Make An Amazing Keurig Iced Coffee [Tutorial]

Making an exceptionally brilliant Keurig iced coffee is easy: just follow the steps laid out in this article. I suggest that you go that further step and take the effort to make coffee ice cubes. The reason is obvious.

Keep reading for a great step-by-step tutorial and everything you need to know about iced coffee, its history, origins and why you should make it!

What Is Iced Coffee?

On the face of it, it seems pretty obvious what an Iced coffee is. Unfortunately, the term “iced coffee” is an over simplification of what this beverage is.

• It is not a regular coffee with ice added.
• It is not a cold-brewed coffee with ice.
• It is not a coffee that has been brewed with cold water.

Now that we have covered what this beverage is not and cleared the air there, let’s talk about what it is.

Iced coffee is a beverage that is brewed stronger than a regular coffee. It is also important to note that it is brewed as a hot coffee and is brewed over ice.

This drink is brewed as a focused and stronger beverage to compensate for the dilution effect of the melting ice. Sweeteners and flavoring are added at either the start of the brewing process as they dissolve better.

Simple syrup dissolves easier and more readily than solid sweeteners like sugar. Simple syrup also results in a more even distribution of sweetness. 

The exact way in which it is made varies from country to country, with Chile and China having a very interesting variation, Café helado, known as Tak in China, with ice cream added.

In Germany, Eiskaffee is an iced coffee with ice cream and whipped cream.

Greece and their famous frappé is a variation of an iced coffee, as is Starbucks variation of it, the Frappuccino.

Thailand’s Oliang coffee is a very interesting variation of a strong black iced coffee with sugar, heavy cream and cardamon.

Read: How to make cold drinks with Keurig

Why Make An Iced Coffee?

One of the main reasons coffee lovers and coffee enthusiasts opt to enjoy this drink is due to a hot coffee on a hot summer’s day being uncomfortable to drink, leaving you hot and a little sweaty. A refreshing and cold, ice-cold coffee hits the spot, tastes great and is an enjoyable pick-me-up.

Where And How, And When Did Iced Coffee Begin?

The credit to this tasty, enjoyable summer drink goes to the French colonial soldiers in the North African nation of Algeria.

Around the 1840s, the soldiers would make their coffee with cold water and add ice.

We can be fair and give credit to both nations.

How To Make Iced Coffee With Keurig Elite

Making an absolutely tasty iced coffee with your Keurig Elite coffee maker is easy. Very easy.

It all starts with choosing a great K Cup coffee pod. It is important that you select a dark roast, as medium and light roasts are not strong enough in flavor to make a great iced coffee and cut through the melting ice even when you brew a focused stronger coffee.

Here are some real tasty coffee pods to consider:

• Starbucks Sumatra dark roast.
• illy Extra Dark Roast.
• Starbucks French Roast.
• Green Mountain Dark Magic.
• Café Bustelo Espresso Style

Step 1: Make Coffee Ice Cubes

This step is entirely optional but is strongly advised, at Latte Love Brew, we encourage you to use coffee ice cubes particularly if your Keurig does not have an iced button. 

Since you are making iced coffee, it makes sense to use your ice cube tray to make coffee cubes. Use the same coffee pod to make your coffee cubes to avoid any mixing of flavors from a different pod.

Use a fresh pod to brew your cup of coffee.

When you brew your beverage over your frozen coffee ice cubes, it will not dilute the flavor.

Step 2: Set Up And Prepare Your Keurig Elite

Preparation is simple and straight forward. Ensure your machine is clean and give it a proper cleaning every week or two by cleaning it externally and internally.

Fill your reservoir with mineral water for the best possible results. The better the quality of your water, the better the results will be. Coffee is, after all, 99% water.

Step 3: Prepare Your Coffee Mug

You have the option of either brewing over ice or adding ice to your coffee. Much better results are achieved when you brew over ice.

Thus,

you need a temperature resistant mug that will not shatter or break when brewing due to the temperature difference when adding ice initially and adding hot water.

Step 4: Let It Brew

Use your iced coffee cubes to fill your mug. Press the iced button and brew your coffee.

When it is ready and nice and cool, decant into a tall glass.

It is your choice to add milk, enjoy it black and to sweeten or not.

Keurig Iced Coffee Button Not Working

One of the common complaints that I see a lot from owners of Keurig machines is that the iced coffee button is not working.

With respect, a great deal of users and Keurig owners are misunderstanding what the iced button is supposed to do. They expect that it will brew a cold coffee and erroneously think that if a hot coffee is brewed something is wrong.

It is not possible to brew an instant cold brew coffee. If you were able to, it would taste very sour and under-extracted.

Cold brew coffee is brewed with cold water and, for best results, it is brewed in the fridge. The typical brew time is 12 hours to 24 hours.

If your Keurig coffee maker is brewing hot coffee when you press the iced button it is because this is what it is supposed to do. It is designed to brew a strong, concentrated cup of coffee.

To test it out, take two coffee pods that are exactly the same and brew two coffees. One, a regular cup of coffee and the other an iced coffee. Do nothing other than press the iced button and brew into an empty cup.

If both brews are hot – take this as a good sign. If your coffee was slightly smaller when you pressed the iced button, your machine is working as it should.

If both coffees were the same size or one was cold, something is not correct, and you should contact Keurig as they know their machines better than anyone else.

Frequently Asked Questions About Keurig Iced Coffee

Can You Do Iced Coffee With A Keurig?

Yes, you can make iced coffee with a Keurig machine. Making a delicious and tasty iced coffee with a Keurig coffee machine is very easy.

Just select a dark roast K-cup pod. Fill a coffee mug with ice and press the iced button and brew your Keurig iced coffee over ice.

How Do I Set My Keurig To Iced Coffee?

There are 3 models of the Keurig Single Serve coffee machines that have a button marked “iced” which is for brewing iced coffee. Unfortunately there is no dedicated Keurig iced coffee maker.

The coffee machines by Keurig that do not have an iced button you can work around this by selecting the coffee maker to brew stronger coffee by selecting the half cup option which will brew half as much and make coffee that is stronger in flavor and able to compensate for the ice that will melt and dilute it.

Another option that you have with a Keurig machine is to select the smallest cup size and achieve the same goal.

Do You Need Special K Cups For Iced Coffee?

No, you do not need to use a special K Cup pod to brew and iced coffee. To get the best results, you will need to use a dark roast.

Unfortunately, and even though they are tasty and enjoyable, medium and light roasts don’t have what it takes to cut through the ice and make a great tasting, flavorful brew.

Is Iced Coffee Just Coffee With Ice In It?

No, iced coffee is a strong brew where the hot brewed coffee is intentionally more concentrated to compensate and take into consideration the reducing coffee to water ratio due to the ice melting.

If you used a regular coffee and added ice, you would end up with a watery coffee as the ice melted. To refer to iced coffee as a regular coffee or a cold coffee with ice is an error, an easy mistake to make.

How Do You Make Iced Coffee Without Tasting Watery?

You have a few options available, including brewing an intentionally stronger and more focused coffee drink, using your ice cube tray and making coffee ice cubes, then putting your coffee cubes into your beverage and brewing your coffee over ice.

You can also brew your coffee and then put it into a cocktail shaker with coffee ice cubes and shake for 2 minutes. Your coffee will be cold, frothy and when served with coffee cubes will not melt and dilute your iced coffee, making it taste watery.

You can also brew a strong cup of coffee and put it in your fridge and wait for it to cool down and serve cold coffee and pour it over ice.

Can You Make Iced Coffee With Keurig?

Yes, you can make excellent iced coffee with your Keurig coffee brewer simply by pressing a button. Simply press the iced button on your coffee maker which will extend the brewing time for maximum flavor. 

How Do You Make Iced Espresso In A Keurig?

It is not possible to make an iced espresso in a Keurig as a Keurig coffee maker has no ability to make a true espresso. You can make a strong black coffee and add ice. Select the smallest cup size, press the strong button and press the iced button.  

Do Nespresso Pods Work In Keurig?

No, Nespresso pods will not work in a Keurig and Keurig will not work in a Nespresso machine. They are not cross compatible. 

Final Thoughts – Keurig Iced Coffee

If you have read this far you have a lot of information about iced coffee, and should know exactly how to make a top quality Keurig iced coffee.

Get the basics right, later you can move on to more exotic iced coffee beverages like iced latte, iced cappuccino, iced mocha and so on.

Did you make this tasty coffee drink?

Yes?

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Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location