With summer just around the corner, finding delicious iced coffee recipes is necessary. Iced coffees are not only hydrating, but the right ones can be good for your health. We know that big coffee chains have the equipment to make delicious iced coffee drinks, but can you still make a refreshing coffee beverage at home if you only have a Nespresso machine?
It is relatively easy to make an iced coffee with a Nespresso machine when the warm weather arrives. All you need to make a Nespresso iced coffee is a coffee pod, ice cubes, milk, and a sweetener. Likewise, making a creamy iced drink is very easy to do with a Nespresso machine, and there are many recipes available involving this device.
Undoubtedly, you will have some questions about making iced coffee with your Nespresso machine, such as which capsule to use? Which device is the best? Can you use milk? This article will answer these questions and make a delicious iced drink.
Nespresso Iced Coffee
Nespresso iced coffee is a thing. It’s an iced coffee drink made from a Nespresso capsule of your preference.
One of the best aspects of making a Nespresso iced coffee is that you get to select what coffee flavor you’d like your drink to be.
Let’s review the steps to make a simple Nespresso iced coffee:
There are many different Nespresso models; as long as yours makes espresso, that’s all that matters. First, you will need a milk frother, like the Aeroccino milk frother.
The Aeroccino is an excellent milk frother, as it has many options for foaming milk. The following recipe will use the cold foam froth.
You will need the following basic items for this recipe:
- Nespresso machine
- Milk frother with a cold option
- Pod
- 1/2 cup of milk
- Ice cubes
- Sweetener (optional)
Once you have the necessary equipment, it’s time to get started on the recipe:
1. Begin by switching on your Nespresso machine and checking to ensure a full water reservoir.
2. Preheat the device by running water through it by pressing the lungo button, ensuring an empty coffee cup to catch the water. Discard this water and place the cup back under the machine.
3. Pour your preferred milk into the Aeroccino milk frother and turn it on. Press and hold the button for a few seconds until the blue circle is on.
The button should not be red, as this is for warm milk. The blue circle means that the cold milk is foaming.
4. Insert your pod into the Nespresso machine and press the button. The coffee should come out into your preheated cup.
5. Put some ice cubes into your cup; pour the hot espresso on top of the ice cubes and stir.
6. Swirl the fluffy milk inside the container to ensure it’s thoroughly mixed with the foam on top.
7. Pour the frothy milk on top of your cold coffee, and that is your Nespresso iced coffee finished. All that’s left to do is add your favorite sweetener if you wish.
Which Nespresso Machine Is Best For Making Iced Coffees?
Whatever Nespresso machine you make to use iced coffees is of no importance. All Nespresso machines make espresso shots, which you need to make delicious and refreshing ice coffee drinks.
What does matter is the type of milk frother you use, as you need one that makes cold, creamy milk foam and warm milk foam.
Perfectly frothy cold milk should have an attractive sheen, like wet meringue, with tiny little bubbles.
The Nespresso Aeroccino is an excellent milk frother and a helpful piece of equipment for making iced coffees as it has a few settings, including a cold setting.
Does Nespresso Make Latte Pods?
With so many pods to choose from, the Nespresso range, it’s hard to decide which pod is the best for a latte.
So let’s discuss some of the best pods to use for lattes; keep in mind that Nespresso Vertuo and the original machine use different pods.
Nespresso Vertuo Pods
There are five types of Vertuo pods:
- Single espresso
- Double espresso
- Coffee
- Coffee gran lungo
- Alto lx
Espresso capsules produce a more concentrated coffee than others as they are brewed with less water. These capsules are perfect for milk. You should only use single or double espresso capsules to make a latte.
Never use regular Nespresso pods to make a latte; only use single or double espresso pods. You can also use these pods to make iced lattes. First, let’s look at Vertuo pods for regular lattes:
Vertuo Pods For Regular Lattes
1. ALTISSIMO
Altissimo pods are an excellent choice for those who prefer a latte with a robust espresso flavor. Altissimo offers a thick crema with cereal flavor notes and has a 9 out of 13 intensity level. It produces a creamy and full-bodied espresso.
2. DIAVOLITTO
Diavolitto pods produce a strongly caffeinated latte. It has 150 mg of caffeine per pod, which is more than other espresso lines in the Vertuo range; it is, hands down, the most powerful Vertuo espresso pod.
It has a creamy and smooth texture with earthy notes. Diavolitto has an 11 out of 13 intensity level.
Vertuo Pods For Large-Sized Lattes
1. DOUBLE ESPRESSO CHIARO
Chiaro is indulgent and deep. It is a dark roast originating from Central and South America, offering earthy and woody notes to your espresso.
A latte made with the Chiaro will have a creamy mouthfeel with blonde caramel notes. The Chiaro has a 6 out of 13 intensity level.
2. DOUBLE ESPRESSO SCURO
Scuro offers a dark and bold espresso. It has a smoky and dark profile as it has a roasted blend of beans from South America.
It has an 8 out of 13 intensity level. You should notice cocoa and vanilla notes from your brew. The milk in your Scuro latte should enhance the cocoa notes for a rich and flavorsome latte.
Nespresso Original Pods
The best original pods to use are darker roast as they produce lattes with a stronger intensity to cut through the milk.
However, if you prefer espresso lighter, the original line has many pods from which to choose.
Original Pods For Dark Roast Lattes
1. RISTRETTO ITALIANO
Ristretto Italiano produces a robust espresso in Italy’s coffee culture tradition. It is a blend of beans from East Africa and South America; because of this, you will get some acidity with a mix of fruity notes, so exciting and complex flavors abound as you sip this blend. It has a 10 out of 13 intensity level.
2. FIRENZE ARPEGGIO
Firenze delivers a bold-roasted dense brew with cocoa notes from a blend of Costa Rican and Brazilian beans. This capsule has a 9 out of 13 intensity level.
Original Pods For Medium Roast Lattes
1. GENOVA LIVANTO
Genova produces a toasted cereal and caramelized aroma. It is a combination of coffee beans from Central and South America.
It’s a combination that delivers a rounded mouthfeel and delicate aroma reminiscent of coffee from Northern Italy. It has a 6 out of 13 intensity level.
2. CARAMEL CRÈME BRULEE
Crème Brulee has a vanilla, caramel, and aromatic coconut profile. It is sweet and creamy and is a blend of beans from Colombia and Brazil. This will deliver a creamy and smooth latte with an intensity level of 6 out of 13.
Original Pods For Light Roast Lattes
1. VOLUTTO
Volutto is a smooth and sweet coffee delivering rich flavors and a full body; it is a light roast with beans from South America to produce a sweet, fresh, fruity, and aromatic espresso. It has a 4 out of 13 intensity level.
Best Nespresso Capsules For Iced Lattes
You can use any of the capsules mentioned above to make an iced latte. Start by brewing your pod, add cold milk, finally add ice.
This order of making an iced latte keeps the ice from melting quickly and watering down the latte.
There is a new Nespresso Vertuo pod specifically for brewing iced lattes. The pod in question is the ICED LEGGERO, and it is a lightly roasted double espresso offering delicate fruit and cereal notes. The coffee is ground to create a cooling sensation.
The Original Nespresso has a range of pods specifically for iced drinks: FREDDO INTENSO and FREDDO DELICATE.
Freddo Intenso is a dark roast that is perfect for iced drinks. It possesses toasted wood and cereal notes, and it is a blend of Arabica beans from Indonesia and South America.
Freddo Delicato is sweet and mild; it is a lightly-roasted espresso brewed over ice. It is made from Kenyan coffee beans to produce sweet and fruity flavors.
Final Thoughts
Making a delicious iced coffee drink with your Nespresso machine couldn’t be easier, and if you follow the recipe outlined above, you will be pleased with the results.
First, ensure that you have a frother with a cold setting – this is crucial. You may have a favorite Nespresso pod that you would like to use in a cold brew.
Equally, you could check which pods are best for iced coffees with your particular model.