How to Make Cold Brew Coffee Ice Cubes for Iced Drinks

Pour finished, chilled cold brew into a clean ice-cube tray, freeze until solid, and transfer the cubes to a sealed freezer container. These coffee cubes are especially helpful in iced lattes: when they melt, they add more coffee instead of plain water.

Start with strained, ready-to-drink cold brew

Use 1 cup of prepared, chilled coffee to start. A well-filtered cold brew makes smoother cubes with less sediment. Ready-to-drink cold brew creates balanced cubes; concentrated cold brew makes much stronger cubes, which you can dilute with milk. Do not freeze loose grounds into the tray.

Freeze and store without freezer odors

Fill each compartment just below its rim, avoiding spills across the dividers. Freeze until fully solid—often several hours depending on cube size and freezer temperature. Move the cubes to a sealed food-safe freezer bag or box, mark the date, and keep them tightly closed. This reduces exposure to flavors from other foods.

Use the cubes in an iced latte

Drop roughly 3–5 cubes into a tall glass and pour cold milk or a non-dairy alternative over them. The count depends on how large your tray makes them and how much coffee you want. Add a splash of brewed cold coffee for an immediately stronger flavor, or let the cubes gradually melt while you drink.

What to avoid

Cool any coffee before pouring it into a plastic or silicone tray, unless the manufacturer specifically permits hot liquid. Keep the prepared coffee refrigerated until freezing. If cubes smell like freezer food or taste stale, make a fresh batch.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use cold brew concentrate?

Yes. Concentrate produces stronger cubes; use milk or water to reach your preferred strength.

Can I freeze hot-brewed coffee instead?

Yes, once it is cooled and refrigerated. Cold brew is a brewing method, not the only coffee suitable for ice cubes.

Can I sweeten the coffee first?

You can, but sugar may make cubes softer and slower to freeze. Adding syrup to the finished glass is easier.

For more ideas, read why cold brew tastes watery with ice and how to mix cold brew with oat milk.