Japanese Iced Coffee

Craving a refreshing coffee that doesn't compromise on flavour? Well, have you tried Japanese iced coffee?

If you've ever felt let down by bland, immersion cold brews or time-consuming slow-drip coffees, you're in for a treat. Japanese iced coffee offers the best of both worlds - the strong, complex notes of hot-brewed coffee with instant, satisfying coolness. If you're thinking about changing up the way you make iced coffee at home, this is perfect for you. 

What is a Japanese-style iced coffee?

Japanese-style iced coffee is a unique brewing method that combines the boldness of hot coffee with the refreshing chill of iced beverages. Unlike traditional cold brew, which steeps coffee grounds in cold water for 6-12 hours, Japanese iced coffee is brewed hot directly onto ice. This quick-chill technique preserves the coffee's bright, aromatic taste that’s both flavourful and refreshing.

As the coffee drops onto the ice, it cools almost instantly, diluting it, locking in its rich characteristics and preventing any bitterness that can happen when you brew coffee for a long time. This way, you can enjoy a well-balanced drink that highlights the distinct notes of your favourite coffee beans, whether they’re light and fruity or dark and chocolatey, and it takes no more time than a hot coffee!

What will I need to make Japanese-style iced coffee?

To make cold coffee, Japanese style, you’ll need a few essential tools and ingredients: 

Ingredients

• Fresh Coffee Beans: Start with high-quality, freshly roasted coffee beans. A medium to medium-dark roast works well, but feel free to experiment with your favourites.
• Filtered Water: The quality of your water can significantly impact the flavour of your coffee, so clean, filtered water is best. 
•  Ice: Use fresh ice cubes made from filtered water.

Equipment

• Coffee Grinder: A burr grinder is ideal for achieving a consistent grind size. Aim for a medium-fine grind, slightly finer than you would use for a pour-over coffee.
• Coffee Brewer: You can use a pour-over dripper (we recommend a Hario V60, but you can use an ORAGAMI dripper or a Chemex) with a paper filter or a traditional drip coffee maker. Just make sure it brews directly over ice.
• Scale: A drip scale helps make sure you have accurate measurements for both coffee and water so you get a better consistency.

How to Brew Japanese Iced Coffee

Step 1: Measure Your Ingredients

A good starting point is a 12:3:1 water-to-ice-to-coffee ratio. For example, if you’re using 20 grams of coffee, aim for 240 grams (or millilitres) of water to account for the 75g of ice. Feel free to adjust this based on how you like it!

Step 2: Prepare the Filter

Pre-wet your filter cone with around 100 grams of water. 

Step 2: Grind the Coffee

Grab your burr grinder and grind those fresh beans to a medium-fine consistency. This grind size will help you extract all the delicious flavours without any bitterness. Add your ground coffee to your pre-rinsed filter. 

Step 3: Get the Ice Ready

Fill your pot (like a jug or a carafe) with ice, and place your V60 on top. 

Step 4: Bloom the Coffee

Add 40g of hot water evenly to wet the grounds. If you're using a pour-over method, pour from a drip kettle in a circular motion and let it bloom for about 40 seconds. 

Step 5: Let It Drip

Add 100g of water and let the coffee drip directly onto the ice. Add another 100g of water two minutes later, so the total weight is 240g. The coffee will melt the ice as it brews and should take about 3-4 minutes.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Once all the coffee has trickled through, give it a gentle stir to mix any melted ice with the coffee. Pour it into your glass (with extra ice if you need to) and enjoy!

If you want to try different Japanese-style iced coffee recipes besides just a long black, try it with milk or your favourite milk alternative, or add different flavoured syrups and spices if that's your style! 

Make the Perfect Japanese Iced Coffee with Brew Box Co. 

Now that you know how to make your own delicious Japanese iced coffee, why not take your coffee experience to the next level? At Brew Box Coffee, we’re dedicated to providing you with the finest speciality coffees from around the world, delivered right to your doorstep. Our subscription service gives you the chance to explore new flavours and discover unique roasters each month, so you'll always have fresh beans at home. 

Plus, we have a range of high-quality coffee equipment to help you perfect your coffee technique. From grinders to pour-over drippers, we’ve got everything you need to create café-quality beverages at home.

Join our community of coffee enthusiasts today! Sign up for our subscription and start enjoying the incredible world of speciality coffee. 

Japanese Iced Coffee FAQS

What makes Japanese coffee so good?

Japanese coffee stands out for its particular brewing method that focuses on flavour and freshness. The attention to detail in selecting high-quality, freshly roasted beans and the precision techniques, like pour-over and iced methods, bring out the unique characteristics of each coffee so you can truly savour every sip!

Is Japanese iced coffee the same as cold brew coffee?

Not quite! While both are delicious, they are different beasts. Cold brew means steeping coffee grounds in cold water for a long time (usually 12 to 24 hours), resulting in a smooth, mellow flavour. Japanese iced coffee, also known as flash brew coffee, is brewed hot directly onto ice, which cools it quickly and preserves the notes and acidity. 

Is Japanese coffee the same as pour-over coffee?

While Japanese iced coffee can be made using a pour-over method, not all pour-over coffee is considered Japanese coffee. Pour-over is a general technique where hot water is poured over coffee grounds in a filter. Japanese-style pour-over emphasises preciseness and process, resulting in a clean taste. 

Can I use syrup in a Japanese iced coffee?

Absolutely! Some popular choices are vanilla, caramel, or simple syrup. Just adjust the amount to suit your taste buds. The beauty of this method is its versatility, so you can experiment as much as you like to find your favourite.