Make Keurig Iced Coffee in Three Easy Steps

Occasionally, it's nice to relax with an iced coffee. The problem is that they can cost you about $5 each at a coffee shop, which can add up quickly if this is your regular habit. So, can you really make iced coffee in your own Keurig machine? Yes How exactly this will be accomplished will be revealed in upcoming posts.  

For the Sake of Convenience

The majority of coffee drinkers choose Keurig makers because of their efficiency and portability. With these extras and (sometimes) a lower price point than their higher end competitors, these machines and others like them sacrifice some elements of quality brewing.  

We recognize the importance of focusing on task completion at times. And you can rest assured that the Keurig method can complete this task with minimal effort on your part. Furthermore, single serve machines are useful when other options can only produce larger quantities.

However, we will also provide some additional iced coffee preparation techniques at the end of this article for those who prefer a stronger or smoother brew.  

What You'll Require

• K-Cup* of your liking or My K-Cup Reusable Filter
• **Thermoses or glasses only.
• Coffee with ice or a frozen treat
• a couple of tablespoons of milk or creamer (not required)
• three teaspoons of sugar (optional)

* Something dark, with intense, rich flavors, like Maud's "Tall, Dark, and Handsome" Dark Roast, is what you should go for. Coffee's flavor will be diluted by the ice and milk.          

*Avoid using a glass cup if you plan on brewing directly over ice. Because of the drastic temperature difference between the ice and the new brew, it could crack. It's best to brew in a larger cup than usual for the amount of coffee you drink.  

Come on, Let's Make Some Coffee

Prepare the Equipment

The procedure's setup is straightforward. Simply fill your Keurig with water, turn it on, and insert your K-Cup or My K-Cup. The latter requires grounding prior to being inserted into the device.  

Beverage Preparation

You can do this a couple of ways. First, fill your cup with ice, and then brew your coffee directly over the ice. Alternatively, you could use one mug for the brewing process while the other was filled with ice. The brewed coffee is poured over ice slowly once it has finished brewing.  

The first method is our top pick because it minimizes the potential for disaster provided that a suitably sized glass is used. Additionally, you only have to wash one cup instead of two. However, the second method is recommended for first-timers who are unsure of the appropriate amount of ice to use or whether or not their glass will adequately contain the drink.  

Brew

To begin brewing, choose the appropriate cup size after you've decided on your preferred brewing method. In most cases, this will not take long at all, so feel free to go ahead and grab some milk or creamer from the fridge and do some other things while you wait.  

Finish Up

A Keurig iced coffee is the last step. To clarify, you're going to add milk. If you want your beverage to cool off more quickly, try adding some cold milk. If you do this, you can slow down the rate at which your ice melts.

Appliance for Making Iced Coffee on a Keurig

You're free to choose any Keurig machine you like at this point. When it comes to making iced coffee, you can use literally anything. We thought it would be useful to discuss the one Keurig machine that can make iced coffee. Get to Know the K-State Power Elite  

A Single-Serve Keurig K-Elite

As we've already established, this is the only Keurig model that has an "iced" button specifically designed for making iced coffee. Keurig claims this function can produce a stronger-than-usual brew that can withstand the dilution caused by icing your beverage.  

After digging deeper, it appears that Keurig hasn't revealed any technical details regarding how the machine achieves this goal; however, we do have some ideas regarding the function of this button.  

First, we believe it reduces the brewing temperature slightly, resulting in a slightly cooler brew. Second, the volume of your beverage is probably adjusted to compensate for the ice.

Does it, then, have any effect? Yes Is this the only Keurig model that can produce iced coffee? No way, no how Choosing a model with the "strong" or "shot" option will likely produce very similar outcomes. Plus, any model will do, truth be told.  

As a matter of fact, Keurig offers tea pods designed for "brew over ice." They put out an instructional video that uses a different Keurig model and explains how to make the brew. To that end, you can save your money on iced coffee and not buy a K-Elite machine.  

The Best Ways to Enjoy Iced Coffee

Cube your coffee and serve it.

An often-heard criticism of iced coffee is that, if savored slowly, the ice watered down the coffee. However, that fortunately isn't something that has to be a problem. Yet, you'll need to put in some serious additional work if you choose to use this method.  

How to do it:

1. In order to fill the ice tray with coffee, you'll need to brew a large pot.
2. Once the brew is ready, pour it into the ice cube tray. Use a metal or silicon tray if possible, and wait until the brew has cooled before pouring into a plastic container.  
3. Place the tray in the freezer in a safe place and let it chill for 5 hours.  
4. It takes about 5 hours for the "ice" cubes to fully freeze, at which point they can be transferred to a ziplock bag. Or at least have used a plastic bag to enclose the tray before freezing it. Do your best to keep any stale freezer smells or tastes out.  

*If your tray is large enough, you can also begin by wrapping a gallon bag around the tray itself.

In addition, if you're looking for some creative ways to add flavor to your coffee ice cubes, Delish has some great suggestions to try.  

Take Two Breaths

If you're not happy with the potency of your brew, try making two 4- or 6-ounce batches and serving them side by side over ice. Changing the pod between pots effectively increases the grounds-to-water ratio, which boosts the coffee's intensity and flavor.

If you're using disposable cups, this method will result in more garbage. We advise going with a company that provides recyclable or returnable cups, or going with a reusable option like the My-Cup.  

It is also suggested that you brew the coffee in a separate mug and then pour it over ice in your cup if you choose to use this method. Directly brewing over ice, however, would result in a weaker beverage because the ice would melt too quickly.

Simple Ice Substitutes

Here at Roasty, we've got you covered with a plethora of different iced coffee recipes to try. If you're just looking to add some variety to your coffee's flavor, many of these can be achieved with a Keurig, so we suggest you give them a shot.

However, there are a few iced coffee preparation techniques we recommend trying. If you want more information about any of these topics, just click on the article titles. However, to get you started, we'll still include some basic information about each.

Vietnam's famous iced coffee

Although it would be a departure from tradition, Vietnamese iced coffee can be made in a Keurig. Extra-strong brewed coffee is typically made with a specialized drip tool. But if your Keurig has a "strong" or "shot" button, you're in luck.  

Basically, all you have to do for this method is put a few tablespoons of condensed milk in the bottom of your cup, brew your coffee over it, stir, and pour it over ice. Really, it's just that easy  

Cold Brew

Now, if you're looking for a super easy iced coffee option, cold brew is likely your best bet. For the coffee drinker who makes this a daily ritual but is often pressed for time, this is a great method. Although Keurigs are quick, you still may need to brew for multiple cycles to achieve the desired strength and avoid watering down your drink.  

Most of the preparation for cold brews can be done the night before. Simply combine coarse grounds and cold water in a jar and let it sit in the refrigerator for 10 to 20 hours. After steeping, simply strain the liquid and enjoy. You now have a coffee concentrate that can be diluted with water, a dash of milk, and a few cubes of ice.  

The concentrate you make using this method will keep in the fridge for a week, which is a huge plus. If you make a big enough batch, you can simply grab your to-go mug and go about your week.  

Iced Out

So there you have it Keurig coffee makers can produce drinkable brews, and doing so is remarkably simple. Any Keurig machine is acceptable. Glass cups are not recommended for brewing directly over ice, but they can be used once the temperature of the brew has risen above freezing.

The variety of K-Cup flavors and the ease of use make brewing a pleasurable experience. With any luck, this has provided some variety to your usual Keurig coffee experience.

Happy Caffeinating