We can all appreciate a refreshing iced coffee occasionally. Unfortunately, they run you about five bucks a pop at a coffee shop, which adds up quickly if you do this daily.
But if you use the Keurig on your countertop, you can make iced coffee from the comfort of your own home. Keurig coffee makers, known for speed and convenience, can get the job done with minimal hassle on your end.
"The best coffee pod I've ever tasted"
Yes, we mean that. Finally, specialty coffee for your KCup machine, roasted fresh to your order by our friends at Atlas Coffee in Austin, TX! Get 50% OFF to try it with code ROASTYPODS
We’ve gotten to use lots of brewing methods over the years, and we admit that Keurigs aren’t necessarily our favorites. These machines and other similar pod brewers sacrifice some elements of quality brewing in exchange for speed, convenience, ease of use — you don’t have to be a coffee expert to work these babies — and, sometimes, a lower price point than their competitors.
But sometimes, you need a caffeinated, chilled beverage fast, and in that case, a Keurig can save the day.
Key Takeaways
- Using a Keurig to make iced coffee at home is both cost-effective and convenient, saving you from the long line and five-dollar splurge of a coffee run.
- Make high-quality iced joe with your single-serve coffee maker by selecting top-notch coffee grounds and using the right brewer settings for your preferences.
- The K-Elite and K-Iced shine among cold coffee lovers, as they have an iced coffee setting. However, all Keurig machines can make an enjoyable brew over ice.
How To Make Iced Coffee with a Keurig
You’ll Need
- K-Cup pods of your choice or a My K-Cup reusable filter and coffee grounds*
- Plastic tumbler**
- Ice
- 2 tablespoons milk or creamer (optional)
- Sweetener (optional)
*We recommend going for dark roast K-Cups. The ice will water your drink down over time, but because dark roasts are so intense, the melted ice won’t drown all of the coffee flavors out of your cup.
**Please, don’t overlook the “plastic” part here. A glass cup may shatter due to the temperature difference between the ice and the hot liquid.
The Process: How to Brew It
Step One: Set up the Machine
Prep is simple. Turn on your Keurig, make sure it’s filled with enough water, and pop in your K-Cup.
Step Two: Prep the Cup
You have two options: fill your cup with ice (or coffee ice cubes) and let the coffee brew directly over it, or let the brew flow into one mug, fill a separate cup with ice, and pour the hot coffee over ice once it’s brewed.
We prefer the first method because it leaves you less likely to make a mess. Plus, you only have to clean one cup instead of two. However, the second method is most useful when you’re using a Keurig that doesn’t have an iced coffee option.
Step Three: Get Your Brew On
After deciding how you’ll prep your cup, select your cup size, press the brew button, and wait for your cup of coffee to brew.
Step Four: Dress Up Your Cup
Once your iced coffee’s in your cup, you can enjoy it as is or add a few finishing touches, like flavored syrup, creamer, or a splash of milk.
Whatever you add, we recommend making sure it’s cold to keep your coffee cool and help prevent the ice in your cup from melting too fast.
What Keurig Coffee Machine Is Best for Iced Coffee?
You don’t need a special coffee maker to brew iced coffee; any Keurig machine will do. However, we recommend the Keurig K-Elite or Keurig K-Iced coffee makers.
Keurig K-Elite
Keurig’s K-Elite has an Iced button for you to press when you want coffee to be served over ice. Keurig advertisements say this feature lets you create a stronger-than-usual brew that holds up to dilution caused by melting ice.
Keurig K-Iced
Keurig’s K-Iced coffee maker is another option for those who want to play around with iced coffee recipes at home. Like the K-Elite, the K-Iced machine has a Brew Over Ice setting that produces cooler, more concentrated coffee for you to pour over ice cubes. But don’t let its name fool you. Even though it’s called the K-Iced, this Keurig model produces hot joe, too.
Hot Tips for Keurig Iced Coffee
- Make coffee ice cubes. Many complain of melted ice diluting their coffee, and we agree it’s disappointing. But by adding ice cubes made from coffee instead of water, you eliminate that problem without robbing your beverage of its chilly temperatures. For extra flavor, try Delish’s tricks for taking your coffee cubes to the next level.
- Brew in twos. For super-strong coffee, brew two smaller brews back-to-back over ice rather than one larger brew. This puts maximum flavor into your cup, as you’re technically using a higher grounds-to-water ratio (because you change the pod between brews).
Ice Out Your Morning Brew!
So, now you know it’s indeed possible to make iced coffee with your Keurig, and it’s easy to do so, too! Use whatever Keurig model you want, but note that if you’re brewing directly over ice, you shouldn’t use a glass cup — nothing ruins your caffeine kick like broken glass and spilled joe.
Have fun spicing up — or chilling out, rather — your Keurig brewing routine!
Happy Caffeinating!
