How to Make an Iced Almondccino

What you need

• espresso machine
• portafilter
• blender
• glasses

Method

1. Load your portafilter and start brewing a double shot of espresso

   Get this going first so the shots are ready when you have everything else in the blender

2. Add 2 cups of ice to the blender

3. Sprinkle 3 teaspoons of sugar over the ice

4. Pour about 2 oz of almond syrup into the blender

   If you do not have almond syrup, substitute about 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract

   Expert tipAlmond extract is far more concentrated than syrup, so the volume drops dramatically — start at 1/4 teaspoon and adjust to taste before blending

5. Add 1/2 cup of milk

6. Pour the freshly brewed double shot of espresso into the blender

   Add the espresso last, just before blending

7. Blend all ingredients until smooth

8. Divide between two glasses and top each with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a cherry

   Sliced almonds are a good alternative garnish if you have them on hand

Why this works

Blending the espresso with ice and milk in one pass creates a uniformly chilled, lightly frothy texture that carries the almond flavor evenly throughout the drink. Adding the sugar directly onto the ice before other liquids helps it dissolve during blending rather than settling out. Pulling the espresso first and adding it last ensures the shots are fresh and the ice is not pre-melted before the blend. Almond extract works as a substitute because it delivers the same aromatic compound as the syrup at a fraction of the volume.

Where beginners go wrong

1. 1

   Drink tastes too sweet

   Both the almond syrup and the sugar contribute sweetness — reduce the sugar by a teaspoon first, since the syrup also provides the key almond flavor

2. 2

   Almond flavor is too weak when using extract

   Start at the suggested 1/4 teaspoon and blend a small test before committing; extract intensifies once cold, so less is usually enough

3. 3

   Texture is watery or thin

   Use the full 2 cups of ice and blend only until smooth — prolonged blending melts the ice and dilutes the drink

4. 4

   Espresso flavor is flat or bitter

   Pull fresh shots immediately before adding them; espresso oxidizes quickly and stale shots taste harsh once blended into a cold drink

What you should taste

Cold, creamy, and nutty with a clean espresso backbone underneath the almond sweetness; the blended ice gives it a light, frothy body

FAQ