This coffee float combines your favourite iced latte with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a creamy, yet refreshing drink. It's quick to make, wonderfully indulgent and perfect as an afternoon treat.
I love this drink on it's own or with a slice of coffee loaf cake if I'm feeling extra indulgent.
🔍 Recipe Snapshot: Coffee Float
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 1
- 📊 Calories: 216 kcal per serving
- 🔥 Cook Method: No cooking, just pulling the espresso
- ❄️ Frozen Option: ❌ Serve immediately
- 👩🍳 Flavour Profile: Milky latte coffee, rich vanilla ice cream
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy
- 💡 Best For: Hot days
- 🥗 Pairs Well With: Coffee cookies and espresso brownies
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Why I Love This Iced Coffee Float
- Grown-up fun: This is like a float but for grown-ups!
- Taste: The combination of milky coffee and vanilla ice cream is fabulous.
- Refreshing: Perfect for hot days when a cold-drink craving hits.
- Unexpected: Everybody has heard of an iced latte, fewer have heard of a latte float.
- Versatile: Adjust the coffee strength to suit your tastes, use your favourite milk, add flavoured syrups to the coffee and, of course, use different flavoured ice cream to suit your mood.
What Is A Coffee Float
It's an iced coffee with a scoop of ice cream on the top - super simple and super delicious.
This idea came to me on-the-hoof when I was wilting in a heatwave and happened to open the door of the freezer midway through making an iced latte. I spotted the ice cream and didn't hold back. I've since discovered that this coffee ice cream float is popular in the southern hemisphere where it is known as Australian iced coffee or Aussie iced latte.
Love the notion of coffee and ice cream together? You'll likely love my affogato al caffe recipe. Also don't miss my espresso martini ice cream - think Baileys, coffee and vodka all whipped up into a soft & scoopable rich ice cream.
Ingredients Notes
Coffee: If you have a coffee machine, use freshly brewed espresso (I use 18g to pull 75ml). If you do not have one, make 75ml instant coffee.
Milk: If using cow's milk, go for whole milk to add depth and creaminess to your drink. If using non-dairy milk my favourite it oat milk, again, for the creaminess it delivers. However, feel free to use your favourite dairy-free milk instead.
Ice Cream: You can't go wrong with good quality classic vanilla ice cream (or a dairy-free alternative such as Swedish Glace). You can, however, switch the flavour if desired.
Optional extras: Flavoured syrups, sugar or other sweeteners.
How To Make Coffee Float (Step-By-Step Instructions)
Full instructions and measurements are given in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
Step 1. Brew your coffee, stir in flavoured syrup/ sugar if using, and pour into a heatproof glass filled with ice cubes.
Step 2. Pour in 120-150ml milk and stir briefly.
Step 3. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and serve immediately.
Insider Knowledge
This drink is best served with a wide straw or long spoon to help ensure the ice cream can be fully devoured - I wouldn't want you to miss out. Slurping loudly towards the end is recommended.
Expert Tips
- Use plenty of ice: The aim is to serve a deliciously coldcoffee ice cream float. You need plenty of ice to cool the coffee down and ensure the drink is as cold as it can be.
- Use a large heatproof glass: You'll need to add a good measure of milk alongside the coffee, so pick a big one.
- Vary the amount of milk: If you like your coffee stronger use 90ml milk and if you like it weaker use 150ml milk.
- Sweeten if desired: The easiest way to do this is to stir some sugar or syrup directly into the coffee before pouring it over the ice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. Although I recommend using freshly brewed espresso coffee for the best taste, strong instant coffee can be used as a substitute.
Techinally, yes you can do, but the ice would melt quickly, diluting the drink, so it is better tyo use cold milk.
No. You could pour espresso over ice in a smaller glass or opt for pouring an Americano over ice in a large glass, then add the ice cream and tuck in.
Yes - and it's easy to do so. Just use dairy-free milk and dairy-free ice cream.
Variations
- Add flavour: Use syrups such as caramel syrup, cinnamon dolce syrup or vanilla bean syrup to sweeten and flavour your coffee ice cream float.
- Swap the ice cream flavour: Try mint chocolate chip ice cream, dark chocolate ice cream, or coconut & chocolate ice cream instead. Alternatively, opt for a nutty one such as hazelnut or pistachio.
- Iced caramel mocha float: Try topping it with caramel ice cream.
- Iced Baileys latte float
- Iced peppermint white mocha float: You could use mint chocolate ice cream.
More Cold Coffee Drinks
I've got plenty of coffee recipes such as caramel latte, vanilla bean latte and Spanish latte that can all be served over ice, but here are a few more coffee drinks specifically created to be served cold.
Have you made this iced coffee float recipe? Please rate the recipe or leave a comment - I love hearing how you get along with my creations.
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📖 Recipe
Coffee Float (iced latte with ice cream)
Ingredients
- 60 ml Espresso coffee freshly brewed
- 120 ml Milk full-fat or your choice of non-dairy milk
- 1 scoop Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Brew the espresso coffee (I use 18g ground coffee per 60ml).
- Optional: If using any syrups to flavour or sweeten your coffee, stir them into the coffee now
- Fill a heatproof glass with ice and pour the coffee in.
- Pour up to 120ml of milk into the glass (or less if there is not room or you like a stronger taste of coffee).
- Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use plenty of ice: The aim is to serve a deliciously coldcoffee ice cream float. You need plenty of ice to cool the coffee down and ensure the drink is as cold as it can be.
- Use a large heatproof glass: You'll need to add a good measure of milk alongside the coffee, so pick a big one.
- Vary the amount of milk: If you like your coffee stronger use 90ml milk and if you like it weaker use 150ml milk.
- Sweeten if desired: The easiest way to do this is to stir some sugar or syrup directly into the coffee before pouring it over the ice.
- Make it dairy free & vegan: Just use dairy-free milk and dairy-free ice cream.
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