Make the Most of Your Nespresso: A Guide to Making Good Iced Coffee at Home

While I am all for a midday pick-me-up at Dunkin’ or a mid-road trip Starbucks, buying coffee every single day adds up. Did you know the average American spends over $1,000 per year, or about $3 a day, on coffee? If you fall under this category, I would highly recommend investing in a Nespresso machine. Once you learn how to make your favorite Starbs’ drinks at home, it becomes totally worth it, plus you could save hundreds of dollars per year!

As a self-proclaimed barista (specializing in iced lattes made with my Nespresso machine at home), I believe I’ve perfected the ultimate at-home iced coffee recipe. Through a lengthy trial-and-error process and extensive TikTok research (so qualified, I know), I’ve found the best ways to make delicious coffees that can be customized to anyone’s taste. 

I was gifted a Pixie Nespresso machine for my birthday last year that uses individual espresso pods, which is what I use to make my coffee. These recipes can also be done with other machines that create espresso.

The Best Iced Latte Recipe

If you’re a fan of the creaminess of the iced latte like I am, you are sure to enjoy this classic coffee!

1. Grab your favorite cup (the cuter the cup – the better the coffee).
2. *Optional* Add 2 pumps (1oz/3tsp) of flavored syrup to your cup. My favorites are the Torani Vanilla, Salted Caramel and White Chocolate, which are all available in sugar-free versions too. 
3. *Optional* If you’re a fan of drizzle, I suggest pouring it around the inside of your cup now. 
4. Brew your espresso directly over the syrup into the cup. I use the larger (lungo) setting on my machine that creates 3.75oz of coffee. Swirl it around or mix with a straw/spoon.
5. Next, add your milk of choice. I eyeball the amount until it is the perfect light brown color. This can be adjusted depending on how rich or milky you like it.
6. Finally, add your ice. This may seem a little backwards, but adding the ice last avoids “shocking” the espresso (which happens when you pour it directly over ice), giving it a bitter taste. It also avoids the watered-down consistency that iced coffees often have, since the milk cools down the espresso before the ice is added.
7. Mix it all together until cold. You may opt to enjoy it on its own like this, or add cold foam or whipped cream and some kind of drizzle (I like the Ghirardelli caramel drizzle) to elevate the appearance and taste! 

Pro tips:

• Syrups can be purchased from Home Goods for $7.99 or on Amazon! I have also heard good things about the brand Monin and recommend checking out their syrup flavors too.
• You can purchase pumps that fit on the 750ml syrup bottles on Amazon to really enhance the at-home cafe experience.
•  If you’re also using a Nespresso machine, I recommend the Starbucks Blonde Espresso Pods or the Firenze Arpeggio coffee pods.

Iced Caramel Macchiato

If you prefer a stronger but still sweet iced coffee – this one’s for you.

1. Add 1-2 pumps of vanilla syrup to a glass.
2. Brew a shot (or two) of espresso over the syrup and mix,
3. Drizzle caramel sauce around the inside of a separate glass.
4. Fill the glass with ice.
5. Add your choice of milk over the ice. This recipe uses less milk than you would use for a latte, which creates the strong coffee kick that the macchiato has.
6. Gently pour the espresso over the milk. This will create the classic split that is iconic to the aesthetic iced macchiato.
7. Add an extra swirl of drizzle on top
8. Enjoy! 

Iced Mocha 

This is a great introductory iced coffee for newbies who are fans of chocolate milk, or just anyone with a sweet tooth.

1. Put 1 tbsp of hot chocolate powder (Nesquik is a great choice) in the bottom of your glass. I prefer this over chocolate syrup for an extra indulgent, naturally-flavored, coffee.
2. Brew your espresso over the powder.
3. Mix the chocolate powder with the espresso while it’s still hot. This will help the cocoa dissolve and blend easily with the coffee. 
4. Add your choice of milk. This coffee will be darker than a regular latte so I recommend taste-testing to find your preferred amount. 
5. Add ice, mix, and enjoy!
6. *Optional* This drink is delicious topped with whipped cream and/or crushed peppermint for a festive flare. You could also add peppermint syrup to the powder/espresso mixture. 

Pro tip: 

If you’re a fan of hot chocolate, try making this without the ice for a caffeine-infused hot drink by following the same recipe and warming the milk before adding.

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