Iced Coconut Americano Recipe - A Tropical Upgrade to Beat the Summer Heat
A refreshing and tropical caffeinated beverage that combines the bold and bitter flavors of an Americano with the subtle sweetness and vibrancy of a coconut. The Iced Coconut Americano is a fun a unique twist on the boring old Americano, perfect for those who like a little bit of flair in their morning brew.
IMPORTANT: This recipe requires an Espresso machine and a good coffee grinder which can be expensive, if you do not have access to these tools then you can check out some Great Ways to Make Espresso Without an Espresso Machine.
Servings: 1
Calories: 40 kcal
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cooking Time: 2 Minutes
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Upgrade Your Americano With Coconut!
The first time I had an Iced Coconut Water Americano was when I was on a roadtrip to the northern provinces of Thailand. We stopped by at a random unassuming cafe and on the menu there I saw it, “Iced Coconut Americano”.
I don’t know how popular these wacky creative drinks are outside of Thailand but I recently found out that Espresso Orange Juice is very popular in Thailand, but very foreign outside of Thailand.
While not as popular as an Orange Espresso, the Iced Coconut Water Americano is more than just a random trendy beverage, it is a refreshing testament to the creativity and innovation that can be found in the rising world of specialty coffee.
And when you are in basking in the sweltering heat of Thailand or lounging by the pool during a hot summer’s day, the Iced Coconut Water Americano’s combination of rich and deep espresso with the subtle natural sweetness of coconut water is sure to freshen you up and get you ready for the day ahead.
What type of Coffee Beans for Americano?
In terms of coffee beans, I would recommend you use a medium to dark roast bean for any espresso based drink, including Americanos.
The signature taste profile of espresso drinks is the rich and and almost creamy texture combined with the deep chocolate-y nuttiness that is prevalent in all of your favorite espresso drinks.
Personally, I would always go for darker roasts for espresso, I love the richness that the flavor provides.
You could try light roasts beans, but those are generally not recommended for espresso as the fruity flavor does not go well with the type of drinks that uses espresso.
In terms of the flavor of the beans? Coffee beans come in all sorts of flavors, just choose the one that you like the most, or the ones that you already have in stock in your cupboard.
What Type of Coconut Juice/Water?
I used natural coconut water that I purchased from my local fresh market, these products are easy to come by especially if you live in a tropical country like Thailand.
Using fresh coconuts will give you subtle sweetness, and a little hint of salty-ness.
If you cannot source fresh coconuts, don’t you worry one bit. Any bottled coconut juice you find in the your local supermarket will work just as well.
Supermarket coconut juice usually have artificial sweeteners in them, although not as healthy or organic, I’d say it works even better than fresh coconuts.
I know you might not want to hear this, but supermarket bottled Coconut Water is designed sell after all, so all the added artificial ingredients are there to make it taste good. So don’t feel bad about what type of coconut water/juice you use, at the end of the day, if it tastes good then everything is all good.
Iced Coconut Americano Ingredients
Coffee Beans - 14g of beans, enough to pull a double shot espresso (60ml)
Coconut Water/Juice - 180ml
Ice - Any fancy shapes you want, spheres, cubes, hearts…
Sweetener (Optional) - Sugar, honey, anything that you prefer
Mint Leaves (Optional) - For garnish
Products and Tools Needed
This recipe will assume you are using an espresso machine to make your Americano, if you do not have an espresso machine, here are some alternative ways to make espresso coffee that works almost as well.
Espresso Machine - I use the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe, a beginner friendly Espresso Machine
Coffee Grinder - I use the 1Zpresso J Max manual grinder (I like the hands-on approach)
Iced Coconut Americano Recipe
Grind Coffee Beans - Grind your coffee beans to an espresso grind (the texture of flour). Or any grind that works for your machine and for your taste preference
Pull Your Shot of Espresso - Pull a double shot espresso (2oz or 60ml)
Pour Coconut Water - In a glass, add in your ice and pour in 180ml of coconut water
(Optional) Add Sweetener - Add in your sweetener and stir to combine wit the coconut water
Pour Your Espresso - Pour your shot of espresso into your glass and watch as the espresso disperses through the coconut water.
(Optional) Garnish - Garnish with fresh mint leaves just for aesthetic purposes
Serve and enjoy!
Tips
Use cold coconut water, this provides a brighter and more refreshing sweetness to your Americano.
Ensure your Espresso Machine has enough time to get to operational temperature. A lower temperature shot will yield a more sour tasting shot of espresso.
Using coconut water from a fresh coconut will elevate this dish to the new dimension!
Crush your Mint Leaves and combine them into the coconut juice to add a refreshing punch to our Iced Coconut Americano.