Simple Iced Pour Over Coffee Recipe (Flash Brew Method)

When the weather warms up, few drinks are as refreshing as a well-made iced coffee. The good news is that making speciality coffee at home doesn't require complicated recipes or expensive equipment.

This simple flash brew method works with any brewing device, including a V60, Aeropress, French Press, Clever Dripper, Orea, or Kalita Wave. The principle is simple: replace one-third of your brewing water with ice that you add later, cooling the hot coffee coffee while maintaining the same strength and flavour balance as your usual hot brew.

Iced Pour Over brew guide from Freda Coffee, Speciality Roaster

Why Flash Brew Iced Coffee?

Many homemade iced coffees taste weak and watery because hot coffee is simply poured over ice after brewing.

Flash brewing solves this problem by accounting for dilution during the brewing process. The ice becomes part of the recipe, creating a bright, sweet, refreshing cup that highlights the characteristics of speciality coffee.

This method is ideal for showcasing fruity Ethiopian coffees, juicy Kenyan coffees, and vibrant washed coffees with citrus and berry notes.

Freda Speciality Coffee Roaster, Iced French Press

The Golden Rule

Take your normal brew recipe and replace one-third of the total water weight with ice.

Example: French Press Iced Coffee

If your usual recipe is:

  • 33g coffee
  • 600g water

For an iced version, use:

  • 33g coffee
  • 400g hot water
  • 200g ice

Brew as normal, then pour directly over the ice.

Brewing Iced coffee with the Orea Z1, Freda Speciality Coffee

Example: Aeropress Iced Coffee

If your usual recipe is:

  • 11g coffee
  • 200g water

For an iced version, use:

  • 11g coffee
  • 133g hot water
  • 66g ice

Brew as normal and dilute with the ice to desired strength.

Stirring Ice into coffee, with our speciality coffee subscription

Simple Iced Pour Over Coffee Recipe

For this iced pour over coffee recipe, we'll use a flash brew method.

What You'll Need

  • 15g speciality coffee
  • 170g hot water
  • 85g ice
  • V60, Orea, Kalita Wave or similar pour over brewer
  • Filter paper
  • Scales and timer

Brewing Method

  1. Rinse your filter paper and add 15g of freshly ground coffee.
  2. Start your timer and pour the first 85g of hot water evenly over the coffee grounds.
  3. Give the brewer a gentle Rao Spin to ensure all the grounds are evenly saturated.
  4. Wait until the timer reaches 1:00.
  5. Pour the remaining 85g of water slowly and evenly over the coffee bed.
  6. Allow the coffee to draw down completely.
  7. Now add ice to the cup, stirring continuously while the ice melts to cool down the coffee and dilute the brew to the correct strength
  8. Now pour the cold coffee over fresh ice in your cup!
  9. Enjoy immediately.
Iced Coffee being made with Freda Speciality Coffee Beans

Best Coffee for Iced Filter Coffee

Lighter roasted speciality coffees tend to shine when brewed as iced coffee. Look for coffees with tasting notes such as:

  • Citrus
  • Peach
  • Berry
  • Tropical fruit
  • Floral notes

At Freda Coffee, we particularly enjoy naturally processed Ethiopian coffees and vibrant washed Kenyan coffees as iced pour overs during the summer months.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to make iced coffee at home doesn't need to be complicated. Whether you're brewing with a V60, Aeropress, French Press or another filter brewer, simply replacing one-third of your brewing water with ice creates a delicious, balanced iced coffee every time.

It's one of the easiest ways to enjoy speciality coffee during warmer weather while preserving all the sweetness, acidity and clarity that make great coffee so enjoyable.