Caramel iced coffee
Caramel iced coffee is popular for a reason. It’s delicious and refreshing, especially on a hot summer day. That said, the cost of drinking this sweet treat on a frequent basis adds up quickly if you buy it from a coffee shop.
You might think that you need certain equipment to make caramel iced coffee, but that’s not true. In fact, you don’t even need many ingredients. You can enjoy homemade caramel iced coffee enhanced with additional flavors. Keep reading to find out how.
Caramel iced coffee flavor options
While classic caramel iced coffee is tasty enough on its own, adding other flavors to yours can make it even more delicious. Some of these flavors include vanilla, chocolate, mocha, hazelnut, peanut butter and mint. You can buy flavors in syrup form or some in powder form. You can also add the following ingredients for even more variations:
Nutella
Vanilla ice cream
Chocolate ice cream
Peanut butter ice cream
Mint ice cream
Coconut extract
Baileys or Kahlua
Rum
Keep an open mind when it comes to flavor combinations, even if they don’t sound like they’d work in coffee. For example, combining caramel, chocolate and peanut butter may create an iced coffee that’s reminiscent of a Snickers bar.
Below are some additional ideas for flavored iced coffee drinks.
Caramel macchiato
Mark vanilla syrup with espresso and combine it with freshly steamed and chilled milk. Top the concoction with a generous caramel drizzle.
Peppermint white chocolate mocha
This seasonal favorite is available to you year-round if you make it at home. Use mocha, peppermint and white chocolate flavorings.
Triple chocolate mocha
A home run for chocolate lovers, this iced coffee drink contains dark, semi-sweet and white chocolate to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Types of milk for caramel iced coffee
Much like flavors, you have options when it comes to the milk in your caramel iced coffee. You can use classic dairy milk, choosing 2% or skim dairy milk if you want to reduce fat and calories. However, if you can’t consume dairy, are lactose intolerant or vegan, there are a variety of alternatives on the market:
Cashew milk
Macadamia nut milk
Rice milk
Hemp milk
Coconut milk
What kind of sugar is best in caramel iced coffee?
There’s no right or wrong answer to this question. It’s entirely up to your lifestyle choices and personal preferences. You can use granulated white sugar, brown sugar, muscovado sugar, turbinado sugar, baker’s special sugar, caster sugar, liquid sugar or sugar substitute.
You can also leave out sugar entirely if you don’t mind a caramel iced coffee that’s less sweet than the traditional version. If you have a sweet tooth, rest assured, the caramel enhances the sweetness of this drink.
What’s the difference between an iced coffee and an iced latte?
There are several key differences between an iced coffee and an iced latte. The latter uses espresso, significantly more milk and has a foam element. Lattes tend to have a stronger coffee flavor due to the espresso, which will obviously appeal to those who take their coffee black. The presence of espresso also gives lattes more of a caffeine kick. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, lattes may not be the best choice for you.
Type of coffee to use in a caramel iced coffee
You have a few options when it comes to the type of coffee you can use. Using espresso technically makes it an iced latte. However, it’s definitely an option.
The other option is brewed coffee. This will give your caramel iced coffee a more subtle coffee flavor and less of a caffeine kick. It also takes a bit longer because you have to brew the coffee and then wait for it to chill.
Using cold-brewed coffee has become a popular trend in recent years. It’s more time-consuming but greatly enhances the flavor. You cold brew coffee by steeping it through thin coffee filters overnight in the fridge.
Type of ice to use in a caramel iced coffee
The ice in a glass of water won’t unduly affect the taste, but the ice in a caramel iced coffee can very well affect the quality of the drink. You don’t want the ice to melt too quickly and dilute the flavor you worked so hard to create.
Large blocks of ice
Solid, oversized blocks of ice are ideal if you’re going to drink your caramel iced coffee outside in a warm climate or inside a heated space. They melt slowly, giving you time to savor your concoction.
Medium ice cubes
This size of the ice cube is created by standard ice makers and ice cube trays. Medium ice cubes are convenient and work perfectly fine.
Crushed ice
Many people favor crushed ice if they’re making a batch of caramel iced coffee rather than a single glass. Keep a bag of crushed ice on hand and use it liberally. This is a great choice for people preparing their coffee for family or a group of friends.
What you need to make caramel iced coffee
Making caramel iced coffee is fairly simple and straightforward. You only need a few ingredients.
Cold brew coffee, chilled standard brew coffee or espresso
Caramel syrup and any other flavors you want to add
Sugar, if applicable
Dairy milk or alternative milk
Ice
How to make caramel iced coffee
Follow these steps and you’ll have caramel iced coffee in 5 minutes or less.
Gently drop ice in the glass.
Pour in the coffee.
Add the milk.
Add the sugar if you’re using it.
Add the caramel and any additional flavors you’re using.
Stir until the drink is completely smooth.
Megan Oster is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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