Summer is approaching, and everyone is seeking something cold and refreshing. Most coffee flavors have a cold version, so it depends on which flavor you prefer for your next iced coffee.
All three flavors taste refreshingly bold. Iced coffee and iced Americano are brewed with coffee beans and water. However, an iced latte, with the addition of milk, offers a creamy and milder flavor.
Let’s dive into the details of these drinks.
Iced Americano vs iced coffee vs iced latte: What are the differences?
These flavors differ from one another. Each drink has variations in ingredients and brewing methods, leading to distinct tastes and textures.
Also, all three drinks have slight differences in caffeine and calories. A slight change in ingredients and brewing method makes a huge difference. Let’s check in detail.
Comparison feature Table: iced Americano vs iced coffee vs iced latte
| Feature | Iced Americano | Iced Coffee | Iced Latte |
| Base | Espresso | Brewed coffee (drip or pour-over) | Espresso |
| Added Liquid | Cold water | None or chilled water | Cold milk (dairy or plant-based) |
| Milk Content | None | Optional (usually none) | High (milk dominates) |
| Ice | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Caffeine Level | Moderate to high (depends on espresso shots) | Moderate (depends on brew strength) | Moderate (diluted by milk) |
| Flavor Profile | Bold, smooth, slightly bitter | Smooth, less intense than espresso-based drinks | Creamy, mellow, slightly sweet |
| Bitterness | Medium | Low to medium | Low |
| Sweeteners/Flavors | Optional | Optional | Optional (often flavored with syrups) |
| Calories (unsweetened) | 10–15 kcal (mainly from espresso) | 5–10 kcal | 100–200+ kcal (due to milk) |
| Common Serving Size | 12–16 oz. | 12–16 oz. | 12–16 oz. |
| Visual Appearance | Dark brown, translucent | Medium brown, sometimes lighter | Light beige to tan, creamy texture |
| Best For | Espresso lovers, bold taste seekers | Traditional coffee drinkers | Creamy drink fans who prefer a smoother taste |
| Serving Glass | Tall glass, clear or plastic | Tall glass, often plastic | Tall glass or takeaway cup |
What are the differences in ingredients?
Iced coffee is a traditional drink made with brewed coffee, cold water, and ice cubes. Whereas both iced Americano and iced latte add espresso as the base drink.
- Iced coffee ingredients
This drink is made with one cup of brewed or pour-over coffee. It requires medium to dark roast coffee beans.
Add ice cubes when the coffee gets cold.
- Iced Americano ingredients
Unlike iced coffee, iced Americano is made with espresso and iced cubes. Also, instead of hot water, cold water is added to espresso.
Iced cubes are also added to make it chilled.
- Iced latte ingredients
This drink also adds espresso shots to the base drink. However, unlike Americano, it adds cold milk instead of water.
Also, to make it chilled, it adds ice cubes.
What is the difference in the brewing process?
Since all three have different ingredients, they adopt dissimilar brewing processes.
- Iced Americano brewing process
A traditional Americano is considered a diluted version of espresso.
However, in an iced Americano, instead of adding hot water to espresso, cold water is added to chilled espresso.
Ice cubes are usually put at the top, without adding any flavors.
- Iced coffee brewing process
You can make iced coffee using any traditional brewing method, such as pour-over or drip brewing. This is a different brewing process compared to an iced latte or iced Americano.
First, brew a single cup of black coffee and let it cool down for a few minutes. Pour the brewed coffee into a large glass and add ice cubes on top.
- Iced latte brewing process
It is different from the other two, since it adds cold milk to espresso.
Two espresso shots are brewed and poured into a large glass. Now add cold milk to the glass. Add ice cubes on top.
Check the comparison features among espresso vs americano vs cappuccino vs latte.
Differences in taste and texture
Three high-quality flavors with some differences in taste and texture. Each flavor has a unique taste and aroma.
- Iced Americano
It is less intense than espresso with a strong, robust coffee flavor. Some bitterness is diluted by adding cold water.
Also, it has a light and watery texture, significantly different from an iced latte.
- Iced latte
It tastes creamy, sweet, and mild. Unlike the other two, it contains cold milk, which contributes to its creaminess and milkiness.
An iced latte has a thick, creamy texture.
Also, check the difference between breve vs cold brew.
- Iced coffee
Iced coffee is less intense and slightly less bitter than espresso-based drinks.
Traditional iced coffee has a smoother flavor compared to iced Americano, but is less sweet than iced latte.
Iced americano vs iced coffee vs iced latte: Which flavor has more calories?
Among all three, the iced latte has the highest calories, since it contains milk. While iced Americano and iced coffee have no milk or other flavors.
An iced latte glass contains around 160 to 200 calories, depending on the glass size and type of milk.
Whereas an iced Americano has around 10 calories per single serving.
And an iced coffee with no added flavor has around 5 to 10 calories per serving.
So if you prefer low-calorie drinks, pick either iced coffee or iced Americano.
Which drink has the lowest caffeine?
Compared to traditional coffee, espresso drinks contain more caffeine. However, brewed coffee is served in larger volumes, so it has a higher caffeine content per serving.
If an iced latte and an iced Americano are made with two espresso shots, they will have more caffeine than an iced coffee.
| Drink | Serving Size | Caffeine Content (Approx.) | Source of Caffeine |
| Iced Americano | 12–16 oz. | 120–150 mg | 2 espresso shots |
| Iced Coffee | 12–16 oz. | 95–165 mg | Brewed drip or pour-over coffee |
| Iced Latte | 12–16 oz. | 75–130 mg | 1–2 espresso shots |
Is there any difference in serving size?
All three drinks usually have similar serving sizes. However, you can pick a smaller cup size if you prefer a smaller cup size.
Iced Americano, iced latte, and iced coffee all serve in a 12 to 16-oz cup.
Also, check the difference among Americano vs coffee vs espresso.
Final thought: which drink to prefer?
It really depends on your personal choice. If you prefer some milk in your iced coffee, you can pick an iced latte any day.
However, if you don’t like espresso in your drink, you can choose iced coffee.
A fan of espresso will always pick an iced Americano as their first preference.
