Iced Americano
How to make an iced Americano: espresso with cold water over ice, about 1 part espresso to 2 or 3 of water. And why South Koreans drink it all winter.
What is an iced Americano?
An iced Americano is espresso with cold water, poured over ice: the cold version of a caffè Americano. A typical home recipe is a double espresso (about 2 oz) with 4–6 oz of cold water in a glass full of ice. In South Korea it's so popular it outsells hot Americanos at Starbucks even in January.
Ingredients
- 2 shots (about 2 oz)espresso
- 4–6 oz (about 120–180 ml)cold, filtered water
- a glass fullice
Method
Fill a glass with ice
Fill a tall glass to the top with fresh ice cubes.
Add the cold water
Pour in 4–6 oz of cold, filtered water.
Pour the espresso over
Brew two shots of espresso and pour them gently over the water and ice, which keeps some crema on top.
Serve
Stir if you like, and drink it cold.
An iced Americano is the cold version of a caffè Americano: espresso with cold water, poured over ice. It’s black, strong and clean, with no milk to soften it, which is exactly why its fans love it. Nowhere loves it more than South Korea, where it has a proverb of its own and outsells hot coffee even in the depths of winter. Here’s how to make one and what the ratio should be.
The short version
- Espresso, cold water and ice. Nothing else.
- About 1 part espresso to 2 or 3 parts water in Gevi’s recipe.
- Water and ice first, espresso last, to keep a little crema on top.
- Stronger and sharper than iced drip coffee.
- South Korea’s unofficial national drink, AFP reports.
What’s the ratio for an iced Americano?
The sources don’t agree:
| Recipe | Espresso | Water | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home recipe, 12–16 oz glass | 2 shots, about 2 oz | 4–6 oz cold, filtered water, plus ice | Gevi |
| “Traditionally” | 3 parts | 1 part | Nespresso |
Gevi’s version, about 1:2 to 1:3 espresso to water, is close to how CoffeeGeek makes a hot Americano. Nespresso’s 3:1 would make a far stronger drink.
How do you make one?
Gevi’s method:
- Fill a tall glass to the top with fresh ice.
- Add the cold water, 4–6 oz.
- Pour two shots of espresso gently over the water and ice. Pouring it last, Gevi says, keeps the crema and gives a layered look.
- Drink it cold.
Gevi adds that a moka pot or AeroPress can make concentrated coffee for it, though an espresso machine gives the most café-like result.
Why is it so popular in South Korea?
Because it’s quick. In 2023, AFP reported that the iced Americano had become South Korea’s unofficial national drink, nicknamed “Ah-Ah”, and that its devotees had coined a new saying: “Even if I freeze to death, iced Americano!”, shortened to eoljukah. Office workers told AFP they drink it even at minus 17°C because it’s tastier and a faster caffeine hit, suited to Korea’s ppalli-ppalli, “hurry-hurry”, work culture.
The Korea Herald gives the numbers from Starbucks Korea:
| Period | Share of drinks sold iced |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 74% |
| 2023 (to 23 November) | 77% |
| January, the coldest month | Over 57% |
| February | 64% |
| June to August | 87–89% |
The Korea Times’ AFP report measures something slightly different: during January’s cold snap, Starbucks sold more iced Americanos than hot ones, 54% of the total. One office worker told the Korea Herald she drinks it because she wants to “gulp down an iced Americano like water”, something you can’t do with a hot drink.
Iced Americano vs other iced coffees
- Americano: the hot original, espresso with hot water.
- Iced latte: espresso with cold milk instead of water.
- Freddo espresso: espresso shaken with ice into a foam.
- Long black: the small, strong, hot version, espresso on water.
Explore every drink in the iced and blended chapter.
Words in this guide
- Crema
- Crema is the golden-brown foam on top of an espresso.
Questions & answers
What is the ratio for an iced Americano?
It depends who you ask. Gevi's recipe uses 2 oz of espresso to 4–6 oz of cold water, about 1:2 to 1:3. Nespresso describes the iced Americano as "traditionally brewed in a three to one ratio of espresso to water", which would make it much stronger.
What is the difference between an iced Americano and iced coffee?
An iced Americano is espresso diluted with cold water and ice; iced black coffee is drip coffee brewed and then cooled, which Nespresso describes as smoother and lighter.
Why do Koreans drink iced Americano in winter?
Speed, partly. The Korea Herald says iced Americanos suit a workplace culture that values speed and efficiency, because they can be gulped down at once. Office workers told AFP they prefer the taste and want a fast caffeine hit.
What does eoljukah mean?
It's a Korean portmanteau of "Even if I freeze to death, iced Americano!", for people devoted to iced Americanos whatever the weather, the Korea Herald explains. The drink itself is nicknamed "Ah-Ah", the Korea Times says.
Should the espresso or the water go in first?
Gevi pours the espresso over the water and ice to keep the crema and get a layered look. The same idea, water first, is what CoffeeGeek recommends for a hot Americano.
Sources
- Coffee so cold it’s hot: Korea’s love of iced Americano. The Korea Times (AFP)
- Koreans will ‘freeze to death’ for iced Americanos even in winter. The Korea Herald
- The ultimate guide to making the perfect iced Americano coffee at home. Gevi
- Iced Americano. Nespresso
General guidance only. Not medical, food-safety or professional advice.