How to make iced coffee

The origins of iced coffee

Iced coffee is a common sight on the menus of cafes and coffee shops around the world. Although many of us think of it as a modern drink, its origins actually date back over a hundred years.

It’s unclear exactly who came up with the initial iced coffee recipe. However, there are two dominant stories about the invention of this deliciously refreshing beverage. The first traces iced coffee back to 17th century Vienna, when a Turkish army left behind a surplus of coffee beans after departing the city. Citizens began experimenting with different methods of brewing the drink, which included serving it iced.

The second tale takes us to Algeria in 1840, and a drink called mazagran. The French army was stationed in the region, where they drank a beverage prepared with coffee syrup and cold water. Some say local people served it to the troops. Others claim the soldiers invented it themselves when they needed a cooling drink to counter the heat and had run out of milk to add to their coffee. Either way, they brought this early iced coffee recipe home with them, and Parisian cafes soon began serving it.

Since then, many varieties of cold coffee have sprung up across the globe. For example, the traditional Japanese iced coffee recipe is to simply make hot coffee and pour it directly over ice. This cools the drink immediately, preserving all the complex flavors that the hot water unlocked. Meanwhile, a frappé includes other ingredients like milk and sugar, and is shaken, blended, or beaten until foamy.

Whichever iced coffee recipe you choose, you’ll enjoy a revitalizing drink that can offer plenty of benefits to your wellbeing. As if we needed another excuse to brew a cup!

The many health benefits of coffee

One of coffee’s major advantages is also perhaps the most common reason people drink it: it boosts your energy. This is because it contains caffeine, which acts as a stimulant by altering levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain.(1) Not only can drinking coffee make you feel more alert and reduce fatigue, it could additionally enhance your athletic performance.(2)

Excitingly, whipping up this iced coffee recipe at home may do more than improve just your physical performance. It can also heighten your cognitive powers. Studies suggest that drinking coffee might increase functions such as attention, working memory, reaction time and learning.(3) The beverage could even help to lower your risk of depression.(4)

Moreover, research indicates that drinking coffee may work to reduce the likelihood of neurodegenerative conditions and cognitive decline. Evidence links caffeine consumption with a lower risk of getting Parkinson’s disease.(5) It also suggests that caffeine can slow the progression of the condition. Likewise, numerous studies have discovered that drinking coffee regularly could decrease the chances of developing Alzheimer’s.(6)

It's not only the brain that this iced coffee recipe may be good for. Research also shows that it can benefit the health of your heart. Studies have found coffee consumption correlates with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, heart failure and stroke.(7) Thanks to its positive effects on inflammation, metabolism and insulin sensitivity, coffee might additionally lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.(8)

Another interesting advantage of drinking coffee is that it may help with weight management. Evidence links the drink with decreased levels of body fat and improved gut health, which reduce the risk of obesity.(9)

All of which could explain why research associates coffee with a lower mortality risk and increased longevity.(10) Time to get started making this iced coffee recipe!

Is coffee good for everyone?

Drinking coffee in moderation is generally considered to be safe for the vast majority of adults. However, it’s important to remember that caffeine is a stimulant and therefore might not be suitable for everyone.

As an example, it’s advisable for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding to limit their intake. Similarly, caffeine can increase blood pressure and thus might have a detrimental impact on those with heart conditions or hypertension. Even for healthy adults, consuming too much caffeine may have a negative effect on sleep and anxiety levels.

Finally, the likelihood of enjoying the potential health benefits of coffee discussed above depends on how you drink it. For instance, it’s best not to add a lot of sugar, cream, or flavorings to this iced coffee recipe. That’s because it will increase the calorie content and counteract some of the positive effects of the coffee.

Refreshing and invigorating: our iced coffee recipe

Ok, let’s get into the details of how to make iced coffee recipes at home. It’s both quick and easy, so we’re sure you’ll find it a fabulous alternative to your normal cup of joe!

First, grab your favorite coffee beans and brew espresso. It’s entirely up to you whether you do so with a fancy machine, AeroPress, Moka pot or cafetière! Then pour two shots into each cup – to make things extra chilled, try cooling the glasses beforehand!

To this, add the vanilla extract and date syrup. You can swap the latter for agave nectar or maple syrup if you prefer. Either way, feel free to adjust the amount of sweetener you use to suit your palate.

The next step is to put in the agaricus blazei powder. In our opinion, that’s what makes this the best iced coffee recipe! It might sound like an unusual choice. However, the mushroom’s nutty, earthy taste pairs perfectly with the nuanced bitterness of coffee. It also brings a wealth of extra benefits to the drink, as we’ll discuss later.

Take a small spoon or whisk and mix the drink well. Then add the ice cubes to the glasses before pouring the milk on top. You might find that you need more or less than we’ve indicated depending on the size of your cups. We have suggested using unsweetened oat milk, but you can of course substitute this for any other plant-based, barista variety.

All that remains is to give your completed iced coffee recipe a gentle stir, and it’s ready to enjoy! We recommend drinking it shortly after making it. This will ensure that the beverage is cool, but the ice cubes haven’t melted and diluted the coffee too much. Delicious!

How agaricus blazei can benefit your wellbeing

Now that you know how to make this iced coffee recipe, let’s return to its most unusual ingredient: agaricus blazei. In its native Brazil, people refer to this medicinal mushroom as the ‘mushroom of god’ and ‘mushroom of the sun’. This is thanks to its impressive potential health benefits. We’ve got a more detailed article on how agaricus blazei can boost wellbeing, but here’s a quick recap.

One reason people prize agaricus blazei so highly is because of its ability to support our immune system. The mushroom is rich in potent polysaccharides called beta-glucans, which activate certain immune cells like macrophages and natural killer cells.(11) On top of which, as a prebiotic, they promote the growth of good bacteria in your gut.

In addition to beta-glucans, agaricus blazei contains several key secondary metabolites which can have a positive influence on wellness. For example, these include triterpenes and sterols such as ergosterol that have powerful anti-inflammatory properties.(12) Experts have linked chronic inflammation to numerous harmful conditions, including arthritis and heart disease, making this a key benefit.

Another way agaricus blazei could help to protect your heart is by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.(13) This in turn can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Studies suggest the mushroom might also improve insulin resistance in people with diabetes, assisting with blood sugar management.(14)

Moreover, agaricus blazei is bursting with antioxidant compounds such as ergothioneine.(15) These defend the body from oxidative damage, which research has linked with several chronic health conditions and signs of ageing. Finally, as an adaptogen, agaricus blazei may even help the mind and body to deal with stress more effectively.

Are you beginning to see why we included the mushroom in this iced coffee recipe?

All about our agaricus blazei powder

We take every possible step to ensure that our medicinal mushroom powders are of the highest quality. Our team of expert mycologists has over 20 years of experience, which they combine with the latest scientific findings to cultivate fungi with the maximum nutritional value. They grow our agaricus blazei in small batches on a specially designed organic substrate, under meticulously controlled conditions in Europe.

Once ready, we carefully dry the mushrooms at 60°C to prevent any microbial contamination. Our team then grinds the dried fungus into a fine powder, which we pack into environmentally friendly amber glass jars. Please reuse or recycle them when they’re empty!

We also get an independent and accredited quality-checker to test our agaricus blazei. As such, we’re able to state with confidence that it is 100% pure mushroom and contains over 30% wellness-boosting polysaccharides. Needless to say, we don’t use any filler ingredients or other additives in our mushroom powders.

Another thing we think you’ll love about our organic agaricus blazei mushroom powder is how versatile it is. In addition to this iced coffee recipe, you can mix it into soups, stews, risottos, or your favorite hot drinks. It has a nutty, earthy flavor featuring notes of almond that pairs beautifully with all sorts of dishes. So don’t be afraid to experiment! For example, one of our personal preferred options is to make a delicious and health-enhancing mushroom hot chocolate.

Taking agaricus blazei safely

Like all medicinal mushrooms, it’s important to understand how to use agaricus blazei safely. We recommend taking it up to twice a day, for a period of 6-8 weeks. After that, it’s best to take a break. This is because the fungus activates your immune cells, and you should allow your body time to rest and rebalance.

Similarly, you don’t need to use very much powder to reap the benefits of the mushroom. Half a teaspoon per drink – whether it’s this iced coffee recipe, hot chocolate, or mushroom tea – is plenty!

There are also some groups of people who should avoid taking agaricus blazei at all. This includes women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, children, and those with existing health conditions. Likewise, if you are currently on any medication, it’s best to seek advice from a doctor before taking medicinal mushrooms. This will help to ensure you don’t experience any unwanted interactions or side effects.

Top tips for enjoying our iced coffee recipe

Thanks to its refreshing nature and energy-boosting power, this iced coffee recipe is a fantastic option for getting your caffeine fix on warm summer mornings. If you’re working from home, it’s also a brilliant way to enhance your focus during that mid-afternoon slump! The details we’ve given make enough for two cups, but you can easily scale the recipe up or down as required.

Another wonderful thing about this iced coffee recipe is the opportunity it provides for customization. For instance, you could swap the vanilla extract for a different variety – like almond or hazelnut – to alter the flavor. Using cocoa powder or chocolate syrup transforms your drink into a mocha, while caramel syrup brings extra sweetness.

To make an especially indulgent iced coffee recipe, substitute some of the vegan milk for plant-based cream. Alternatively, you could craft a purer brew by leaving out the sweetener and vanilla extract. You can also make a decaf iced coffee recipe if you want the taste of coffee without the caffeine boost.

In order to ensure that your drink doesn’t get diluted, try using homemade coffee ice cubes instead of regular ones. All you need to do is brew coffee, leave it to cool, pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze. Then simply add the ice cubes to your glass when you’re ready to make this iced coffee recipe. Not only does your drink stay cold, but it also gets topped up as they melt. It doesn’t get much better than that!