Keep your cool: A guide to different kinds of cold coffee
Last week, I found myself debating which iced coffee to order at a Starbucks. Since I usually opt for hot coffee at a Starbucks (their cold drinks are usually too sweet for my taste!), this was pretty much new territory for me.
Iced barista pride latte? Classic iced coffee? Iced cappuccino? Iced flat white? Iced shaken espresso?
What’s the difference between them? How does each one taste? And how much sugar and caffeine do they pack?
The result: A sit down with professional baristas to break down all the icy cold coffees one may encounter and why you might want to give each one a try!
1. Classic Iced Coffee: The Summer Staple
Iced coffee is a classic for a reason—it’s simple, refreshing, and always hits the spot.
Traditionally, it’s brewed hot and then poured over ice.
Pro tip: If you’re making it at home, let your coffee cool slightly before adding ice so the flavor isn’t watered down. For an extra burst of taste, freeze leftover coffee into ice cubes so your drink stays potent down to the bottom of the glass.
In its simplest form—plain black iced coffee—an 8-ounce serving has around 5 calories, barely any sugar, and packs between 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine.
If you add cream, sugar, or flavored syrups, the calorie and sugar counts can shoot up quickly, sometimes adding 50 to 150 calories (and 5 to 20 grams of sugar), depending on your preferred add-ins.
2. Iced Americano: Bold & Crisp
An iced Americano is an espresso in its purest form—fresh shots poured right over ice and topped with chilled water, giving you a bold, refreshing sip that lets espresso’s vibrant flavors shine.
Because there’s no milk involved, you’ll experience espresso’s natural brightness and punchy bite front and center. Enjoyed black, an 8 to 12-ounce cup stays super-light—just 5 to 10 calories, zero sugar, and a caffeine kick of about 100 to 150 milligrams, depending on how many espresso shots you use.
Craving a touch of sweetness or creaminess? Feel free to splash in milk, sugar, or flavored syrup—but remember, doing so will increase the calorie and sugar content.
3. Cold Brew: Smooth Operator
Cold brew is all about patience—steeping coffee grounds in cold water for 12 to 24 hours creates a mellow, slightly sweet concentrate.
This concentrate is diluted with water or milk, creating a smooth and refreshing glass.
Thanks to its slow extraction, cold brew can pack a caffeine punch—around 100 to 150 milligrams per 8-ounce cup, especially if not diluted too much.
Sipping it black? You’re looking at just 5 calories and zero sugar. But heads up: add milk or sweetener, and you’ll boost your drink by roughly 30 to 80 calories (and 5 to 15 grams of sugar), depending on how heavy is your pour.
4. Nitro Cold Brew: The Creamy, Foamy Twist
Nitro cold brew takes your coffee game up a notch, infusing cold brew with nitrogen gas for a silky-smooth mouthfeel and that eye-catching cascade of foam—perfect for your Instagram feed.
Typically served straight-up without sweeteners, an 8 to 12-ounce serving packs just 5 to 10 calories, zero sugar, and a solid caffeine kick (around 150 to 200 milligrams), depending on the brew’s strength.
Thinking about adding cream or syrup? Just remember, extras will quickly ramp up the calories and sugar—but sipping it plain keeps things deliciously light.
5. Japanese-Style Iced Coffee: Hot Brewed, Flash Chilled
Japanese-style iced coffee is your ticket to bold, vibrant flavors—brewed hot and instantly chilled by dripping straight onto ice. This quick-cool method locks in the coffee’s freshest aromas, giving you a crisp, bright sip ideal for showcasing specialty beans or single-origin blends.
Enjoy it black? An 8-ounce serving keeps things simple, with just 5 to 10 calories, zero sugar, and a caffeine boost of about 80 to 100 milligrams.
Want to jazz it up with milk or sweeteners? Expect calories and sugar to nudge upward—a splash of milk adds roughly 10 to 20 calories, while each teaspoon of sugar brings about 4 grams of sugar (16 calories). Either way, you’re in for something delicious!
6. Iced Latte: Milky & Refreshing
An iced latte hits that sweet spot—bold espresso, cold creamy milk, plenty of ice. It’s your perfect companion for a quick energy boost and a refreshing sip.
Going with two shots of espresso? That gives you a solid caffeine lift of about 120 to 150 milligrams.
A classic 12-ounce iced latte with 2% milk lands around 100 to 120 calories, plus 8 to 10 grams of sugar (mainly from the milk itself).
Love yours sweet or flavored? Keep an eye out: syrups can bump your drink’s calories by an extra 50 to 100 and add 5 to 20 grams of sugar, depending on how generous you get with your favorite add-ins.
7. Frappé or Blended Coffee: Ice-Crushed Indulgence
When you’re craving a caffeinated milkshake, nothing beats a frappé or blended coffee drink—they’re creamy, indulgent, and deliciously satisfying.
The classic Greek frappé—instant coffee whipped with cold water (and maybe a touch of sugar)—keeps it pretty simple, especially if you take it easy on sweeteners.
But those coffee-shop blended drinks? They don’t mess around. A typical 12-ounce treat blends coffee or espresso, milk, sugar, and ice, quickly climbing to 200-300 calories, 25-40 grams of sugar, and 80-150 milligrams of caffeine, depending on the espresso count.
And let’s be real—add whipped cream or chocolate drizzle, and you’re leveling up not only the taste but the calorie count, too. (Totally worth it sometimes, though!)
8. Frappuccino: Sweet, Sippable Indulgence
Originally popularized and trademarked by Starbucks, the Frappuccino is now the go-to name for sweet, blended coffee bliss. It’s a milkshake disguised as coffee—perfect when you’re craving dessert and a caffeine kick at once.
Think coffee (or crème, if coffee isn’t your jam), milk, flavored syrups, and ice—whirled together until smooth, topped with whipped cream, and ready to delight your inner sweet tooth.
Calorie-wise, your frappuccino adventure can start at around 200 calories for a simpler 12-ounce “tall” but quickly jumps past 400 calories for a loaded grande or venti packed with extras.
Sugar adds up fast, too: expect around 30 to 40 grams in a basic version, but toss in extra syrups or drizzles, and you’re quickly reaching 60 grams or more.
Caffeine usually lands around 80 to 120 milligrams in a grande coffee-based frappuccino, though crème-based versions offer indulgence without the buzz.
9. Iced Mocha: Chocolaty Coolness
If you’re a coffee lover with a sweet spot for chocolate, the iced mocha delivers on both fronts. This indulgent beverage consists of espresso, chocolate syrup or sauce, milk, and ice, stirred together until perfectly blended.
This tasty combination delivers rich, chocolatey sweetness while still packing the bold espresso kick you crave.
Heads-up: A classic 12-ounce iced mocha usually rings in around 200 to 300 calories, 20 to 30 grams of sugar, and about 80 to 120 milligrams of caffeine, depending on your choice of chocolate and milk.
Want a lighter spin? Swap in sugar-free chocolate syrup, choose reduced-fat milk, or simply go easy on the chocolate pumps—so you can still indulge without going overboard.
10. Iced Cappuccino
The iced cappuccino is everything you love about the hot classic—but way cooler. Think equal parts espresso, milk, and foam, chilled down for a creamy, refreshing twist. (Fair warning: when iced, that luscious foam tends to blend a bit more into the cold milk.)
A 12-ounce serving usually packs about 80 to 120 milligrams of caffeine, thanks to two fresh espresso shots.
Calorie-wise, you’re looking at around 60 to 120 calories if you keep it simple (just milk, no sweeteners), depending on your milk choice.
But if you’re craving extra sweetness—like sugar or flavored syrups—expect an additional 5 to 20 grams of sugar and another 20 to 80 calories.
11. Iced Flat White
An iced flat white is like an iced latte’s bolder cousin—more espresso, less milk, and that silky-smooth texture you love. It’s all about celebrating the espresso’s rich crema and intense flavor, chilled to perfection.
Typically served a bit smaller than an iced latte (around 10 to 12 ounces), your iced flat white packs two espresso shots, giving you about 80 to 120 milligrams of caffeine to kickstart your day.
Calorie-wise, you’re looking at roughly 70 to 110 calories with regular 2% milk and no sweeteners, plus about 5 to 10 grams of naturally occurring sugar from the milk.
Want it sweeter? Go ahead and splash in some simple or flavored syrup—just remember, that’ll bump calories and sugar up accordingly.
If you’re into espresso-forward, velvety iced drinks, this might just become your new favorite!
12. Iced Shaken Espresso
The iced shaken espresso—made famous by your favorite coffee shops—is espresso shaken vigorously with ice (and maybe a hint of sweetener), cocktail-style.
The result? A frothy, chilled drink that’s airy, smooth, and packed with bold espresso flavor. Top it off with a splash of milk or your favorite dairy-free option, and you’ve got a refreshing treat.
A lightly sweetened, 12-ounce version with a dash of milk usually runs about 70 to 100 calories, with a sugar content of around 5 to 10 grams, depending on how generous you are with sweeteners.
As for caffeine? You’re looking at a serious pick-me-up—roughly 120 to 160 milligrams in a triple-shot drink, though fewer shots mean less of a jolt. It’s the perfect sip when you’re craving something refreshing, foamy, and espresso-forward.
13. Vietnamese Iced Coffee: Sweet & Strong
Vietnamese iced coffee is all about intense flavor and creamy sweetness. It starts with a tiny metal drip filter—called a phin—slowly dripping rich, robust coffee (usually an intense Robusta blend) right onto a creamy layer of sweetened condensed milk.
Once it’s fully brewed, stir up that silky-sweet base, pour it over ice, and you’re rewarded with a velvety-smooth, caramel-infused treat that’s full-bodied and perfectly sweet.
Just a heads-up: Thanks to that condensed milk, you’re looking at a sweet sip—roughly 20 to 30 grams of sugar and about 150 to 200 calories in a typical 10 to 12-ounce serving.
And caffeine? It packs around 80 to 120 milligrams, but trust me, it’ll feel even stronger thanks to Robusta’s punchy, bitter kick.
14. Affogato: Dessert Meets Coffee
An affogato isn’t just coffee—it’s pure dessert bliss. Think hot, bold espresso poured right over a scoop or two of creamy vanilla gelato or ice cream, creating that irresistible swirl of hot-meets-cold, bitter-meets-sweet perfection.
This dreamy combination definitely feels indulgent, with calories hovering around 150 to 300 (mostly thanks to the ice cream). Sugar levels run between 15 to 25 grams, depending on how generous your scoop is.
As for caffeine, expect about 60 to 80 milligrams from the espresso shot—just enough kick to balance out the sweetness. It’s a luxurious treat perfect for anyone who craves a quick, sweet caffeine boost.
15. Espresso Tonic: Bubbly Adventure
Meet your new favorite coffee trend: the espresso tonic. Freshly pulled espresso meets bubbly tonic water over ice—delivering a fizzy, citrusy, slightly bitter sip that’ll wake up your taste buds in the best way.
It might sound quirky, but adventurous coffee lovers swear by this refreshing break from creamier iced drinks.
Calorie-wise, expect anywhere from 10 to 70 calories for an 8 to 12-ounce serving, mainly depending on your tonic water of choice (some are sugar-free, others pack a sweet punch).
Sugar varies too—between 0 to 15 grams, again based on tonic type. As for caffeine, you’re getting an espresso-powered boost of about 60 to 130 milligrams, depending on whether you choose a single or double shot.
If you’re ready for a bubbly twist on your coffee routine, try espresso tonic—it just might become your new obsession!
