Step by step

Method

4 steps

1. 1

   Brew strong coffee or espresso ahead of time and chill it completely — warm coffee melts the ice into a watery slush. You'll need 1½–2 cups cold coffee.

2. 2

   Add 2–3 cups ice cubes, the cold coffee, 2–4 tablespoons sugar or simple syrup (vanilla or chocolate syrup works too), and ¼–½ cup milk or half-and-half if you want it creamier to a blender.

3. 3

   Blend on high 30–45 seconds until the ice is crushed and the drink looks smooth and frothy — no big ice shards. Taste and blend in another spoonful of sweetener if it's bitter.

4. 4

   Pour into tall glasses. Top with whipped cream if you like and serve right away with a straw. You want a cold, frothy coffee shake that tastes bold and lightly sweet — not a watery iced coffee or a blender full of uncrushed ice.