Can You Freeze Iced Coffee? What You Should Know

Coffee can be made in so many flavors, kinds, and varieties. But when you have leftover coffee because you make extra coffee or buy too much coffee at the coffee shop, you might wonder if you can freeze it for later use. In this post, we’ll specifically answer the question, can you freeze iced coffee. And if you’re a coffee lover, you’ll want to find out how.

What is Iced Coffee?

Traditional iced coffee is made using regular drip coffee brewed with hot water. Typically, the amount of ground coffee beans is increased, or is made with less water added to the coffee maker, so that the hot brewed coffee is more concentrated.

This way when the hot coffee is added to the regular ice cubes, and the ice melts, the coffee flavor does not become diluted. Iced coffee generally has sugar and milk added and is best when enjoyed fresh. It makes a delicious drink on a hot day.

What is Cold Brew Coffee?

Not to be confused with iced coffee, cold brew coffee is a type of cold brew concentrate and is usually made using room temperature water and then brewed over a long time, such as 12 to 24 hours in the refrigerator.

You can then use a French press to separate the grounds from the consumable coffee portion.

This cold brew method allows your coffee to brew slowly and steadily and makes the coffee have a delicious, somewhat sweeter flavor than normal coffee. It is usually consumed as cold coffee.

Can You Freeze Iced Coffee?

The good news is yes, you can freeze iced coffee. Just pour the leftover iced coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze overnight.

After the cubes are frozen, transfer them to a zipped freezer bag or freezer safe airtight container with a lid. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Then, when you’re ready to use them, there are a variety of options to consider, but you’ll have great tasting iced coffee to add to your latest recipe.

What Is the Best Way to Store Iced Coffee?

Let’s face it, the best time to drink iced coffee is when it’s fresh and before the ice cubes have melted. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be iced coffee.

But if you’re needing to store iced coffee it does lengthen its shelf life for a few weeks, and there are many ways it can be used.

The best way to store iced coffee is in a closed mason jar or pitcher in the refrigerator. But it will only maintain its state of having ice cubes for up to a couple of hours. After that, the ice begins to melt.

Another way to store iced coffee is in the freezer. In the freezer, iced coffee can last for up to two weeks.

In the following section, we’ll include step by step instructions for how to freeze iced coffee.

How to Freeze Iced Coffee

There are a couple of different ways you can freeze iced coffee, and either one works well. You’ll want to choose your preferred method depending on how you intend to use it after it’s frozen.

Ice Cube Tray

The easy way to freeze iced coffee is in an ice cube tray. To use this method, just pour the iced coffee into the ice cube tray and place it in the freezer overnight.

After the coffee ice cubes have frozen solid, you’ll want to pop them out of the ice cube tray and move them into a zipped freezer bag or airtight container to keep them from getting freezer burnt.

Airtight Container

If you intend to use the entire amount of ice coffee at once, after it’s been removed from the freezer, you’ll be fine to freeze it in an airtight container. But this will make it one big block that will need to all be used at once.

Something as simple as a plastic container with a lid that’s safe to go in the freezer, will work fine.

How to Defrost Frozen Iced Coffee

Now that you know how to freeze iced coffee and make coffee cubes, you might want to know how to safely defrost it to use it in its thawed form.

The best way to defrost frozen iced coffee is to transfer it to the refrigerator overnight. And it will begin to thaw by morning.

You can also leave the frozen coffee sitting in a bowl of cold water at room temperature to thaw it. The cold water will need to be changed every 30 minutes to keep it cold so that it doesn’t go bad.

While we don’t recommend this method because of food safety risks, some people prefer to not wait around, if you don’t have enough time, some might thaw it rapidly in a zipped plastic bag or airtight container by running it under warm water. Because iced coffee usually contains milk, this can pose a health risk by allowing bacteria to form because heat is used to thaw it.

How to Use Frozen Iced Coffee

There are so many ways to use coffee cubes whether from your ice tray or whether you have a block of frozen coffee that you’d like to use to flavor your next dessert. Here are some great ideas for ways to use it.

Making Coffee Milkshakes and Smoothies

Using coffee cubes to make milkshakes and smoothies can be a delicious treat and fun at the same time. For a little coffee flavor, add a few ice cubes and check the flavor, then add a few more for a stronger flavor.

Ice Cubes in Fresh Coffee

Using coffee ice cubes in freshly made coffee is a delicious use for them. You can use them in cold brew, instant coffee, iced coffee, or even to chill your regular coffee or black coffee if desired.

The type of coffee that it’s added to can be whatever you prefer. Ice cubes and iced coffee drinks can be refreshing on a hot summer day.

Cooking With Coffee

Coffee can be used is many recipes such as ice cream, desserts like tiramisu, puddings, cakes, brownies and more. It’s a great way to flavor foods if you like the taste of coffee.

Water Your Plants

Did you know that plants love coffee, including coffee grounds? If you’re just going to throw them away, it’s a good idea to consider adding the frozen coffee by just placing it on top of the dirt, using a cube or two for smaller plants and more for larger plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Following are frequently asked questions that relate to can you freeze iced coffee. If you have a question that’s not answered here, feel free to drop it to us in the comments box below and we’ll be happy to respond.

Can you freeze Starbucks iced coffee?

Yes, you can freeze Starbucks iced coffee by transferring it to an airtight container or zipped freezer bag and labeling it and placing it in the freezer.

There are many uses for it after it’s defrosted.

How long does iced coffee last in the freezer?

Iced coffee can last in the freezer for up to 2 weeks when stored properly in an airtight plastic container.

Can you freeze iced coffee and drink it the next day?

Yes, you can freeze iced coffee and drink it the next day.

Or you might choose instead to freeze a few coffee ice cubes while placing your iced coffee in the refrigerator overnight and adding the ice cubes the next day.

This will keep you from having to freeze and thaw the entire amount.

How long can you keep iced coffee in the fridge?

We don’t recommend keeping iced coffee in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours. After that, it should be transferred to the freezer or thrown away.