Free iced coffee calculator. Enter servings to find the coffee in grams and the cold water in millilitres you need for iced coffee.
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Enter servings. This calculator allows 15 grams of coffee and 200 millilitres of water per serving, a hot brew over ice ratio of about 1 to 13, for one iced coffee per person.
This calculator plans 15 grams of coffee and 200 millilitres of water per serving, a ratio of about 1 to 13, which sits inside the usual hot brew over ice range of 1 to 12 to 1 to 14. For a single 8 ounce cup, 15 grams is about 2.5 tablespoons of ground coffee, and for a 12 ounce cup, about 22 grams is closer. Weaker coffee tastes watery, stronger coffee tastes bitter, so weigh coffee in grams when you can, since tablespoons vary by grind and packing.
Flash brew iced coffee replaces part of the brew water with ice so the drink chills instantly without dilution. For the 200 millilitres per serving in this calculator, use about 120 millilitres of hot water and 80 grams of ice, a 60 percent hot water and 40 percent ice split, with the same 15 grams of coffee. Brew the hot water directly over the ice in the carafe, then serve over fresh ice. A 50 percent hot water and 50 percent ice split also works, with 100 millilitres of hot water and 100 grams of ice per serving.
For hot brew over ice, brew the full 200 millilitres per serving hot, then pour it over a full glass of ice. Use medium grind coffee, water at about 93 degrees Celsius, and a brew time of 2 to 3 minutes for pour over. If the drink tastes weak, reduce the water next time or brew stronger and pour over less ice. If it tastes bitter, use a coarser grind, cooler water, or a shorter brew time. Coffee ice cubes, made from leftover coffee, stop dilution and keep the last sips strong.
Cold brew coffee quantities use a much stronger ratio, because the concentrate is diluted after steeping. A concentrate ratio of 1 to 4 or 1 to 5 means 100 grams of coffee to 400 to 500 grams of cold water, steeped coarse for 12 to 18 hours in the fridge, then diluted 1 to 1 with water or milk. A ready to drink cold brew ratio is about 1 to 8 or 1 to 10. Cold brew tastes smoother and rounder than hot brew over ice, with lower perceived acidity, but it takes a day to prepare, so it suits planning ahead, not same day serving.
Iced coffee vs cold brew is a method difference, not a temperature difference. Iced coffee is hot coffee cooled fast, usually by brewing over ice, and it keeps bright, aromatic flavours. Cold brew is coffee steeped in cold water for 12 to 24 hours, and it tastes smooth and chocolatey. Iced coffee takes 5 to 10 minutes, cold brew takes a day. Choose iced coffee for a fresh, bright drink on the day, and cold brew for a smooth drink made ahead for a crowd.
For a crowd, multiply the per serving amounts directly. For 10 servings, this calculator gives 150 grams of coffee and 2000 millilitres of water. For 25 servings, it gives 375 grams and 5000 millilitres. For 50 servings, it gives 750 grams and 10000 millilitres, or about 2.6 gallons. For 100 guests at one serving each, it gives 1500 grams of coffee and 20000 millilitres, about 5.3 gallons, before ice. Plan about 1 drink per guest, plus 20 percent extra for a long event, and about 1 cup per guest per hour for a morning event.
Ice per serving for a standard glass is about 100 to 150 grams of fresh ice, or about 1 to 2 cups of ice per 8 ounce coffee, depending on glass size. For milk drinks, allow about one third of the glass as milk, roughly 60 to 80 millilitres per serving, added after brewing. Plan one cold cup and one lid per serving, plus extras for spills. For a catering order, allow about 1 bag of ice per 150 drinks on a mixed menu, and keep extra ice chilled, since melted ice in the serving bucket is wasted.
This troubleshooting guide fixes the most common recipe problems. Bitter iced coffee usually means over extraction: grind coarser, lower the water temperature, or shorten the brew time. Watery iced coffee usually means too much ice melt: brew stronger, weigh the ice, or use coffee ice cubes. Sour iced coffee usually means under extraction: grind finer, use hotter water, or brew longer, especially for flash brew. Flat iced coffee often means stale beans or coffee left standing: brew fresh, serve the same day, and store cold brew concentrate, not finished iced coffee, for later.
Iced coffee storage in the fridge is short for hot brewed drinks and long for cold brew concentrate. Hot brew iced coffee tastes best the same day and keeps for 1 to 2 days chilled, but it loses aroma quickly. Cold brew concentrate keeps for up to 2 weeks refrigerated in a sealed container, and diluted cold brew with milk should be drunk within a few days. Never store finished iced coffee with ice in it, since the ice melts and waters it down.
About 15 grams of coffee per serving in this calculator, with 200 millilitres of water, a ratio of about 1 to 13. For a 12 ounce cup, about 22 grams is closer.
For hot brew over ice, about 1 to 12 to 1 to 14. For flash brew, about 1 to 15 to 1 to 16 in total liquid, split 60 percent hot water and 40 percent ice.
About 200 millilitres per serving in this calculator. For flash brew, split it into about 120 millilitres of hot water and 80 grams of ice.
Flash brew is hot coffee brewed directly over ice, so it chills instantly without dilution. Use 60 percent hot water and 40 percent ice by weight, with a medium fine grind.
About 100 to 150 grams of fresh ice per standard glass, or about 1 to 2 cups of ice per 8 ounce coffee, depending on glass size.
About one third of the glass as milk, roughly 60 to 80 millilitres per serving, added after brewing over fresh ice.
About 5.3 gallons of brewed coffee for 100 servings at 200 millilitres each, before ice, plus about 20 percent extra for a long event.
Bitter usually means over extraction, so grind coarser or brew shorter. Watery usually means too much ice melt, so brew stronger, weigh the ice, or use coffee ice cubes.
Hot brew iced coffee tastes best the same day and keeps 1 to 2 days chilled. Cold brew concentrate keeps up to 2 weeks refrigerated in a sealed container.