How to Make a Vanilla Iced Coffee

Vanilla is a staple ingredient for a reason. And that reason is that it’s delicious. So if you’re looking for a refreshing iced brew to make this summer, this one’s for you. 

Made by blending cold brewed coffee with ice and a touch of vanilla extra, this recipe is super easy and you probably already have the ingredients at home. We love how the complex, fruity sweetness of vanilla is balanced by the rich flavour of coffee. To give it extra flavour and a creamier texture, we’d suggest adding some milk to make it an iced vanilla latte. 

Get ready to become a barista in your kitchen with our easy vanilla iced coffee recipe. Say goodbye to long café queues. You don’t need them where we’re going.

Vanilla Iced Coffee Ingredients

What You’ll Need: 

• 2 Grind Vanilla Coffee Pods (or, if you prefer to brew it yourself, 150ml of brewed coffee using our Ground or Whole Bean Coffee)
• Ice (would be extra cool if you used the Grind Ice Cube Tray)
• 200ml milk or plant-based alternative
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp sugar
• Whipped cream (optional)

Vanilla Iced Coffee Recipe

Our quick and easy instructions on how to make the perfect Vanilla Iced Latte, using only a handful of basic ingredients.

Step 1 

Make a double shot of coffee using two Grind vanilla coffee pods, or if you want a milder vanilla taste use two coffee pods in your favourite blend, or freshly brew 150ml of coffee with your favourite brewing tool (ours is a Cafetière). If you have time, leave it to cool.  

Step 2

Fill a nice glass or cup (cute cups make drinks taste nicer, everyone knows that) with ice cubes. If you don’t want to dilute your coffee too much and want an extra caffeine boost, pre-fill your ice tray with brewed coffee.

Step 3

Stir ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract into your coffee—if you’re using our vanilla flavoured coffee pods, you’ll only need a little drop of vanilla extract—and a teaspoon of sugar or your sugar substitute of choice.

Step 4

Gently pour the coffee into the glass, on top of your ice cubes.

Step 5

Add around 150–200ml (or to taste) of cold milk to your glass, and give it a good stir. Add more ice if necessary.

Step 6 

If you’re feeling a bit extra (and you should be), finish with a dollop of whipped cream.

Can You Put Vanilla Extract in an Iced Coffee?

Absolutely yes. Our vanilla coffee pods are naturally sweetened with a vanilla flavour, but adding vanilla extract is the next best thing. Alternatively, you can swap out the vanilla extra for 1-2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup.

OR if you want to go all out, you can make your own vanilla syrup by combining equal parts water and sugar, adding vanilla beans or extract, simmer, cool, and strain if necessary.

How Many Calories are in a Vanilla Iced Coffee.

The calories in your vanilla iced coffee will vary depending on what kind of milk and how much sugar you use. A standard vanilla iced coffee will have around 150 calories, but toppings like whipped cream or more caramel syrup will increase this to around 200-300 calories. If you’re looking for a lower calorie option, try using a sugar-free sweetener or skimmed milk. 

Ready to Make Your Own Vanilla Iced Coffee?

Obviously, a vanilla iced coffee needs great coffee. Choose from our range of speciality-grade coffee in Nespresso® compatible, home-compostable coffee pods or, if you prefer to brew at home, as whole bean and ground. 

If you want the best of the best, you could also cold brew your coffee overnight with our Cold Brew Bottle, which gives your coffee a smoother taste and retains more of its natural aromas and flavours. It’s more time consuming, but it’s worth it. 

Short on time? We get it—you’re busy. That’s why we have our range of ready-to-drink iced coffee cans, featuring our signature House Blend, slow-steeped in cold water. You can shop all our iced coffees here.