This copycat Starbucks Iced Coffee takes less than 5 minutes to make and tastes just like the original. It's surprisingly simple!
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โ About This Recipe
A while ago (early summer 2023), a former Starbucks employee leaked their recipes. Viral videos were spreading through TikTok, showing a slideshow of photos of their in-store recipe guides.
I came across one for their iced coffee, and it listed four ingredients:
- Starbucks Iced Brewed Coffee,
- Fontana Classic syrup,
- Milk,
- And sugar.
One interesting ingredient is Fontana syrup. I honestly had no idea what this was, but after some research, I discovered it's just a liquid sweetener.
Liquid sweetener is popular in coffee shops because it's convenient and dissolves in cold temperatures, whereas regular sugar does not. To make it at home, we can simply use sugar, but the key is to dissolve it while the coffee is still hot.
After several rounds of recipe testing, I found a combination that works well.
๐ซ Instant Coffee Vs. Ground Coffee
I'll leave it up to the reader to decide what they want to use. It all depends on how much of a coffee geek you are.
Many people I know would scoff at the idea of drinking instant coffee, but I tested this recipe with instant coffee and thought it was excellent.
If you decide on ground coffee, add more grounds and, preferably, a darker roast to make the flavor more potent.
๐ฅ Ingredients
- Boiling water: We need a small amount of boiling water to dissolve the instant coffee and milk. Don't worry; the ice cubes will quickly cool it down.
- Instant coffee granules: Now, for the best copycat, you should use Starbucks brand coffee. You can buy it in almost all grocery stores, or you can find it on Amazon.
- Sugar: I recommend one and a half teaspoons per serving, but you can add more or less depending on your taste.
- Ice cubes: We'll need about 5-6 ice cubes per serving.
- Milk: Whole milk or 2% milk is preferred because the small amount of fat adds a lot of creaminess. Not to mention that we're diluting everything with ice, so we need as much flavor as possible.
๐ช Instructions
STEP 1: In a glass, mix boiling water, instant coffee granules, and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool in the refrigerator for a couple of minutes.
If you like using beans for your coffee, you can make it using your favorite way of brewing. Follow the package directions, but double the number of beans to make the coffee more concentrated because the ice will slightly dilute it.
STEP 2: Add ice cubes to the glass, pour in the milk, give it a good stir, and enjoy!
๐จ๐ปโ๐ณ Variations
- Starbucks Flavored Syrup: Starbucks sells a bunch of different flavors like Vanilla and Hazelnut. You can add a single pump to give them a special taste.
- Cold brew: Try cold brewing for a smoother, less bitter taste. Mix 100 grams of ground coffee with ยฝ cup of water in an airtight container. Let it sit at room temperature for twelve hours or overnight, and it's ready to use.
- Coffee cubes: Instead of regular ice cubes, use ones made from brewed coffee for an extra-strong kick in your glass.
๐ฅก Storage & Leftovers
Storing: Refrigerate leftover Starbucks Iced Coffee in an airtight container (so it doesn't absorb the odors in the fridge) for up to 2 days.
๐ Recipe
Copycat Starbucks Iced Coffee
Ingredients
- ยฝ cup boiling water
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules (see notes for beans or grounds)
- 1 ยฝ teaspoons sugar (or to taste)
- 5-6 ice cubes
- ยฝ cup milk
Instructions
- In a glass, mix boiling water, instant coffee granules, and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool in the refrigerator for a couple of minutes.
- Add ice cubes, pour in the milk, give it a good stir, and enjoy!
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