No Brew Iced Coffee (Better Than Starbucks)
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You saw the pin, didn’t you? An iced coffee with no brewing, no machines, and somehow still better than Starbucks.
It sounds too good to be true, but this is the exact iced coffee I make for my husband every morning, and he is completely hooked.
If you're craving something creamy and cold that comes together in less than a minute, this recipe is for you.
No leftover coffee sitting in the fridge. No complicated steps. Just a simple method using pantry staples, a splash of milk, and a quick little froth that makes it feel extra special.
What You’ll Need
Here’s what I use every morning. You can definitely customize it, but this is the combo we’ve come to love:
Instant coffee – I use 1 tablespoon of this one for a bold, espresso-style flavor. If you want a more classic iced coffee taste, use 1 to 2 teaspoons instead
Filtered water – Just a splash. I don’t measure, but it’s about 2 ounces or less. Enough to dissolve the coffee
Syrup – One pump of Irish cream syrup is our favorite. Use any flavor you love
Colostrum (optional) – I add a scoop for seasonal allergy support. If you use it, I recommend blending with a frother so it mixes in fully
Whole milk – About half a cup of organic grassfed whole milk
Ice – Always added at the very end so everything dissolves properly
Handheld frother (optional) – Not required, but it creates a smooth cold foam on top if you want that café-style finish. It also helps blend in colostrum if you’re adding it.
Why We Use Instant Coffee
Honestly, we love how easy it is! It gives that bold espresso-style flavor in seconds and blends easily with just a splash of water. No brewing. No machines. No waiting around.
If you like your coffee a little more mellow, just scale back the instant coffee to 1 or 2 teaspoons and adjust the milk to taste.
How to Make It
This method is simple and only takes about a minute from start to sip.
Grab a mason jar or your favorite glass
Add 1 tablespoon of instant coffee
Pour in a small splash of filtered water (about 2 ounces or less) to dissolve the coffee
Add 1 pump of flavored syrup
Optional: Add colostrum if using
Pour in about half a cup of whole milk
If you’re using colostrum or want a cold foam top, froth everything together until creamy
Add ice at the very end and give it a quick stir
If You're Using Half and Half Instead of milk, use around 4 to 6 ounces of filtered water instead of the 2 ounces recommended. Then add a few tablespoons of half and half until it tastes just right.
A Few Tips That Make It Even Better
Use filtered water
This one matters more than people think. Even well water or regular tap can change the flavor of your coffee in a weird way. And let’s be honest, most tap water is kind of questionable. We use this water filter for all our drinking water! Not only does it make for better tasting coffee but it’s one of the best things we’ve done for our health!
Choose organic instant coffee
Coffee is one of the most heavily sprayed crops! When making coffee at home we always stick with organic for that reason. The one we use dissolves beautifully and has that rich espresso-style flavor we love. I’ll link it here if you want to try it.
Froth for foam
You don’t need a frother to make the drink itself unless you’re adding something like colostrum. But if you want that creamy foam on top like in my picture, a quick froth at the end makes it feel like a little treat.
I know there are a million iced coffee recipes out there. But this one is fast, affordable, and genuinely something we look forward to every morning. It’s easy to make your own, whether you want something strong and bold or light and sweet.
If you want to try it the exact way we make it, here are the products we use and love:
I hope it becomes one of your favorites too. Hugs!
For more easy iced coffee recipes follow me on Pinterest!
Updated on: 7/22/2025
