How to Make an Iced Latte at Home

When summer hits and the streets start to shimmer with heat, there’s nothing I crave more than an iced latte. It’s cool, creamy, and gives me that espresso kick without the sweat. Over the past years, making iced lattes at home has become one of my favorite warm-weather routines. In this post, I’ll show you how I make mine, what makes the difference, and why this drink is more than just cold coffee in a glass.

What Actually Is an Iced Latte?

An iced latte is a simple drink made of espresso and cold milk, served over ice. That’s it – but trust me, the magic is in the details.

A good iced latte is well-balanced:

rich in coffee flavor, but smooth and refreshing at the same time. If you’ve ever had one that tasted watery or bland, chances are the espresso-to-milk ratio was off, or the coffee wasn’t strong enough.

What You Need to Make a Great Iced Latte

Ingredients:

1–2 shots of freshly brewed espresso (I recommend a fruity, light-roasted specialty coffee)
90-150 ml cold milk (whole milk or a plant-based option like oat)
Ice cubes – the more, the better!
Optional: simple syrup or sugar if you prefer it sweet

My tip: I love using barista-style oat milk – it pairs incredibly well with espresso and stays creamy even when cold.

My Step-by-Step Iced Latte Routine

1. Brew your espresso

I start with a double shot from my espresso machine. If you don’t have one, a Moka pot or AeroPress with a concentrated brew works too. What matters is a strong, short coffee – don’t use regular drip coffee.

2. Fill a glass with ice

Grab a tall glass and fill it to the top with ice cubes. This is key to keeping the drink cool without watering it down too fast.

3. Pour in the milk

Add your cold milk to the glass – I leave some space at the top for the espresso. Make sure your milk is really cold; I usually pour mine straight from the fridge.

4. Add the espresso

Now for the best part: pour the hot espresso gently over the milk and ice. You’ll get that beautiful layered effect – a creamy white base with the dark espresso slowly sinking in.

5. Stir and enjoy

Give it a gentle stir (or not, if you like the layers), and your iced latte is ready. Perfect for sipping on the balcony, in the park, or while editing your latest street photos.

What is my personal ratio for an iced latte?

My typical iced latte uses a 1:3 ratio of espresso to milk.

That means:

Double Shot Espresso (30 ml)
90 ml (or more) of cold milk
Ice cubes to fill the glass

You can adjust this ratio based on how strong or milky you like your drink.

Tip: Freeze Your Espresso!

This is one of my favorite hacks. Brew some espresso in advance and freeze it in an ice cube tray. On hot days, use the frozen espresso cubes instead of regular ice – your drink stays strong and cold, with no dilution. And let’s be honest, espresso cubes just look super cool in a glass.

Final Thoughts: Simple, Refreshing, and Always Worth It

Making an iced latte at home doesn’t need to be complicated.

With just a few quality ingredients and a bit of technique, you can bring café vibes to your own kitchen.

For me, it’s not just a drink – it’s a moment of pause, a cool contrast to the busy city life, and a reminder to enjoy the little things.

Let me know if you try it! I’d love to hear how you make yours.

FAQ: Iced Coffee, Iced Latte & Iced Macchiato – What’s the Difference?

Several plant-based milk options work great in an iced latte, depending on your taste and desired texture:

Oat milk – The top choice for many baristas. It’s creamy, slightly sweet, and froths well, making it ideal for a smooth iced latte.
Almond milk – Light and nutty, with fewer calories. It’s a good option if you prefer a more delicate flavor.
Soy milk – High in protein and rich in texture. It has a more neutral taste and blends well with espresso.
Coconut milk – Adds a tropical twist with a hint of coconut flavor. Best used if you enjoy a slightly sweet and exotic note.

Iced coffee is made by brewing hot coffee and then cooling it over ice. It has a stronger coffee flavor and is typically served black or with a splash of milk. An iced latte, on the other hand, is made with espresso and cold milk poured over ice. It’s creamier and has a milder taste because of the higher milk content.

Not quite. An iced latte is made specifically with espresso, not regular brewed coffee. The espresso gives it a richer, more intense flavor, while the milk adds smoothness. Simply mixing cold coffee with milk won’t give you the same texture or taste.

Both drinks use espresso and milk, but the order and ratio are different.

An iced latte is made by adding espresso to cold milk and ice.
An iced macchiato is layered, with milk and ice first, and espresso poured on top — creating a bolder coffee layer and a more visually striking drink. The macchiato also usually has less milk than a latte, making it stronger in flavor.