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With the temperature rising, there’s nothing better than a lovely iced coffee to quench your thirst. However, it’s often quite expensive to buy it from your favorite cafe, so how do you make it without all the hassle of buying equipment? Take a look here as we explain how to make iced coffee without a French press or other types of coffee machines.
How to Make Iced Coffee Without a French Press
Wondering how to make iced coffee without a french press? Find out here:
- Make a coffee first. If you don’t have a french press this can be made by grinding the coffee granules down to a medium to coarse grind and pouring water on it. Remember to use the golden water ratio when making the coffee for the best results.
- After this is done, cover it in a container and let it sit at room temperature for 18 to 20 hours.
- Once this time is up, use a filter and pour the liquid into the filter so it is smooth to drink without little bits getting through.
- Now, all you have to do is put ice in it and anything else you think will go with it, and drink some delicious iced coffee.
Easy, right?

What are the Benefits of Iced Coffee?
First of all, you should know that iced coffee is quite easy to make without any need for special coffee machines or other types of equipment.
One of the great benefits of iced coffee is its flavor. Many people have noted that it offers a more intense and sweeter flavor than many hot coffees.
But why is this? Well, iced coffee is often not as bitter because it isn’t heated, so the bitterness is not as present in these coffees.
Another benefit is that you don’t need the freshest coffee beans to make them. Although, if you want the best quality coffee it’s always a good idea to get fresh ground coffee.
However, the difference is often less noticeable when you make iced coffee.
This is mainly due to the fact that the brewing process is longer, and a cold extraction process extracts only a certain part of the coffee bean.
If you’ve got some old coffee beans that are going out of date, why not start making iced coffee with them?
How Should I Grind My Beans for Iced Coffee?
When you brew hot coffee, you need to ensure the coffee beans are finely ground down to ensure the best taste. This isn’t needed with iced coffee. In fact, the best grind for your iced coffee should be a medium to coarse grind.
This is great for saving you time grinding when making coffee. If you grind it too finely, it will become bitter, and not have the nice and sweet taste that most iced coffees have.
However, just because the grind time is shorter, that doesn’t mean that it takes less time to make the coffee overall. In fact, the reason iced coffee has a more intense flavor is that it takes a longer time to brew.
If you don’t have a grinder, why not take a look at our how to grind coffee beans without a grinder article?
How Much Water Should I Put in My Coffee?
If you’re wondering how to make iced coffee without a french press, you’re probably thinking about the amount of water to put in.
A good ratio of water to coffee is around one to two ounces of coffee to 1 cup (about 230/250 ml) of water.
The best thing about making your own coffee is experimentation. Not strong enough? Reduce the water.
By experimenting, you can get the perfect ratio of water to coffee that best suits your taste buds and helps you make the perfect iced coffee.

How Long Should I Brew It For?
If you want truly great iced coffee, you should brew it for up to 24 hours. However, if you can’t wait that long, you should at the very least brew it for 12 hours in your fridge.

How Long Does Iced Coffee Last?
After making it, iced coffee is usually fine to drink for up to a week, as long as it is left in the fridge during this time. After that, the taste won’t be the same, and will start tasting stale.

How to Make Iced Coffee Without a French Press: A Step-by-Step Guide
Equipment
- 1 Saucepan
- 1 Tablespoon
- 1 container
- 1 Cup
- 1 filter
Ingredients
- 1 Freshly roasted and ground coffee beans preferably sustainably sourced arabica
- 1 cup ice
- milk or cream optional
Instructions
- Make a coffee first. If you don’t have a french press this can be made by grinding the coffee granules down to a medium to coarse grind and pouring water on it. Remember to use the golden water ratio when making the coffee for the best results.
- After this is done, cover it in a container and let it sit at room temperature for 18 to 20 hours.
- Once this time is up, use a filter and pour the liquid into the filter so it is smooth to drink without little bits getting through.
- Now, all you have to do is put ice in it and anything else you think will go with it, and drink some delicious iced coffee.
Interested In Checking Out More Coffee Recipes?
So, as mentioned above, iced coffee does take a while, but it is easy to make, and it is an extremely delicious and sweet drink to try.
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