans
• Water
• Ice
• Whole milk 
• 1 Madagascan vanilla pod 
• White sugar

How to make vanilla iced coffee in 7 steps:

1. Make the vanilla syrup — First, you'll need to make a vanilla syrup. In a cooking pot, add two cups of white sugar to one cup of water. Then, slice open the vanilla pod, scrape out the seeds, and add the pod and seeds to the pot. Slowly heat the liquid until it begins to simmer, stirring constantly to combine. Lower the temperature and heat for 15 minutes. Then, remove from the heat, allow to completely cool, and store in air-tight jars or bottles in the fridge. 
2. Brew the coffee — Brew a strong cup of concentrated coffee using an espresso machine, moka pot, French press, or drip coffee maker. Aim for 50 to 100 mL of coffee. Allow the coffee to cool.
3. Prepare the glass — In a glass, add ice and one to two tablespoons of your vanilla syrup. 
4. Assemble the iced coffee — Pour in the concentrated coffee, followed by a cup or so of whole milk (or a dairy-free alternative). Stir with a spoon, ensuring the syrup, milk, and coffee are thoroughly combined. 
5. Serve and enjoy — Serve with or without a straw. If the beverage isn’t sweet enough or you want a stronger vanilla taste, stir in more syrup as required. 

2. How to Make a Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brew coffee is different from iced coffee. Although it's served chilled over ice, it's brewed with cold water rather than hot water. This results in a smooth, mild brew with a low acidity. The same coffee brewed with cold extraction results in a completely different experience. 

Cold brew is simple to make but it's a lengthy process. The coffee must be brewed in the refrigerator for 18 to 24 hours before straining. Here's how to make it:

Ingredients:

• Cafely DaLat (100% Arabica) Coffee
• Cold water
• Ice

How to make cold brew coffee step-by-step:

1. Grind the coffee — First, grind 27 grams (5 tablespoons) of 100% arabica coffee. Aim for a coarse grind similar to the texture of flaky sea salt. 
2. Assemble the brew — Add the coffee grinds to a French press. Fill the container up with cold filtered water and stir to combine. Place the plunger on the French Press, but don't strain the coffee just yet. 
3. Allow to brew overnight — Place the French press in the refrigerator for 18 to 24 hours. The longer it's left to brew, the stronger the resulting coffee will be. 
4. Strain the coffee — After 18 to 24 hours, remove the French press from the fridge and gently push the plunger down to separate the grounds.
5. Pour the brew — If you don't plan on consuming all the cold brew at once, pour it from the French press into a container and keep refrigerated. Cold brew will last For around a week. 
6. Serve and enjoy — When it's time to serve, add some ice to a glass and pour in some cold brew. This beverage can be enjoyed as is or diluted with water to weaken it. You can also enjoy cold brew coffee with a splash of milk or a plant-based alternative.

3. How to Make Vietnamese Iced Coffee

Vietnamese iced coffee (Cà Phê Sữa Đá) is made using robusta coffee. It's brewed using a traditional phin filter and is traditionally served over ice with sweetened condensed milk. 

This rich, chilled beverage combines the bitter, dark, nutty flavors of robusta coffee with the thick, creamy sweetness of condensed milk. Here's how to make it:

Ingredients:

• Robusta coffee
• Water
• Ice
• Sweetened condensed milk

How to make Vietnamese iced coffee:

1. Grind the robusta beans — First, grind up 14 grams (2 tablespoons) of Cafely HaNoi Coffee (100% Robusta) or weigh out the pre-ground version. 
2. Boil water — Boil a cup of water in a kettle or pan.
3. Assemble your phin filter — Place the filter tray and chamber of your phin filter on top of a regular-sized coffee mug and set the gravity press to the side. 
4. Add the coffee — Place your coffee grinds inside the chamber and lightly tamp with the gravity press. 
5. Bloom the coffee — Add just enough water to cover the gravity press — this will bloom the coffee. Wait for 45 seconds.
6. Brew the coffee — Once the coffee has bloomed, fill the chamber with water and wait for five to seven minutes for the coffee to drip through into the cup below. Let the coffee cool to room temperature (20 to 30 minutes).
7. Assemble the iced coffee — Add ice to a large glass, followed by the Vietnamese coffee. Then, add two to three tablespoons of condensed milk, lightly stir, and serve.

4. How to Make an Iced Coffee with a French Press

Making iced coffee with a French press is one of the best ways to make a bold, chilled brew that tastes great served black or with milk. It's a simple process and it only takes 10 to 15 minutes to brew. Here's how to make it:

Ingredients:

• Freshly-ground coffee 
• Water
• Milk
• Ice
• Sugar (optional)

How to make French press iced coffee in 5 steps:

1. Grind the coffee — Grind 17 grams (2.5 tablespoons) of high-quality arabica coffee such as our DaLat (100% Arabica) or a robusta and arabica blend such as the DaNang blend. Alternatively, use a high-quality pre-ground coffee.  
2. Boil water — Boil 150 to 200 mL of water in a kettle or pan. 
3. Brew the coffee — In a French press, add the coffee grounds and water. Stir the mixture and place the plunger on top without pushing the filter through the coffee. Wait for 7 to 10 minutes for the coffee to brew before plunging to separate the grounds. 
4. Cool the coffee — Pour the concentrated coffee onto a small coffee mug and allow it to cool. If you’re in a rush, add an ice cube or two. 
5. Assemble the iced coffee — In a glass, add ice and 50 to 100 mL of concentrated coffee. Fill the rest of the glass up with milk. Stir in honey or syrup to sweeten (optional). 
6. Serve and enjoy — Enjoy the coffee immediately while cold. 

5. How to Make a Frosted Coffee

Frosted coffee is a milkshake-like beverage served at Chick-fil-A. It combines vanilla ice cream, caramel, and strong coffee to create a thick, creamy, indulgent summertime drink. You don't need to visit Chick-fil-A to enjoy this coffee; a better brew can be made at home…

Ingredients:

• Strong coffee 
• Vanilla ice cream
• Ice
• Salted caramel 

How to make a frosted coffee:

1. Brew the coffee — Brew a single shot of espresso coffee. If you don't have an espresso machine, try our instant Vietnamese espresso or brew a concentrated cup of drip coffee. Let the coffee cool to room temperature (20 to 30 minutes).
2. Blend the ingredients — To a blender, add two cups of ice cream, five ice cubes, two tablespoons of salted caramel, and the coffee shot. Blend until combined. 
3. Prepare the glass — Squirt salted caramel sauce on the inside of a large glass to create a webbed pattern. 
4. Pour and serve — Pour the frosted coffee into the glass, top with whipped cream (optional), and serve with a milkshake straw. 

FAQs: Caramel Iced Coffee

Want to learn more about Iced coffee? 

The answers to the FAQs below may provide more insight into this summertime brew…

1. How Much Caffeine in Iced Coffee?

The amount of caffeine in a cup of iced coffee varies depending on the type of coffee used, the method of extraction, and the serving size. The average cup of iced coffee can contain anywhere from 40 mg to 140 mg of caffeine per 240 mL serving. 

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

The best type of coffee for iced coffee depends on the brew you want. For more inspiration, check out our guide on the best ways to make iced coffee.

For black iced coffee and cold brews, we recommend a high-quality dark roast arabica such as the Cafely DaLat Coffee. 

For a bold milky iced coffee or Vietnamese iced coffee, we recommend a dark roast robusta like the Cafely Hanoi Coffee. 

A good all-round blend for most types of iced coffee is the DaNang Coffee (Arabica x Robusta).

3. What’s the Difference Between Iced Coffee and Cold Brew?

Iced coffee and cold brews are both usually served over ice. However, iced coffee is made using hot brewed coffee that has been cooled and is often sweetened and served with milk. Cold brew coffee is brewed with cold water for a long period (usually more than 24 hours) and is normally served black.

4. Can You Store Leftover Iced Coffee in the Fridge?

Yes. Milky iced coffee will keep in the fridge for up to two days. Black iced coffee will keep for up to five days. Make sure to remove the ice so the brew doesn't become diluted. Making a larger serving of black iced coffee for refrigerated storage allows you to make iced coffee in a flash daily. 

5. How Can You Make Iced Coffee Sweeter?

You can add sugar to the concentrated coffee before it's cooled. Alternatively, honey, syrup, or sweetened condensed milk can be added to pre-made iced coffee. 

6. Can You Make Iced Coffee with Decaffeinated Coffee?

Yes. You can make iced coffee using decaffeinated coffee for a tasty brew that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. 

7. Can You Make Iced Coffee with Instant Coffee?

Yes. Making iced coffee with instant coffee is a fast and easy way to make the brew. Simply add one sachet of high-quality instant coffee, such as our Vietnamese Instant Espresso, and brew as normal (with or without sugar). Cool the shot, pour over ice, and add milk or cold water to dilute. 

8. How Do You Make Iced Coffee Less Bitter?

You can make iced coffee less bitter by adding more milk and/or sweetening with sugar, honey, or syrup. Adding condensed milk is a fantastic way to calm the bitterness of stronger robusta brews. If you consistently find the iced coffee you make to be too bitter, try a lighter roast arabica-rich blend. 

9. What Is the Best Type of Milk for Iced Coffee?

The best type of milk for iced coffee comes down to personal preference. 

Whole milk is the best dairy milk for iced coffee, as the higher fat content makes the brew more creamy. Coconut milk is a good option for a vegan iced coffee, but almond, oat, and hazelnut milk also works well.

10. How Do You Make Vegan Iced Coffee?

You can make vegan iced coffee by leaving out milk entirely or swapping regular milk for a non-dairy alternative such as:

• Coconut milk
• Oat milk
• Almond milk
• Hazelnut milk
• Rice milk
• Soy milk