This creamy, & frothy Indian cold coffee is made with chilled milk, instant coffee and sugar. The strong, roasted coffee flavor and balanced sweetness make it incredibly refreshing with the signature foamy top just like you get at Indian cafes. It's simple, nostalgic and comes together in just 5 minutes using a blender! No espresso machine needed.
I grew up drinking this basic cold coffee as an afternoon treat during summer break. Most days, we enjoyed it with a drizzle of chocolate syrup, but on special days, a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream turned it into an almost dessert-like treat!
You will find cold coffee on the menu at cafes all over Delhi. A few of my favorites growing up were from Indian Coffee House and Keventers in Connaught Place. For us millennials, with no Starbucks in sight back then, this drink was as close as we got to a fancy cafe-style coffee, and honestly, we loved every sip of it.
Even though it's blended, the consistency is somewhere between an iced coffee and a thick blended drink. It is not too thick or milkshake-like. Below is my 2 step cold coffee method to get the pourable yet non dilute consistency.
One of the key techique to get a thick foam is to crush the ice, sugar and coffee first. You need a good sturdy blender to make the fine, coffee flavored slush. If you add the milk right at the beginning, the ice isnt crushed properly and tends to float around in the milk instead of crushing as finely, and you won't get quite the same thick, stable foam. Adding the milk afterward gives the cold coffee that lush frothy top.
Ingredients
- Instant Coffee- I prefer an indian brand "Bru" for the roasty, slightly bitter flavor that I am familiar with. Taste of your cold coffee depends on the coffee you use so make sure that you are using the one that you like.
- Milk- Whole milk is the best. Skimmed milk totally works but the coffee tends to be thinner/less creamier. Avoid fat free milk.
- Sugar - I use turbinado sugar at home and that's what I added. Granulated sugar works great!
- Optional Add ins - Vanilla or Chocolate Ice cream, boba pearls, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, sprinkles etc.
Instructions
- Add ice, sugar and instant coffee to a blender jar.
- Blend or pulse until the ice is finely crushed and the mixture looks slushy.
- Pour in the chilled milk and blend again for 2-3 minutes until the coffee is creamy and a thick layer of foam forms on top.
- Pour immediately into glasses. Add ice cream(if using). Make sure to spoon that frothy top into each glass. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and serve!
Tips
- You can replace the instant coffee with 2 to 3 tablespoons of strong coffee decoction or 1 shot of espresso. Let either cool completely before blending and slightly reduce the milk to account for the additional liquid.
- Use chilled milk. The combination of crushed ice and cold milk creates the perfect foam.
- Indian cold coffee tastes best when its served immediately when the foam is thick and its icy cold. I don't recommend storing it.
5 Minute Indian Style Cold Coffee
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Ingredients
- 1.5 to 2 tablespoon instant coffee add more if you want stronger taste
- 2 tablespoon sugar I use turbinado sugar (adjust quantity to taste)
- 6-8 (~80g) ice cubes
- 2 cup whole milk chilled
Optional Add ins
- 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup per serving
- 1 scoop vanilla or chocolate ice cream per serving
Instructions
- Add the ice cubes, instant coffee and sugar to a sturdy blender. Pulse or Blend for 2-3 minutes or until the ice is finely crushed and the mixture looks frothy.
- Pour in the chilled milk and blend again for 1-2 minutes until smooth, creamy and well combined. You should see a thick layer of foam forming on top.
- Immediately pour the cold coffee into a tall glass. Add ice cream and drizzle chocolate syrup. Serve right away while it is cold and frothy.
Notes
- You can replace the instant coffee with 2 to 3 tablespoons of strong coffee decoction or 1 shot of espresso. Let either cool completely before blending and slightly reduce the milk to account for the additional liquid.
- Use chilled milk. The combination of crushed ice and cold milk creates the perfect foam.
- Indian cold coffee tastes best when its served immediately when the foam is thick and its icy cold. I don't recommend storing it.
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