Japanese Iced Coffee Recipe

If you’re like me and need a caffeine kick that’s as cool as you are, let me introduce you to my ultimate summertime savior: Japanese iced coffee.

I adore the uncomplicated and harmonious nature of Japanese Iced Coffee. Brewing 50 grams of freshly roasted coffee beans directly over 200 grams of ice, along with 300 ml of hot water, “intensely cools” the coffee without scorching it, locking in flavor and aroma.

At just 2 calories per cup, it is a delicious, refreshing, guilt-free diversion.

Japanese Iced Coffee Recipe Ingredients

• Freshly roasted coffee beans: Rich in antioxidants; provides bold flavor and aroma.
• Hot water: Extracts coffee’s essential oils and flavors efficiently.
• Ice: Rapidly cools coffee, locking in flavor and crispness.
• Sugar or simple syrup: Adds sweetness; balances coffee’s natural bitterness.
• Milk or cream: Smooth texture; adds sweetness and creaminess to coffee.

Japanese Iced Coffee Recipe Ingredient Quantities

• 50 grams of freshly roasted coffee beans
• 300 grams (or ml) of hot water (just off the boil, about 200°F/93°C)
• 200 grams of ice (about 1 cup of ice cubes)
• Optional: Sugar or simple syrup to taste
• Optional: Milk or cream to taste

How to Make this Japanese Iced Coffee Recipe

1. Measure out 50 grams of coffee beans, roasted not long ago. Grind them to a uniform medium-fine consistency—that is, neither too fine nor too course—resembling that of granulated sugar.

2. Put a carafe or your coffee mug directly under a coffee dripper. Insert a paper filter into the dripper and dampen it with hot water. This is the first step to a better cup of coffee.

3. Dispose of the rinse water in the carafe or mug.

4. Add the ground coffee to the dripper. The filter in the dripper should be rinsed.

5. Weigh out 200 grams (approximately 1 cup) of ice and place it directly into the carafe or mug that you are brewing into.

6. Heat water until it reaches a boiling point, then allow it to cool for around half a minute. After this interval, the liquid will have a temperature close to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, or 93 degrees Celsius.

7. In a circular motion, pour 300 grams (or ml) of hot water over the coffee grounds. Make sure all the grounds are saturated. This should take about 3 to 4 minutes.

8. Let the ice-cold glass of coffee pass through the filter. The ice-cold coffee is ready in right strength and to the delight of the connoisseur’s taste.

9. Once the brewing is finished, stir the coffee to guarantee even cooling and to ensure dilution.

10. Enjoy your refreshing Japanese iced coffee! You can serve it as is or sweeten it with sugar, simple syrup, or milk. If you like cream in your coffee, feel free to use it here, too.

Japanese Iced Coffee Recipe Equipment Needed

1. Digital scale
2. Coffee grinder
3. Coffee dripper
4. Paper coffee filter
5. Coffee mug or carafe
6. Kettle
7. Stirring spoon

FAQ

• What is Japanese Iced Coffee?The Japanese Iced Coffee is a way to brew coffee on ice. It is one of the fastest methods of chilling coffee. It is also one of the least destructive in preserving the coffee’s flavors and aroma. If you want vibrant coffee with all its flavor, this is the way to do it. Brew on ice.
• Why use freshly roasted coffee beans?Iced coffee tastes lively and fresh when made with coffee beans that have just come from the roaster. But the way you make your iced coffee also matters.
• Can I use pre-ground coffee instead of grinding my own?Absolutely! Freshly ground coffee beans will yield the most flavorful brew. If using pre-ground coffee, be certain it’s of a medium grind size that’s appropriate for drip brewing.
• Why is the water temperature important?Water that is nearly boiling, at temperatures around 200°F/93°C, extracts flavors from the material it is in contact with in a way that is ideal. Its flavor-extracting efficiency is at a peak without the danger of over-extracting, which can lead to bitterness.
• How can I adjust the sweetness?When preparing your coffee, it may be beneficial to add sweeteners in syrup form if you wish for your drink to be on the sweeter side. This is because when working with the cold coffee base, it can be more difficult to fully dissolve granulated sugar compared to syrup. Therefore, syrup can serve as an adequate stand-in for sweeteners like simple syrup or granulated sugar.
• Can I add milk or cream?Definitely, milk or cream can be included to reach a suitable level of taste, resulting in a smoother, creamier texture and flavor.
• What is the purpose of the ice?Rapidly cooling the coffee with ice preserves its delicate flavors and keeps it from becoming over-diluted.

Japanese Iced Coffee Recipe Substitutions and Variations

For coffee beans just off the roast: if you must, use coffee that was ground just before you opened the bag. But make sure the bag was sealed well and was so fresh that it was still yielding a slight amount of gas when you opened it.
To produce hot water: it is best to use filtered water to guarantee a more palatable flavor.
Instead of using ice, use coffee ice cubes (derived from the same brewed coffee) to avoid dilution.
To obtain a different flavor profile when using sugar or simple syrup, try using honey or agave syrup.
For milk or cream: switch with nut or oat milk for a dairy-free option.

Pro Tips

1. Consistent Grind Size Ensure the coffee beans are ground to a medium-fine consistency similar to granulated sugar. Inconsistent grind sizes can lead to uneven extraction, impacting the taste of the coffee.

2. Water Temperature Use water that is just off the boil (around 200°F/93°C). If the water is too hot, it can over-extract the coffee, making it bitter; too cool, and it will be under-extracted, resulting in a flat flavor.

3. Pre-wetting the Filter Dampen the paper filter with hot water before brewing. This removes any potential paper taste and preheats the dripper, ensuring the coffee temperature stays consistent.

4. Pouring Technique Pour the hot water in a slow, controlled, circular motion to ensure all grounds are evenly saturated. This promotes even extraction and enhances the flavor profile of the coffee.

5. Stir After Brewing Once brewing is complete, stir the coffee well. This helps ensure even cooling from the ice and prevents stratification, where stronger coffee stays at the bottom, resulting in a balanced sip every time.