Instant Iced Latte

Make Instant Iced Latte in 2 minutes or less using instant coffee, sweetener and milk of your choice! It’s super simple and doesn’t require any fancy equipment. 

I am not a coffee connoisseur but I love my coffee. Lately even more so because I have discovered the “art” of making Instant Iced Latte at home, in 2 minutes or less. No need for French press or espresso machine. It simply calls for instant coffee granules (yeap, you read that correctly), sweetener and milk of your choice! While growing up in Nepal, instant coffee was the thing – we didn’t have a coffee maker. A lot of my family members still enjoy their coffee using instant coffee granules, lots of sugar, and frothy milk as their morning routine.

I am sure a lot of it is personal preference and the type of instant coffee used because not all brands of instant coffee are created equally. I say this confidently because I have had decent instant coffee and some really really bad ones in the past. Normally, I drink my coffee straight up black with no sugar but there is something luxurious about lightly sweetened, iced coffee with milk. It’s probably the sweltering 3-digit temperature here that has me craving for all things cold and refreshing in the morning.

Traditionally, a latte is made up of coffee, hot steamed milk, and topped with little foam. The coffee can be replaced with another drink base like tea or matcha. In my case, I am doing everything opposite of traditional. Remember, I told you I am a coffee lover, not a connoisseur.

We begin by pouring 1:1 ratio of instant coffee granules to sweetener (I prefer table sugar or brown) in a tall 12 oz glass. Then, we pour 12 oz milk over it. I don’t own a milk frother..and I am following the old-school method (that everyone in my family does) by using two tall glasses to mix the coffee granules. In the process, it also creates foam… I have used different types of milk, both dairy and non-dairy for Instant Iced Latte, and here is what I think.

Update 2020: If you are a mason jar junkie like me, use a pint mason jar and make instant iced coffee/lattee as shown here:

2% dairy milk creates the most foam, plain soy milk has a rich, creamy taste, while almond milk has a mild sweet taste but not as creamy compared to soy. It works well with all milk types…and it really comes down to your personal preference.

note : in between styling and taking pictures – i lost the foam and couldn’t capture an image

In case you were curious, I am using 100% Colombian Instant Coffee from Trader Joe’s.

Update 2020: I have been using Nescafe instant coffee and they both work great. You can also use instant coffee to make Ghoteko Coffee (Whipped Coffee) or the viral Dalgona coffee!

I hope you will try Instant Coffee Latte and enjoy it  as much as I do. I’d love to hear if you have tried instant coffee before? Any favorite brand or stories to share?

Instant Iced Latte

Author: Dixya @Food, Pleasure, and Health

Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules

• 1 teaspoon sweetener of your choice

• 12 oz milk of your choice

• handful of icecubes

Instructions

1. In a tall glass, add instant coffee and sweetener.

2. Rapidly pour 12 oz milk over it.

3. Alternatively pour the milk from one glass to another diluting the coffee granules.

4. Continue the process for 6-8 times until it creates some foam.

5. In another glass, pour handful of ice and pour the mixture over it. Use a spoon to transfer foam.

6. Enjoy.

Notes

I have found that 1:1 ratio (in teaspoon) of coffee granules to sugar + 12 oz milk is a perfect combination for me. If you like your coffee sweeter or stronger, please play around with the quantity to find your perfect cuppa.

If coffee is not your thing — check out the Iced Chai Latte!