5 Easy Homemade Coffee Drinks Using Instant Coffee

You don’t need an espresso machine or fancy beans to enjoy a great cup of coffee at home. With just a spoonful of instant coffee and everyday ingredients like milk, sugar, and ice, you can whip up satisfying coffee drinks in minutes. These five classic recipes show you how.

Made with basic tools and instant coffee, these five drinks include milk coffee, ice cream coffee, iced coffee, cola coffee, and a coffee punch—each with exact ingredient amounts and steps.

Milk Coffee

This simple drink combines strong coffee flavor with hot milk for a comforting treat. It’s ready in under a minute and perfect for a quick caffeine boost.

• 1 heaping spoonful Maxwell House instant coffee
• Mostly full cup of hot milk

Steps:
1. Pour the coffee into your cup.
2. Slowly add the hot milk while stirring until fully mixed.
3. Add sugar to taste if desired.
4. Drink while hot.

Ice Cream Coffee

A sweet, dessert-like coffee drink that’s especially popular with those who love a cold, creamy treat. Makes enough for four servings.

• 1/4 cup Maxwell House instant coffee
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream

Steps:
1. In a bowl, stir the coffee, sugar, and hot water until dissolved (a blender helps).
2. Add the milk and vanilla ice cream, then blend or stir until smooth.
3. Serve immediately.

Iced Coffee (Maxwell House Style)

A chilled, refreshing coffee with crushed ice and milk—great for warm days. This recipe yields four servings.

• 1/4 cup Maxwell House instant coffee
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 4 cups milk
• 4 cups crushed ice

Steps:
1. Dissolve the coffee, sugar, and hot water in a container.
2. Add crushed ice and milk, then stir well until cool.

Optional: Add 1/4 cup chocolate syrup to turn it into an iced mocha.

Coke Coffee

A surprising mix of cola, coffee, and ice cream that creates a unique fizzy coffee drink. Makes 3–4 servings.

• 2 tablespoons Maxwell House instant coffee
• 2 cups cold water (not tap water)
• 1 tablespoon caramel syrup (or regular sugar)
• 1 can Coca-Cola
• Vanilla or coffee ice cream to top

Steps:
1. Stir the coffee and caramel into the cold water.
2. Gradually add the Coca-Cola while stirring.
3. Pour into a tall glass and top with a scoop of ice cream.

Punch Coffee

A boozy, sweet coffee punch with sherry or red wine, sugar, and cold milk. A grown-up twist on instant coffee.

• 6 tablespoons Maxwell House instant coffee
• A splash of sherry (or other red wine)
• A small amount of sugar (about “mostly”)
• 3 cups cold milk
• 1 more cup of cold milk (added later)

Steps:
1. Mix the sherry and coffee, stir for 30 seconds.
2. Add sugar and 3 cups of milk, stir until combined.
3. Pour mixture into a bowl, then add the remaining 1 cup of milk.
4. Optional: Add sweets or desserts on the side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any instant coffee instead of Maxwell House?

Yes, you can substitute any brand of instant coffee, though flavor and sweetness may vary slightly. The ratios and steps remain the same.

Do I have to use crushed ice for iced coffee?

Crushed ice is ideal for quickly cooling and diluting the coffee evenly, but regular ice cubes will also work if crushed ice isn’t available.

Is the ice cream coffee suitable for kids?

Yes, as long as you leave out any alcoholic additions and stick to the basic version with vanilla ice cream, it’s kid-friendly.

What can I use instead of caramel syrup in Coke coffee?

If you don’t have caramel syrup, you can use regular sugar or skip it entirely—though the drink will be less sweet and lack the rich flavor.

Can I prepare these drinks ahead of time?

Most are best served fresh, especially the ones with milk or ice cream, which can separate or melt. The ice coffee can be pre-mixed (without ice) and served over crushed ice later.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Instant Coffee Lovers

If you enjoy experimenting with instant coffee drinks and want to try the real thing, FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera offers bright citrus and floral notes, while their Yunnan Arabica provides a balanced, nutty profile great for milk-based brewing. For something more fruity, the Panama Humbera delivers juicy berry and chocolate tones. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.