Are you craving something cool and creamy with ice? Nothing beats an Americano with cream and ice cubes — a must-try at home. Enjoy a smooth, icy Americano when the weather heats up and you’re feeling low.
An iced Americano is made with an espresso shot, cold water, ice cubes, and whipped cream.
So, what makes an iced Americano different from other iced drinks? Well! An Americano itself is a strong coffee that contains no added flavors—just coffee and water.
Adding ice cubes and a touch of cream transforms it into a creamy beverage with a delightful texture.
Check how to make iced cortado.
In this guide, you’ll learn exact ratios, step-by-step instructions, barista tips, taste differences, and healthy customization options to make the best iced Americano with cream at home.
How to make an iced Americano with cream at home? A quick recipe
Regular Americano is usually made with double-shot espresso and hot water. The ratio is one part espresso to three parts water.
So, it serves in an oversized glass. But an iced Americano needs an even bigger glass.
Unlike regular Americano, the iced Americano needs cold water. At the same time, I prefer whipping cream over regular cream when adding it to an iced Americano.
By adding whipping cream, the coffee becomes creamier, sweeter, and more flavorful.
Even though espresso can be made with the traditional brewing method, if you want a strong drink, getting an espresso machine, or even a Moka pot, can work perfectly.
Here is a simple recipe to make an iced Americano.
iced americano with cream
Ingredients
- 2 shots espresso (60 ml)
- 1/2 glass cold water (120 ml)
- 2 tbps heavy cream
- 1 cup iced cubes
Instructions
- first make two espresso shots
- Add cold water to a large glass
- Add iced cubes to the glass
- Now gently pour espresso into the glass
- Add two tablespoons of cream on top
- Stir the glass gently
- An iced Americano with cream is ready to enjoy
Notes
- Adding cream before espresso may curdle the drink
- Using too much water may spoil the taste
- Never use old or stale espresso beans
- use balanced cream
Don’t miss this interesting article on how to make Blonde Americano.
Ingredients
You need to get the following ingredients when you want to make 12 ounces of an iced americano.
Similarly, you can adjust the amount if you want a bigger or smaller cup. And preferably, you need a Coarse grind for espresso.
- 2 Espresso shots (60 ml)
- 1/4 Cold Water (120ml)
- 1 cup Ice cubes
- 2 tablespoons of cream (15)
Instructions
- Start with a dark, coarsely ground coffee to make two shots of espresso in any espresso machine.
- Now Pour cold water into the large glass.
- Add iced cubes to the cold water.
- Slowly add espresso shots to the cold water.
- Lastly, gently add whipped cream at the top, slowly cascading down into the drink.
A cup is ready to enjoy.
Important points: Use cold water instead of hot water for the best taste and texture. Add espresso shots to cold water and ice cubes to create crema on top.
Which type of cream to add to an iced Americano?
It depends on your personal choice. You can add full cream, half & half, or only whole milk. You can also add flavored cream, such as vanilla extract.
- Heavy cream
Heavy cream gives a lovely texture and richness on top.
- Half and Half
Half and half is a mixture of equal parts cream and milk, providing balance to the drink.
- Non Dairy
Another option is to use non-dairy products, such as oat or almond milk, instead of cream.
How much cream should be added to an iced Americano?
Even though nothing is specified for adding cream to an iced Americano, you can add as much as you want. However, heavy cream will increase calories and may become too heavy to drink.
In the above recipe, I used 1/4 of whipped cream to achieve a balanced drink. Also, you can experiment with a unique taste by adding coconut whipped cream.
Alternatively, you can also add caramel, vanilla, and hazelnut cream to the iced Americano.
However, you can add other flavors to an iced americano with cream. Here are a few serving tips for you.
What are the best coffee beans for an iced Americano?
The best coffee beans for an iced Americano are those with a well-balanced flavor profile and a medium to dark roast.
Here are some popular options: Robusta coffee beans, Arabica coffee beans, or a blend of the two.
However, the best coffee beans for your Americano will depend on your personal taste preferences.
Experiment with different beans to discover the flavor profile that you enjoy the most.
What variations can we add to an iced Americano with cream?
There are no strict rules for iced americano. You can add a sweetener if you like sugar in coffee.
- Brew with Fresh milk
Fresh milk can replace whipped cream if you don’t like the heavy cream and want something fresh and less creamy.
- Add two espresso shots
An iced Americano can be made with one or even three espresso shots; it depends on how much espresso you love in your coffee.
- Add flavors
Many people even prefer adding flavors like vanilla or caramel syrup to get a different taste.
You also can make a decadent drink If you want something other than highly caffeinated coffee. It can be made less decadent by adding only one espresso shot.
Iced Americano with cream is a delightful, crazy, and energetic drink. Keep in mind the following points while making iced Americano.
How to customize an iced Americano with cream to make it better?
Be sure to add espresso to cold water. Also, add ice cubes to it. If you follow these steps, you can get more crema from espresso.
If you love to drink regularly, I suggest buying a good espresso or Nespresso machine to make an easy iced Americano.
Make fresh espresso and use it for an Americano; it gives the best taste every time. Hot espresso cools down instantly when you add it to the cold water.
Add a small amount of cold water if you want iced, solid espresso. Adding a little water will make sure the taste is visibly strong.
There is no defined amount of water that you can add to an Americano. It depends on your choice of how much water you prefer in coffee.
You can use dark roasted coffee for iced Americano. If you want a more caffeinated drink, use blonde roast. It will give a milder taste.
If you don’t want a bitter taste, go for a ristretto or one-cup espresso instead of espressos.
Why should you add cream to an iced Americano?
You can add cream to your iced Americano if you really love cream in coffee; otherwise, you can use fresh milk. If you like sugar in your drink, you can add that too.
Fresh milk is a good option for an iced Americano. The combination of americano, iced cubes, and cream gives an unforgettable cold flavor.
Cream adds a flavorful, creamy taste to your iced Americano. However, when we add heavy cream or whipped cream to iced Americano, it also adds many calories.
Americano coffee has the quality to adjust any flavor, so there is no restriction on adding your favorite additives to your drink.
Calories
If you’re concerned about calorie content, an Iced Americano is an ideal choice since it contains almost zero calories.
However, the calorie content will increase when we add cream or any other flavor. It depends on how much cream or Milk you add to it.
But the truth is Iced Americano with cream contains relatively more calories than a regular or iced Americano. It consists of around 60 to 80 calories per serving.
| Ingredient | Calories |
|---|---|
| Espresso (2 shots) | 10 |
| Water & ice | 0 |
| Heavy cream (1 tbsp) | 50 |
| Total | 60 calories |
Don’t miss this exciting article. How to make White Americano.
Caffeine content
An iced Americano with two shots of espresso contains 136 mg of caffeine. It has more caffeine than cold drinks like iced coffee, iced latte, and iced flat white.
What is the difference between an iced Americano with cream vs iced coffee?
When adding iced cubes, it doesn’t mean all iced drinks are the same. Since Both drinks are brewed with different methods, they are two unique drinks.
Espresso is the core ingredient, or should I say, the base drink of Iced Americano.
Espresso brings out the true flavor of an iced Americano. However, when we add chilled water and ice cubes, it dilutes the strong flavor of espresso.
In contrast, iced coffee is brewed hot and chilled with cold water. It uses brewed or instant coffee. Also, iced coffee has a strong bitter taste.
| Feature | Iced Americano with Cream | Iced Coffee |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee base | Espresso | Drip coffee |
| Flavor | Bold, smooth | Milder, sometimes acidic |
| Cream effect | Enhances richness | Can feel watered down |
| Caffeine | Medium–high | Medium |
Iced Americano vs Cold Brew: What is the difference?
The brewing method and ingredients make all the difference between these two flavors. Both have high caffeine and a pungent taste.
Cold brew is made with ground coffee placed in cold water and set to steep for 12 to 18 hours. It is a highly caffeinated drink with a pungent taste.
An iced Americano is made with a hot espresso shot instantly placed in cold water and added with iced cubes. And it is slightly less caffeinated than cold brew.
Check this detailed article regarding the iced Americano and cold brew.
Iced Americano Vs Cold Brew; What Is The Difference?
Does Starbucks have an Iced Americano with cream?
Starbucks has a unique way of making iced Americano. It adds cold water to espresso. Whereas we usually add an espresso shot to cold water and ice cubes.
Starbucks usually has no crema at the top. It focuses more on adding cream. If you really love Americano with cream, you should visit Starbucks to get the best taste.
How to order Starbucks’ iced Americano?
Starbucks introduced three different sizes of iced Americano.
- The venti glass (24 ounces) comes with 4 shots of espresso.
- The medium-size Grande (26 ounces) contains 3 shots of espresso.
- The tall glass (12 ounces) consists of 2 espresso shots.
You can also order an espresso or ristretto (small) shot for an iced Americano. Similarly, you can also request a blonde espresso or decaffeinated coffee.
Starbucks makes a good decaf coffee if you request one for an iced Americano.
Starbucks offers iced Americanos without added syrup; you can also order an iced Americano with cream or any flavored syrup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when made with heavy cream and no sugar.
An iced Americano, a pure espresso shot, and water with no added flavor can taste bitter. So, adding cream or sugar makes it easy to drink if you don’t like the bitter taste of an iced Americano.
Iced Americano is the most favorite drink in Korea—people in Korea like drinks with no added flavors. An iced Americano comes with no sugar or Milk in it. Secondly, an iced Americano is a cheap coffee in Korea.
Yes. Milk makes it lighter and closer to an iced Americano latte.
Related topic.
Americano Vs Cappuccino: What Are The Differences?
Final thoughts
I never stop making iced Americanos at home during my summer vacations. While sometimes adding heavy cream just to get a creamier drink.
What I like about iced Americano is that it is the easiest brewing method and needs few ingredients. If you love customized drinks you can change iced americano.
Adding flavors makes this coffee incredibly tasty.
In hot summers, no one likes drinking hot espresso. So, iced Americano is the ideal substitute for summer’s espresso or other hot coffees.
In the coming summer, plan for this fantastic drink whenever you crave something delicious.