Last Updated on February 17, 2023 by brewthatcoffee
The rise of coffee culture seemingly has no end. The Americano is simple in construction, consisting of water and a double shot of espresso. Starbucks constructs a particularly tasty, robust Americano – and it’s even better over ice.
An Iced Americano is made using espresso, chilled water, and ice cubes. Pull two to three shots of espresso using an espresso machine or Nespresso. Pour 2/3 cup chilled water into a tall glass and add the espresso shots. Top the drink with ice and optional milk or sweeteners to taste.
An Americano can be enjoyed over ice as a cool and refreshing summer pick-me-up. Here’s how to order your Iced Americano at Starbucks (for those lazy days) and make a homemade copycat version using three simple ingredients. We’ve also included a list of delicious add-ins for those who prefer a slightly sweeter drink.
What Is An Iced Americano?
An Iced Americano is the watered-down and cold version of the classic Americano. The beverage is made using espresso, ice, and chilled water. It is bold, dark, refreshing, and delicious – a must-try!
The Iced Americano is similar to a strongly brewed iced coffee. However, it is exclusively made with an espresso machine or Nespresso.
What It Tastes Like
A traditional Iced Americano tastes like a slightly watered-down Americano or espresso.
The drink relies on espresso beans for flavor and character. An Iced Americano typically boasts rich and bold robust espresso flavors with bitter notes and crisp acid nuances.
Difference Between An Iced Americano And Iced Coffee
While an Iced Americano may resemble a freshly-brewed Iced Coffee, there are several factors that tell them apart.
An Iced Americano is strictly an espresso-based drink with additional ice and cold water. In contrast, an Iced Coffee is hot brewed coffee chilled with ice cubes. You cannot use brewed coffee to make the Iced Americano.
Flavor-wise, an Iced Americano is generally more robust and richer than an Iced Coffee. It boasts deep coffee flavors with bitter and acidic notes. Iced Coffee offers subtle, light flavors with sweet floral notes.
Visually, the primary cue is the ‘crema’ or lack thereof. For those unfamiliar with the term, crema is the signature flavorful, aromatic, reddish-brown foam that rests atop a freshly pulled espresso shot. Crema gives espresso a fuller flavor than drip coffee.
Unlike Iced Coffee, an Iced Americano has crema on top.
How To Make An Iced Americano
You can make an Iced Americano with three simple ingredients and, of course, an espresso machine. Here’s how.
Equipment
- Espresso Machine or Nespresso
- Grinder
- Espresso Tamper (a tool used to tamp espresso grounds evenly into the espresso machine’s basket for a premium quality shot).
Ingredients
- 3 shots espresso (3 ounces)
- ⅔ cup chilled water (preferably filtered)
- 1 cup ice
- Milk or cream (optional)
- Sweetener (optional)
Tip: Preferably use 100% Arabica dark roast beans when making an Iced Americano for the best results. If you enjoy the taste of Starbucks drinks, you can grab some beans from their café.
Instructions
Here’s how to copycat a Starbucks Iced Americano at home.
- Pull three shots espresso using an espresso machine or Nespresso.
- Pour ⅔ cups chilled water into a tall glass.
- Pour the espresso shots over the chilled water.
- Top the drink with ice.
- Optionally add a dash of milk or sweetener to taste. You can also get creative and add flavored syrup and sweet toppings.
Best Add-ins
Iced Americanos can be too robust or bitter for your taste. If so, consider the following delicious add-ins to lighten the drink.
Syrups | Sauces | Toppings | Milk |
Brown Sugar Caramel Hazelnut Vanilla Cinnamon Dolce Irish Cream | Mocha Caramel White Chocolate Mocha Honey | Praline Cocoa Cinnamon Cookie Crumble Whipped Cream | Whole Milk 2% Milk Oat Milk Almond Milk Coconut Milk |
Tip: If you plan to add granulated sugar, ensure you add it to the warm espresso shot to ensure it dissolves properly.
Recommended Equipment (Espresso Machine)
You will need an espresso machine or Nespresso to make a barista-quality Iced Americano.
Our top three recommendations include:
De’Longhi EC9355M La Specialista Prestigio
Iced Americano
The rise of coffee culture seemingly has no end. The Americano is simple in construction, consisting of water and a double shot of espresso. Starbucks constructs a particularly tasty, robust Americano – and it’s even better over ice.
Ingredients
- 3 shots espresso (3 ounces)
- ⅔ cup chilled water (preferably filtered)
- 1 cup ice
- Milk or cream (optional)
- Sweetener (optional)
Instructions
- Pull three shots espresso using an espresso machine or Nespresso.
- Pour ⅔ cups chilled water into a tall glass.
- Pour the espresso shots over the chilled water.
- Top the drink with ice.
- Optionally add a dash of milk or sweetener to taste. You can also get creative and add flavored syrup and sweet toppings.
Notes
Equipment
- Espresso Machine or Nespresso
- Grinder
- Espresso Tamper (a tool used to tamp espresso grounds evenly into the espresso machine’s basket for a premium quality shot).
Tip: Preferably use 100% Arabica dark roast beans when making an Iced Americano for the best results. If you enjoy the taste of Starbucks drinks, you can grab some beans from their café.
How To Order An Iced Americano At Starbucks
You can order an Iced Americano in three drink sizes at Starbucks:
- Tall (12 ounces): 2 espresso shots
- Grande (16 ounces): 3 espresso shots
- Venti (24 ounces): 4 espresso shots
Starbucks makes its Iced Americano with its Signature Espresso Roast. However, you can ask the barista to change it to a Blonde or Decaf Roast. You can also change the espresso shot to a short (ristretto) or long shot.
The drink is traditionally made without any sweeteners, syrups, or milk. However, you can easily add them to your order to spruce up your drink.
Iced Americano Caffeine Content
Starbucks Iced Americano caffeine per cup size:
- Tall (12 ounces): 150 milligrams of caffeine
- Grande (16 ounces): 225 milligrams of caffeine
- Venti (24 ounces): 300 milligrams of caffeine
Is An Iced Americano Stronger Than Iced Coffee?
An Iced Americano is stronger and contains more caffeine than Iced Coffee.
Iced Americano Caffeine Content vs. Other Coffee Drinks
Here’s a charted comparison of the caffeine content between a Starbucks Iced Americano and other Starbucks coffee drinks.
Coffee Beverage | Tall (12 ounces) Caffeine Content | Grande (16 ounces) Caffeine Content | Venti (24 ounces) Caffeine Content |
Iced Americano | 150 milligrams | 225 milligrams | 300 milligrams |
Iced Coffee | 120 milligrams | 165 milligrams | 235 milligrams |
Espresso | 75 milligrams (single shot) | 150 milligrams (double shot) | |
Café Americano | 150 milligrams | 225 milligrams | 300 milligrams |
Blonde Café Americano | 170 milligrams | 255 milligrams | 340 milligrams |
Dark Roast Brewed Coffee | 280 milligrams | 380 milligrams | 470 milligrams |
Café Mocha | 95 milligrams | 175 milligrams | 185 milligrams |
Cappuccino | 75 milligrams | 150 milligrams | 150 milligrams |
Flat White | 130 milligrams | 195 milligrams | 195 milligrams |
Reserve Cold Brew | 150 milligrams | 200 milligrams | 300 milligrams |
Iced Latte | 75 milligrams | 150 milligrams | 225 milligrams |
Coffee Frappuccino | 70 milligrams | 95 milligrams | 130 milligrams |
Nitro Latte | 115 milligrams | 285 milligrams |
What’s A Korean Iced Americano?
A Korean Iced Americano is identical to a regular Iced Americano. It is a double shot of espresso poured over ice and chilled water.
Iced Americano FAQs
Conclusion
Make an Iced Americano at home with three basic ingredients to enjoy a cool, refreshing spin on the classic Americano. It still offers the same bold and intense flavors as its traditional counterpart.
Resources
https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/406/iced/nutrition
https://baristas-choice.com/best-espresso-machine-for-americano/