Orange coffee is having a moment … and it deserves it. The combination of bright citrus and rich coffee is one of those flavor pairings that sounds unusual until the first sip, and then you wonder why you haven’t been drinking it your whole life.
As someone who lives in Orlando year-round, iced coffee isn’t just a summer thing — it’s a daily ritual. So when I spotted an orange spiced iced coffee on the menu at The Black Rooster, a beloved local taqueria, I ordered it immediately. It was made with fresh orange zest, Mexican cinnamon, and brown sugar — a combination I’d never tried in coffee before but instantly knew I needed in my life. I went home determined to recreate it, and several batches later I had a version I couldn’t stop drinking. Bright, lightly spiced, and always iced; this one is just as welcome in July as it is in October.
The result is this orange spiced iced coffee … bright, lightly sweet, warmly spiced, and infinitely more interesting than a pumpkin spice latte. Starbucks actually had an orange spiced iced coffee on their menu once and inexplicably removed it. Consider this the homemade upgrade.
Tips For The Perfect Orange Iced Coffee
Prevent the cinnamon sludge: If you store leftover coffee overnight, the cinnamon may settle into a thick layer at the bottom of the pitcher. This is completely normal — the fiber in cinnamon is water soluble and clumps as it cools. To prevent it, strain the coffee through a paper coffee filter in addition to the sieve when you first brew it. This removes the fine cinnamon particles before they have a chance to settle.
Make it ahead: This recipe makes 4 cups, which keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Brew a batch on Sunday and you have iced orange coffee ready every morning through Wednesday. Store it in a glass pitcher or mason jar with a lid.
Adjust sweetness: The recipe calls for ¼ cup of brown sugar for 4 cups of coffee which gives a lightly sweet result. If you prefer it sweeter, add more sugar while the coffee is still hot. If you prefer less sweet, start with 2 tablespoons and taste before adding more. You can also substitute honey or maple syrup for a different flavor dimension.
Make it a latte: Pour the orange spiced coffee over ice and top with a splash of oat milk or cold frothed milk for an orange coffee latte. Oat milk is particularly delicious here — its natural sweetness complements the orange and cinnamon beautifully.
Make it a mocktail: Serve in a wine glass over ice with a sprig of fresh rosemary and a slice of orange wheel for a non-alcoholic drink that looks as good as it tastes — perfect for brunch.
Make it a cocktail: Add a shot of Cointreau or Grand Marnier for an orange coffee cocktail that’s absolutely stunning served at a dinner party.
Orange Spiced Iced Coffee
Ingredients
- zest from one orange
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 4 tbsp ground coffee
- 34 oz boiling water
- French Press
Instructions
- Add coffee grounds and cinnamon to French Press.
- Zest one orange over the press, mixing the zest with the grounds.
- Pour boiling water into French Press and brew for 6 minutes.
- While you're waiting for it to brew, add brown sugar to another glass pitcher.
- Once coffee is done brewing, pour through a sieve (to catch any loose bits of cinnamon or orange zest) into pitcher with sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved.
- Serve hot, or let coffee cool for 10-15 minutes and serve over ice.
- Add a slice of orange and cinnamon stick for garnish.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 65Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 14mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 2gSugar: 14gProtein: 0g
Nutrition information provided is only an estimate.
Leave a Reply