Iced coffee is a cold variant of the beverage
coffeeCoffee is a brewed beverage prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called coffee beans, of the coffee plant. They are seeds of "coffee cherries" that grow on trees in over 70 countries. It has been said that green coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world behind crude oil. Due to its...
.
Preparation
There are several ways of preparing iced coffee. Ordinary hot-brewed coffee can be served cold, although this may result in a bitter-tasting product. Cold brewing relies on time, rather than heat, to transfer the coffee flavor to the water. In order to achieve this, ground coffee is soaked in water for hours and then filtered. This may be done in any container, such as a
mason jarA Mason jar is a glass jar used in canning to preserve food. They were invented and patented by John L. Mason in 1858. They are also called Ball jars, after Ball Corp., a popular and early manufacturer of the jars; fruit jars because they are often used to store fruit; or generically glass...
or
French pressA French press, also known as a press pot, coffee press, coffee plunger or cafetière, is a simple filterless coffee brewing device, probably invented in France in the 1850s, but first patented by Attilio Calimani in 1931....
, although commercialized cold brewing systems also exist.
In more recent times it has become common for coffee shops to offer 'iced' versions of their most popular coffee drinks. The iced
latteA latte is a type of coffee drink made with hot milk. Variants include replacing the coffee with another drink base such as chai, mate or matcha...
and iced
mochaA Café mocha is a variant of a cafe latte. Like a latte, it is typically one third espresso and two thirds steamed milk, but a portion of chocolate is added, typically in the form of sweet cocoa powder, although many varieties use chocolate syrup...
are the two most common examples of this. A quick way of preparing such drinks is to make a small quantity of strong, hot
espressoCaffè espresso, espresso, is a concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee....
, dissolving the required sweetener/flavorings in the hot liquid and then pouring this directly into a cup of ice cold milk. This method is particularly common in busier coffee shops where rapid customer turnover is required.
Serving
Depending on the brewing method, iced coffee can be served already chilled, or poured hot, double strength, over an equal amount of ice. Because sugar does not dissolve readily into cold liquids, it must be added either directly to the hot base, or to the finished product in the form of simple
syrupIn cooking, a syrup is a thick, viscous liquid, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars, but showing little tendency to deposit crystals. The viscosity arises from the multiple hydrogen bonds between the dissolved sugar, which has many hydroxyl groups, and the water...
, which can be made by mixing quantities of water, dairy, soymilk and/or sugar, then simmering over low heat until the desired viscosity is attained. Instead of sugar, most synthetic substitutes such as
aspartameAspartame is the name for an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener. In the European Union, it is known under the E number E951. Aspartame is the methyl ester of a phenylalanine/aspartic acid dipeptide. It has been the subject of controversy since its initial approval in 1974...
(Equal, Nutrasweet) or
sucraloseSucralose is a zero-calorie sugar substitute artificial sweetener. In the European Union, it is also known under the E number E955. Sucralose is approximately 600 times as sweet as sucrose , twice as sweet as saccharin, and 3.3 times as sweet as aspartame. Unlike aspartame, it is stable under...
(Splenda) will dissolve readily into cold coffee.
Australia
In
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
, many restaurants and cafés which serve iced coffee made from chilled coffee and water (with or without ice) with ice cream, and whipped cream. This drink may also include syrup, cream and cocoa powder or coffee beans on top. Home made iced coffee is often served with
ice creamIce cream or ice-cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners. In some cases, artificial flavourings and colorings are used in...
and
whipped creamThe term "whipped cream" refers to cream that has been beaten until it is light and fluffy, as by whipping with a mixer, whisk, or fork.Cream containing 30% or more fat can be mixed with air, and the resulting colloid is roughly double the volume of the original cream as air bubbles are captured...
. The result is something like an un-blended
milkshakeA milkshake is a sweet, cold beverage which is made from milk, ice cream or iced milk, and flavorings or sweeteners such as fruit syrup or chocolate sauce. Milkshakes are usually served in a tall glass with a straw, and whipped cream may be added as a topping. Several popular milkshake flavors...
.
Iced coffee is distinguished from "cold coffee", which is often sweet milk coffee (without water; only milk) served cold.
Some commercial varieties of iced coffee are made from real coffee while others contain only coffee flavouring. Most commercial varieties of Australian iced coffee have 2-3 times the caffeine of cola.
Iced coffee has been sold commercially in Australia since the late 19th century in the form of a
syrupIn cooking, a syrup is a thick, viscous liquid, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars, but showing little tendency to deposit crystals. The viscosity arises from the multiple hydrogen bonds between the dissolved sugar, which has many hydroxyl groups, and the water...
, an example of which is Bushells Coffee and Chickory Essence, and more recently as a prepackaged, ready to consume drink.
One popular brand is Farmers Union Iced Coffee, which outsells
Coca-ColaCoca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants and vending machines internationally. The Coca-Cola Company claims that the beverage is sold in more than 200 countries...
in
South AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories....
and has become an official icon and legend in that state. This particular brand is now widely available in Queensland (as far north as Mackay), Northern Territory, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. The product is not yet available in Western Australia.
Pauls Iced Coffee is the second most popular drink in the Northern Territory, after beer. It is not available outside of the Northern Territory, save for rare instances when it is sold in Dili, East Timor.
Other varieties include Breaka Iced Coffee, Breaka Strong Iced Coffee (which contains double the amount of coffee compared to Breaka Iced Coffee), Big M, Ice Break, Brownes Iced Coffee Chill, Brownes Coffee Chill, Brownes Dome Cappucino Supershake, Brownes Mocha Chill, Dare, Masters Espresso, Masters Iced Coffee and Max Iced Coffee.
The formulation of the original Max Iced Coffee was changed in September 2001 from full cream milk to low fat. Despite a number of appeals by consumers to the Max Iced Coffee owners (Dairy Farmers) to switch back to the full cream formulation, the low fat variety has remained as the only available Max Iced Coffee in South Australia. However, in other parts of Australia, full cream Max Iced Coffee is still available (known as Oak Iced Coffee).
Saudi Arabia
The iced coffee is a very well known drink in Saudi Arabia after hot coffee. Now iced coffee has become a preferable drink among the youth especially in the summer where the temperature reach 50 ℃. Iced coffee now started to be shown in the retail business by imported and local producers.
Recently, iced coffee (Nadeccino)has been introduced by a dairy company called NADEC. Another company called ALrabei has introduced flavored iced coffee.
Germany
In
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
there are different types of
Eiskaffee (iced coffee). The most widespread form is a flavoured
milkMilk is an opaque white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It provides the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. The early lactation milk is known as colostrum, and carries the mother's antibodies to the baby. It can reduce...
drink similar to Australian iced coffee, generally spelled as
Eiscafé (from the French
café) and available in German
coffeehouseA coffeehouse or coffee shop is an establishment which primarily serves prepared coffee or other hot beverages...
s and in
Eisdielen (
ice creamIce cream or ice-cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners. In some cases, artificial flavourings and colorings are used in...
parlours). However, this type of iced coffee is rarely available in German supermarkets. The most widespread form of iced coffee in supermarkets is a canned version from a variety of brands with different flavours such as
CappuccinoCappuccino is an Italian coffee drink prepared with espresso, hot milk, and steamed-milk foam. A cappuccino as such differs from a caffè latte in that it is prepared with much less steamed or textured milk than the caffè latte, with the total of espresso and milk/foam making up between...
and
EspressoCaffè espresso, espresso, is a concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee....
. This iced coffee is very similar to the canned iced coffee in the UK and in the case of some brands (particularly
NestléNestlé S.A. is a multinational packaged food company founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, and listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange with a turnover of over 87 billion Swiss francs...
) actually the same product.
Greece
In
GreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula....
one of the most popular coffees is a variation of iced coffee, called
FrappéGreek frappé is a foam-covered iced coffee drink made from spray-dried instant coffee. It is very popular in Greece and Cyprus, especially during the summer, but has now spread to other countries...
invented by Yiannis Dritsas. Its is stirred in an electric mixer and thus has a foam on top. Milk is optional. It became well-known during the
2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens, when many tourists became fond of it and an article on the
Los Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California since 1881. It is distributed throughout the Western United States. It is the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States and the fourth-most widely distributed newspaper in the United States...
was written about it.
http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/food/la-fo-frappe18aug18,1,6434354.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-food
Other popular cold coffee beverages in Greece are espresso and capuccino freddo.
India
"Cold coffee" has become an extremely popular drink in India over the last several years. Typically it consists of Nescafe
instant coffeeInstant coffee is a beverage derived from brewed coffee beans. Through various manufacturing processes the coffee is dehydrated into the form of powder or granules. These can be rehydrated with hot water to provide a drink similar to conventional coffee...
mixed with cold milk in a blender, producing a thin, coffee-flavored smoothie. South Australian's, especially in Adelaide, are also known for this. A more upscale version is popular in the espresso bar chains Barrista and Cafe Coffee Day. This is made with a shot of espresso and cold milk, like a latte.
Israel
"Ice Café" as pronounced in Hebrew, is a coffee-flavored
slushieA Slush or a slushie is a generic term for a flavored frozen drink. There are a number of different kinds of slush drinks:* Frozen carbonated beverages, typified by the Slurpee or ICEE are made by freezing a carbonated drink. These machines are complicated and expensive, and notably require a...
, (coffee blended with crushed ice to which sugar and milk is added). It is somewhat popular in Israel, in response to the often hot weather. Cafe kar is similar to an iced latte (espresso, milk, and sugar water, often served on the side)
Italy
In Italy,
NestléNestlé S.A. is a multinational packaged food company founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, and listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange with a turnover of over 87 billion Swiss francs...
introduced the
Frappé coffeeGreek frappé is a foam-covered iced coffee drink made from spray-dried instant coffee. It is very popular in Greece and Cyprus, especially during the summer, but has now spread to other countries...
under its Nescafé Red Cup line, with the name Red Cup Iced Coffee. Many Italian coffee bars serve "caffè freddo," which is straight espresso kept in a freezer and served as icy slush.
Japan
In Japan, iced coffee (アイスコーヒー iced coffee in
Japaneseis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family. There are a number of proposed relationships with other languages, but none have gained general acceptance...
) has been drunk since
Taishō periodThe , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...
(around 1920s) in
coffeehouseA coffeehouse or coffee shop is an establishment which primarily serves prepared coffee or other hot beverages...
s. It is served with gum syrup and milk.
Cold teaChinese herb tea, also known as medicinal herbal tea, is a kind of tea-soup made from purely Chinese medicinal herbs in Guangdong, China. It usually tastes bitter or lightly sweet and its colour is typically black or dark brown, depending on what kinds of herbs are used...
was already popular, so it was natural to drink cold coffee. In 1969,
UCC Ueshima Coffeeis a manufacturer of coffee and tea products in Kobe, Hyōgo. "UCC" stands for "Ueshima Coffee Company".Note that the official English corporate name is fully capitalized: UCC UESHIMA COFFEE CO., LTD.It owns Kona coffee farm on the island of Hawaii....
released canned coffee, which made coffee available everywhere. Today, canned liquid coffee is consumed both cold and hot.
Philippines
Iced coffee is also popular in the Philippines and that they served in a number of cafés. Notable chains of coffee shops in country include those like; Coffee Overdose, Old Manila Coffee House and Fiorgelato Cafe. One fancy way includes adding a scoop of ice cream on top.
Thailand
Thai iced coffee is brewed using strong black coffee, sweetened with sugar, heavy cream (or half-and-half) and cardamom, and quickly cooled and served over ice. Some variations are brewed using espresso. Thai iced coffee can be served with whipped cream on top for a layered effect, and garnished with cinnamon, vanilla and/or anise. It is a common menu item at Thai restaurants and works well after a spicy meal.
United Kingdom
In United Kingdom, iced coffee comes in a variety of forms. There is a canned version, produced by Nestlé, who make a variety of flavours such as Cappuccino and
Cafe mochaA Café mocha is a variant of a cafe latte. Like a latte, it is typically one third espresso and two thirds steamed milk, but a portion of chocolate is added, typically in the form of sweet cocoa powder, although many varieties use chocolate syrup...
. These cans are found in most (if not all) supermarkets and are usually found in the tea/coffee aisle, as opposed to being ready chilled, which is meant to be done by the customer at their own home.
United States
Long popular among coffee enthusiasts, in the U.S., iced coffee is quickly gaining popularity among the general consumer audience as evidenced by the fact that it is available in mass food franchises such as
Dunkin' DonutsDunkin' Donuts is an international donut and coffee retailer founded in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts by William Rosenberg. It is now headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts.-Facts and figures:...
and sold bottled in grocery stores by way of N.O. Brew Iced Coffee. Iced coffee is prepared many different ways, though traditionalists maintain that true iced coffee is cold-dripped using one of a number of ways. Cold dripped coffee contains up to 70% fewer bitter acids than heat brewed coffee making for a smoother, richer tasting coffee drink. For years in an iced coffee concentrate was made by soaking ground coffee and chicory with water in a mayonnaise jar. The next day, the user would remove the grounds. The result was a very strong coffee concentrate that was mixed with milk and sweetened. Another means of making iced coffee is by using a Toddy Maker. Toddy Makers make coffee using a process similar to a mayonnaise jar. In a plastic basket, users soak their favorite coffee blend in water overnight. The following morning, the basket is stacked atop a glass jar. Users pull a plug from the bottom and the liquid coffee drips into the jar. The coffee is placed in the fridge and is good for up to one week. If you are unable to use all of your coffee within a reasonable period of time, it works well to freeze it in ice cube trays to use at any time.
Many coffee retailers ignore the taste benefits of cold-dripped coffee and simply pour hot coffee over ice and serve. Most iced coffee enthusiasts would deem this an unacceptable way of producing iced coffee.
In the 'to go' iced coffee world, there are countless grab-n-go products such as Frappuccinos which are premade, presweetened and typically shelf stable. These are typically made using heat-brewed coffee.
Vietnam
Vietnamese iced coffee is drip coffee with condensed milk served over ice. In Vietnam, it is typical to use a
French pressA French press, also known as a press pot, coffee press, coffee plunger or cafetière, is a simple filterless coffee brewing device, probably invented in France in the 1850s, but first patented by Attilio Calimani in 1931....
to brew the dark-roasted beans often used to make iced coffee. It is generally a sweeter, heavier drink than its Thai counterpart.
Canada
In Canada, the popular
Tim HortonsTim Hortons Inc. is a Canadian fast food restaurant known for its coffee and doughnuts. It was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade, after an initial venture in hamburger restaurants. In 1967 Horton partnered with investor Ron Joyce, who quickly...
coffee chain sells iced cappuccinos, known locally as Ice Capps. The coffee drink mix comes to the Tim Horton's stores as a thick black syrup which is mixed at 3 parts water to one part syrup in a
slurpeeA Slurpee is a frozen carbonated beverage sold by 7-Eleven. In 1967, 7-Eleven licensed the product from the ICEE Company, and began selling it as the Slurpee...
machine. The frozen coffee drink is then blended with cream at the time of service (or blended with milk, or chocolate milk upon customer request). The Ice Cap can also be prepared as a Supreme, which includes a flavour shot, whipped topping, and either caramel or chocolate syrup. There is also a Brownie Supreme, which is made with chocolate milk, and mixed with bits of brownie. This is then topped with whipped topping, and finished off with more bits of brownie scattered on top. The chain has also recently introduced traditional iced coffee to its Canadian menu in addition to its U.S. menu.
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