Save Money by Making Your Own Iced Coffee at Home

Tired of spending $8 for an iced coffee? Learn how to make delicious iced coffees at home, save money, and enjoy your favorite coffee flavors with this simple DIY guide. If you’re anything like me, grabbing an iced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts or a Starbucks Frozen Frappuccino has become a habit.

Every time I’m near one, it’s hard to resist. But here’s the thing—iced coffee is my go-to more than hot coffee these days, and those stops were really starting to add up. I always go for the biggest size, and in 2024, I’m spending close to $8 for a single Starbucks frozen coffee drink. That’s just way too much for a cup of coffee!

So, I decided enough was enough. I started making my iced coffee at home, and I’ve saved a ton of money in the process. It’s easier than you might think, and I’m going to share some tips so you can do it too.

Why Make Your Own Iced Coffee?

Let’s break it down. At $8 per cup, if you buy a few iced coffees per week, you’re spending upwards of $100 a month—just on coffee! That’s crazy. By making your own iced coffee at home, you can save a lot without sacrificing taste. Plus, you can enjoy it anytime, not just when you’re near a coffee shop.

Stocking Up on Your Favorite Coffee

One of the best parts of making your own iced coffee is that you can use your favorite coffee brands. I keep a variety of coffee options in stock, like Dunkin’ Donuts ground coffee, Folgers, and Maxwell House. I wait for sales and buy in bulk. If you plan ahead, you can get great deals. For example, Kroger often has amazing digital coupons, and I stock up during their Buy 5 sales.

Essential Tools for Perfect Iced Coffee

Here’s what I use to brew my iced coffee at home:

• Cold Brew Coffee Pitcher
• French Press
• Coffee Carafe (I went with a cute pink one!)

These tools make the process super simple. The cold brew pitcher and French press allow me to brew two types of coffee, and the carafe keeps my iced coffee chilled and ready to go whenever I need a refreshing drink.

Brewing Process: Step-by-Step

1. Choose Your Coffee: Pick your favorite coffee blend. I use about 1/4 cup of coffee grounds for each coffee maker.
2. Use Filtered Water: Fill the coffee makers with distilled or filtered water, which gives a cleaner taste.
3. Cold Brew: For the cold brew maker, I let it brew for 12 hours in the fridge.
4. French Press: The iced coffee press takes about 24 hours in the fridge for the best flavor.

Adjust the amount of coffee to suit your taste—if you like stronger coffee, add more grounds, and for a milder taste, use less.

Add-Ons: Creamers and Sweeteners

I also look for sales on creamers and stock up on the large, half-gallon sizes. Kroger is great for deals, and I use their digital coupons to save on both coffee and creamers. When it comes to sweeteners, I buy my sugar in bulk at Walmart or Amazon, where I can get 20 pounds of granulated white sugar for less than $20.

Easy Homemade Iced Coffee Recipe

Once your coffee is brewed, here’s how to make the perfect iced coffee:

• Add 1 cup of your favorite creamer.
• Stir in 1/4 cup of sugar (adjust to taste).

Mix everything up, pour it over ice, and enjoy! It’s that simple.

Cost Savings Breakdown

Let’s do a quick comparison. For about $8, you can make several cups of cold coffee at home versus spending that much on just one cup at Starbucks. Plus, with a little planning, you can score amazing deals on coffee, creamers, and sweeteners.

Where to Buy Iced & Cold Brew Coffee Gear

You can find most of the tools you need, like coffee makers, presses, and carafes, at places like Amazon, Walmart, and Temu. Temu is often the cheapest, but Amazon and Walmart frequently have sales too.

Look for deals and shop around—you don’t need to spend much to get started.

Making your own iced and cold brew coffees at home isn’t just a way to save money—it’s a way to take control of your coffee habit and still enjoy the drinks you love. It’s easy, cost-effective, and you get to customize it exactly to your taste.

So, say goodbye to overpriced coffee shop runs and start brewing your own delicious iced coffee at home!