Starbucks Iced Coffee Copycat Recipe: 2 Easy Methods

There’s nothing I love more than a cold iced coffee, but buying one every morning can get expensive fast. This Starbucks Iced Coffee Copycat Recipe shows you how to make smooth, coffee-shop-style iced coffee at home using two easy methods: a quick French press method when you want coffee now, and an overnight cold brew concentrate that keeps in the refrigerator for easy iced coffees all week. I originally shared this recipe in 2014, and it was once one of the most popular recipes here on SweetPhi—so it was definitely time to give this old favorite a little love!

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Why You’ll Love This Iced Coffee Recipe

• It gives you two brewing options depending on how much time you have.
• The French press method is ready in minutes.
• The cold brew method makes a large batch of concentrate for the week.
• Simple syrup dissolves smoothly without leaving sugar at the bottom of the glass.
• You can control the coffee strength, sweetness, and amount of cream.
• It costs significantly less than buying coffee out every morning.
• No traditional drip coffee maker is required.
• Readers have been making and loving this recipe for years.

French Press Iced Coffee vs. Cold Brew

• French press iced coffee: Coffee is brewed with hot water for four minutes, pressed, and poured over plenty of ice. It has a rich, full-bodied coffee flavor and is the faster option.
• Cold brew concentrate: Coarse coffee grounds steep in cold or room-temperature water for 24 hours before being strained. The result is a strong, smooth concentrate that should be diluted with water before serving.
• Which should you choose? Use the French press method when you want iced coffee right away. Choose the cold brew method when you want to prepare a larger batch that will be ready in the refrigerator for several mornings.

How Do You Keep Iced Coffee from Tasting Watery?

The key is starting with coffee that is stronger than you would normally drink hot. Ice naturally melts and dilutes the coffee, so using strong French press coffee or a properly diluted cold brew concentrate helps preserve the coffee flavor.

For the French press method, fill your glass generously with ice and expect some of it to melt when the hot coffee is added. Add a little more fresh ice after pouring if needed. For cold brew, begin with equal parts concentrate and water, then adjust the ratio to your preferred strength.

How to make iced coffee via the French Press method:

1. You’ll need a French press, and a bag of ground coffee
2. Warm water – you want it very hot, but not boiling (200 degrees to be exact). I microwave water for 3 minutes per 2 cups of water. Or, I recently got this kettle, it’s life changing and has a ‘French press’ water heating setting on it!
3. Pour water into French press, add coffee grounds (my magic number is 2.5 scoops per cup of water -a level scoop of coffee should contain two tablespoons of coffee, which are approximately 10 grams or 0.36 ounces.).
4. Stir with a plastic or wooden spoon or reusable plastic straw – you don’t want a metal spoon to scratch the bottom of the French press.
5. Let sit for 4 minutes, then put the lid on, press gently, and pour coffee over a big glass of ice.
6. Stir in simple syrup and creamer or make sweet cream coffee creamer. Enjoy.
7. Save leftovers in the fridge and serve over ice.

Customize Your Iced Coffee

• Vanilla iced coffee: Add vanilla simple syrup or a small splash of vanilla extract.
• Sweet cream iced coffee: Top it with Homemade Sweet Cream Coffee Creamer.
• Cinnamon iced coffee: Add a splash of 5-Ingredient Cinnamon Brown Sugar Creamer.
• Caramel iced coffee: Stir in caramel syrup and finish with a light caramel drizzle.
• Mocha iced coffee: Add chocolate syrup before pouring in the cream.
• Dairy-free iced coffee: Use oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or your favorite dairy-free creamer.
• Less sweet: Reduce the simple syrup or leave it out completely.
• Extra strong: Use less water when diluting the cold brew concentrate.
• Coffee ice cubes: Freeze leftover brewed coffee in an ice cube tray and use the cubes to prevent dilution.

How to make iced coffee via the cold pressed method:

1. You’ll need a large pitcher or measuring cup, a bag of ground coffee, and a coffee filter.
2. Start by measuring out 8 cups of water, pour bag of coffee grounds (12 oz) into the water, stir once (with a plastic or paper straw or spoon) and cover. Let sit for 24 hrs.
3. After 24 hrs strain through coffee filter into a pitcher. Refrigerate for 8 hours and then your coffee is ready to enjoy!
4. This makes a really strong ‘concentrate’ – mix 1/2 cup concentrate with 1/2 cup water and pour over ice (this is for strong coffee, if you like it weaker, add more water.) Add simple syrup and creamer or make sweet coffee creamer.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is cold brew the same as iced coffee? Not exactly. Traditional iced coffee is brewed hot and then chilled or poured over ice. Cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold or room-temperature water for an extended period. This post includes one method for each style.
• What size is one coffee scoop? One level coffee scoop is approximately 2 tablespoons, 10 grams, or 0.36 ounces of ground coffee.
• What kind of coffee should I use? Use a coffee you already enjoy. A medium or dark roast creates a bold coffee-shop flavor, but a lighter roast works if you prefer a brighter, less intense cup.
• Should I use hot or cold water for the overnight method? Use cold or room-temperature water. Stir in the grounds, cover the container, and let it steep before straining.
• Why does the French press coffee melt the ice? The coffee is still hot when poured, so some melting is expected. Start with plenty of ice and add a few fresh cubes after pouring if necessary.
• Can I make iced coffee without a coffee maker? Yes. Both methods in this recipe work without a traditional drip coffee machine.
• How much water should I add to cold brew concentrate? Start with equal parts concentrate and water. Add more water, milk, or ice if you prefer a milder drink.
• Can I use regular sugar instead of simple syrup? You can, but granulated sugar does not dissolve as easily in cold coffee. Simple syrup creates smoother, more evenly sweetened iced coffee.

Storage

• French press coffee: Refrigerate leftover brewed coffee in a covered container and use within about 3–5 days for the freshest flavor.
• Cold brew concentrate: Store the strained concentrate in an airtight pitcher or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week.
• Simple syrup: Refrigerate in a clean, airtight jar for up to two weeks.
• For serving: Store the coffee without cream or ice, then customize each glass just before drinking.
• Do not freeze the finished drink: Instead, freeze leftover black coffee in an ice cube tray to make coffee ice cubes.

Tips for Success

• Use good quality coffee beans: Fresh coffee grounds make a big difference in the overall flavor.
• Use coarse ground coffee for cold brew: Coarser grounds help prevent over-extraction and create smoother coffee.
• Don’t use boiling water: Water that’s too hot can make coffee taste bitter.
• Adjust the strength to your taste: If the coffee concentrate is too strong, add more water or milk.
• Keep extra coffee in the fridge: A batch of coffee concentrate makes it easy to prepare iced coffee throughout the week.

And how perfect- this Starbucks iced coffee copycat drink has less than 5 ingredients making it perfect for this week’s Five Ingredient Friday!

Serving Suggestions

• Pair with breakfast – enjoy alongside pancakes, oatmeal, or breakfast sandwiches.
• Serve with a pastry – muffins, banana bread, or scones pair perfectly with iced coffee.
• Make an iced coffee bar – set out flavored syrups, milk options, and toppings for guests.

To me, a cold glass of iced coffee is still the cat’s meow—yes, I looked up that phrase years ago and I’m still sticking with it! Whether you use the quick French press method or make a big batch of overnight cold brew concentrate, this recipe gives you a smooth, customizable iced coffee without making another coffee-shop run. Make it as strong, sweet, and creamy as you like, and enjoy having coffee ready whenever you need it.

Here are some other coffee recipes you might like:

• Sweet Cream Iced Coffee Recipe
• Homemade Iced Salted Honey Latte Recipe
• Homemade Iced Maple Latte Recipe
• 5 Ingredient Cinnamon Coffee Recipe

Find all of my drink recipes here.

Starbucks Iced Coffee Copycat Recipe

Learn how to make Starbucks iced coffee at home two ways! Use a French press for quick iced coffee or make smooth overnight cold brew concentrate.

4.43 from 59 votes

Print Rate

Servings: 8 cups concentrate (makes 16-20 cups of iced coffee)

Equipment

• French press
• Starbucks coffee
• Measuring cups

Ingredients

Cold Pour Over Method

• 9 cups water divided
• 1 lb coffee
• 1 cup sugar

For each cup of iced coffee

• 1/2 cup coffee concentrate
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1/2 cups water
• 1-2 tbs simple syrup (or sweetener/ratio of choice), optional
• 1-2 tbs half and half optional

French Press Method

• 4 cups water steaming, not boiling
• 10 scoops coffee grounds

For each cup of iced coffee

• 2 cups freshly pressed coffee
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1-2 tbs simple syrup (or sweetener/ratio of choice), optional
• 1-2 tbs half and half optional

Instructions

Cold Press Pour Over Method

• Start by measuring out 8 cups of water, pour entire pound of coffee grounds on into the water, stir once and cover. Let sit for 24 hrs. After 24 hrs strain through coffee filter into a pitcher. Refrigerate for 8 hours and then your coffee is ready to enjoy! This makes a really strong 'concentrate' if you will.
• To make the simple syrup add equal parts water and sugar to a pot over medium heat. Heat until the sugar is dissolved and liquid is clear. Allow to cool. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
• To make a cup of iced coffee fill a cup with ice, pour coffee over ice (add 1/2 cup water per 1/2 cup of concentrate as the coffee will be very strong) and add 1-2 tbs of the simple syrup or until desired sweetness level is reached. Next add a dash of half and half (or until desired cream level is reached) stir and enjoy!

French Press Method

• You'll need a French press, and a bag of ground coffee

  *For the warm water - you want it very hot, but not boiling (200 degrees). I microwave water for 3 minutes per 2 cups of water.
  
• Pour water into French press, add coffee grounds (my magic number is 2.5 scoops per cup of water-a level scoop of coffee should contain two tablespoons of coffee, which are approximately 10 grams or 0.36 ounces).

  Stir with a plastic or wooden spoon or reusable plastic straw - you don't want a metal spoon to scratch the bottom of the French press.
  
• Let sit for 4 minutes, then put the lid on, press gently, and pour coffee over a big glass of ice.Stir in simple syrup and creamer or make sweet cream coffee creamer.

  Enjoy.

  Save leftovers in the fridge and serve over ice.
  

Video

Notes

The nutrition information presented on this site should be considered an estimate as the calculations will change based on the exact products you use in your own kitchen.

 

Your comments and feedback are helpful and appreciated!! If you’ve tried this recipe or any other recipe on SweetPhi.com, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! If you took some photos, we'd love to see them - you can share on Instagram or email them to phi@sweetphi.com and we'll add it to our reader recreations.

Nutrition

Calories: 116kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 64mg | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

I originally shared this post back in 2014 and have updated it to include both methods!