If your preferred coffee drink is one over ice, you’re in good company. Many prefer sipping iced coffee, from those who pick up a delectable beverage from the coffee shop every morning to those who prefer doing their coffee brewing at home. And this is understandably so, as it’s a tasty and refreshing alternative to the traditionally piping hot cup of coffee.
Unfortunately, there’s a downside to relying on the local Starbucks down the street to meet your cold coffee-drinking needs: it can put a dent in your wallet fairly quickly. But there’s good news! You don’t have to go broke to get your caffeine fix.
Just make a cold coffee drink from the comfort of your home with your favorite ground coffee, a trustworthy iced coffee recipe, and a Ninja.
And just in case it wasn’t clear, we mean a Ninja Coffee Bar system, not the assassin. That would be weird. And probably kind of messy.
Plenty of home-brewing experts trust Ninja coffee makers to create their hot coffee brews, but these bad boys can make a cup or carafe of coffee that’s cold, too. And whether you’re a bold black coffee lover or your joe of choice includes milk, creamer, sugar, or flavored syrups, you can trust that these brewers will make quality cups of coffee.
Since there are dozens of coffee recipes floating around these days, you won’t have to look too hard to find one you’ll love. Fortunately, your search just got even easier: you’re about to see three of Roasty’s favorite Ninja iced coffee recipes here!
Check out the steps outlined below, but feel free to experiment with all kinds of delicious ingredients until you end up with a cup or pot of coffee that’s perfect for you. Caramel sauce, brown sugar, chocolate chips — the possibilities for your amazing coffee creations are pretty much endless.
Iced Coffee with the Ninja Coffee Bar System
Avoid the coffee shop hassle by using one of the following Ninja iced coffee recipes. But before you start brewing, you should note that the instructions you see here are for those taking advantage of a machine with single-serving brewing capabilities.
Don’t worry, though. You can still enjoy these drinks if you’re using an automatic drip coffee maker that only has a carafe, like the Ninja CE251, for example. However, you’ll need to increase the amount of each ingredient used and use Ninja carafe scoops instead of single-serve ones.
Classic Iced Coffee
As much as everyone enjoys the cold beverages from the coffeehouse, sometimes good old home-brewed iced coffee does the trick just as well. Don’t be turned off by the simplicity of this recipe; that means there’s plenty of freedom for you to experiment! Elevate your cup of coffee using add-ins like a splash of creamer, a bit of almond milk, simple syrup, or even a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Materials:
- 2-3 Ninja single-serve scoops of ground coffee
- Filtered water
- A glass filled with ice
The Process:
Step 1:
Start by scooping your favorite joe into the Ninja’s brew basket. Use whichever roast of coffee you prefer, though we’re crazy about using dark-roasted beans for iced drinks.
Step 2:
Be sure your brewer’s water tank has enough filtered water to brew your morning cup, then place your ice-filled vessel on the single-cup platform.
Step 3:
Select the appropriate cup size and brew setting — you’ll want to press the brew Over Ice button if your Ninja coffee maker has it — and press the start button.
Step 4:
Enjoy a glass of satisfying coffee!
Rich Chocolate Coffee Over Ice for One
Who doesn’t love a burst of chocolate, especially when it’s paired with the bold coffee flavor you know and love? This simple recipe creates a decadent treat that will put some pep in your step and satisfy your sweet tooth.
Materials:
- 12-ounce tumbler filled with ice
- Filtered water
- 2 teaspoons of chocolate syrup
- Creamer or milk to taste
The Process:
Step 1:
Start by folding out your Ninja brewer’s single-serve platform, and be sure you’ve selected the Over Ice brew style on your machine. Choosing the right brew style is an extra important part of the brewing process, as this setting allows the Ninja to brew at a lower temperature. This means you won’t be left with a melted, watery mess.
Step 2:
Select your desired cup size. Then, fill a glass with ice (or coffee ice cubes if you’re concerned about watered-down joe) and place it on the platform.
Step 3:
Add your coffee of choice to the machine. For some, this means adding a few scoops of ground coffee (dark roast is our favorite) to the brewers. For others, this means inserting a pod adapter and a coffee capsule into the brew basket — add beans however your Ninja takes them.
Step 4:
Press the start button, and let your Ninja coffee maker do its thing.
Step 5:
Once you’ve got a glass full of joe and ice, stir in chocolate syrup and creamer or milk. Then, all that’s left to do is enjoy your chocolatey cup of cold coffee. If you’re feeling wild, add some chocolate shavings and a dollop of whipped cream for garnish.
Ninja Iced Coffee Recipe FAQs
Does the Ninja coffee maker make cold brew?
Not every one of this brand’s brewers makes cold brew coffee, but the Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed system does!
Typically, you need to steep coffee grounds in a cold brew maker or glass jar for 12 to 24 hours if you hope to enjoy this chilled rich brew, but this particular machine gets the job done in 10 to 15 minutes. The brewer dispenses smooth, naturally sweet joe that tastes great on its own or topped with a layer of milk foam you prepped with the system’s built-in automatic frother.
What do you need to make iced coffee with a Ninja Coffee Bar system?
You don’t need a lot on your coffee bar to make refreshing and delicious iced coffee at home. Round up a few scoops of ground coffee (or a pod, if you only need a single cup), a handful or two of ice, your chosen Ninja Coffee Bar system, of course, and all of your favorite add-ins.
Vanilla syrup, oat milk, condensed milk, butterscotch sauce, a tablespoon of chocolate syrup (or several tablespoons of chocolate syrup) — the possibilities are endless!
What if your Ninja doesn’t have an Over Ice setting?
The good news is that there are plenty of Ninja Coffee Bar systems with the Over Ice setting — the Hot & Cold Brewed System, the DualBrew and DualBrew Pro models, and the Specialty Coffee Maker, to name a few.
But if you’ve invested in a Ninja coffee brewer with fewer bells and whistles and no Over Ice button, you can still whip up a batch of iced joe. All you’ll need to do is make a pot of hot coffee according to your brewer’s instructions, then let it cool in the refrigerator for a few hours.
How do you clean up after making iced coffee with a Ninja?
Most of the removable components of Ninja coffee makers are dishwasher-safe, which makes cleaning up after brewing a breeze; toss your used coffee grounds into the garbage or compost pile, rinse everything under the faucet, and load those parts into your dishwasher.
Because each Ninja is different, though, you’ll need to consult the user guide to find out exactly which parts of the machine can withstand a dishwashing cycle.
What if there isn’t enough room in the cup to add other ingredients?
The good news about the Ninja coffee system is that it already knows what to do once you’ve selected your desired brew size. Choose a 12-ounce cup setting, for example, and the machine brews a concentrated six ounces, leaving plenty of room for ice, frothy milk, and chocolate syrup — lots and lots of chocolate.
Can a pod brew a full carafe?
Some mornings, a measly old 12-ounce cup of coffee just won’t cut it. On those days when you need a little extra joe to put the pep in your step, you need a brewer with a carafe option. And that poses this question for pod-brewing fanatics: can a single coffee pod fill the Ninja coffee maker’s entire glass carafe?
Unfortunately, no. If you’ve invested in a Ninja coffee bar system with pod-brewing capabilities, like the DualBrew Pro, for instance, your only option for making use of pods is brewing one coffee cup at a time.
If you want to fill an entire carafe with ice-cold joe, you’ll need to use a few scoops of your preferred ground coffee instead.
Make Delicious Iced Coffee at Home
Iced coffee is among one of the most popular caffeinated drinks, and thanks to a good coffee machine like a Ninja Coffee Bar system, you can enjoy this stuff in the comfort of your own home. Some of these java makers have built-in brewing settings that make concocting a refreshing beverage a simple, pain-free experience.
The recipes we highlighted above make a great starting point for your home-brewing endeavors, but don’t be afraid to try other methods and add-ins until you create the perfect iced coffee drink.
Happy Caffeinating!
