How to Mix Instant Coffee: 5 Classic Recipes

Ever wondered how to make something more exciting than just stirring instant coffee into hot water? Whether you're after a creamy drink, a nostalgic treat, or a sweet frozen refresher, there’s an easy way to elevate your instant coffee without specialty equipment—or beans. These classic recipes show you exactly what to measure and mix, whether you want comfort or a party-friendly dessert drink.

There are five classic instant coffee drinks here: milk coffee, ice cream coffee, iced coffee, cola coffee, and Punchy Coffee. Each uses Maxwell instant coffee with exact measurements for coffee, milk, sugar, ice, or mix-ins like ice cream or cola. All told, the recipes make between 3 to 4 servings each.

1. Milk Coffee: Simple & Warm

This is your go-to comfort drink—nothing fancy, just instant coffee and hot milk. The recipe calls for a heaping spoonful of Maxwell instant coffee and a majority-filled cup of hot milk. That’s all. Just pour the coffee into your cup, add the milk gradually while stirring until fully mixed. Add sugar if desired, then drink it while it’s hot—unless you prefer it cold, of course.

2. Ice Cream Coffee: A Frozen Favorite

A sweet, nostalgic treat especially loved by many—you’ll need a quarter cup of Maxwell instant coffee, a quarter cup of hot water, a quarter cup of sugar, three cups of milk, and one cup of vanilla ice cream. Start by dissolving the coffee, sugar, and water together (a blender helps), then fold in the ice cream and milk. This makes four servings—great for sharing, or not.

3. Maxwell Iced Coffee: Cool & Refreshing

For a chilled coffee fix, use a quarter cup of Maxwell instant coffee, a quarter cup of sugar, a quarter cup of hot water, four cups of milk, and four cups of crushed ice. First, dissolve the coffee, sugar, and water. Then add the crushed ice and milk, stirring until well-chilled. This makes four iced coffee servings. Pro tip: keep stirring until it’s as cool as you want it.

Want to turn this into a mocha iced coffee? Just stir in an extra quarter cup of chocolate sauce. That upgrade is not listed in the original steps but is directly mentioned as an option.

4. Coke Coffee: A Fizzy Twist

A surprising combination: 2 spoons of Maxwell instant coffee, 2 cups of cool (not raw) water, 1 spoon of caramel (or other square sugar), one can of Coca-Cola, and optional scoops of vanilla or coffee ice cream. First, mix the coffee into the water, stir in the caramel, then gradually add the cola. Pour into a tall glass and top with ice cream. This makes 3–4 servings. Don’t eat the ice cream before pouring the drink!

5. Punchy Coffee: Wine, Sugar & Milk

A unique mix with a splash of sherry wine (or any red wine), sugar, and plenty of milk. Use 6 spoons of Maxwell instant coffee, a little sherry (or alternative red wine), a small amount of sugar (labelled “,” interpreted here as ‘a little’), and a majority-filled cup of sugar (translated contextually as “”), along with 4 cups of cool milk. First, stir the wine and coffee for 30 seconds until combined. Add sugar and 3 cups of milk, stir well. Pour into a bowl, then add the remaining cup of milk (yes, the 4 cups are split between steps). Optional: serve with dessert. This version keeps the original phrasing about “four cups of milk added in two steps” intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest instant coffee drink to make?

The easiest is milk coffee: just mix a heaping spoon of Maxwell instant coffee with mostly full cup of hot milk, stir, and optionally add sugar. It’s ready in under a minute.

How do you make iced coffee with Maxwell instant coffee?

Use ¼ cup coffee, ¼ cup sugar, ¼ cup hot water, 4 cups milk, and 4 cups crushed ice. Dissolve the coffee mixture first, then add ice and milk, and stir until well chilled.

Can you add ice cream to instant coffee?

Yes. For ice cream coffee, combine ¼ cup coffee, ¼ cup water, ¼ cup sugar, 3 cups milk, and 1 cup vanilla ice cream. Dissolve the dry ingredients, then mix in the ice cream and milk for a creamy frozen drink.

What’s in cola coffee?

It includes 2 spoons of Maxwell coffee, 2 cups cool water, 1 spoon caramel (or sugar), 1 can of Coca-Cola, and optional ice cream. Mix coffee, water, and caramel first, then add cola and top with ice cream.

Is there a coffee recipe that includes wine?

Yes, Punchy Coffee uses 6 spoons of Maxwell coffee, a little sherry (or red wine), sugar, and 4 cups of milk (added in two portions: 3 cups, then 1 cup). It’s stirred then served in a bowl, optionally with dessert.

How many servings do these recipes make?

Most make 3–4 servings: milk coffee is 1, ice cream coffee and iced coffee make 4, cola coffee makes 3–4, and Punchy Coffee is typically 1 larger or shared portion but based on 4 cups of milk total.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Instant Coffee Lovers

If you’re experimenting with instant coffee drinks and want to explore fresh beans, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for bright citrus and floral notes, or their Brazil Fazenda Recreio for nutty, chocolatey balance. Both roast levels highlight the qualities that pair well with milk or ice cream in coffee drinks. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.