How to Make Chick-fil-A Iced Coffee at Home (Tastes Just Like the Original)

This Chick-fil-A iced coffee recipe tastes just like the original and takes only a few minutes to make at home. It’s made with cold brew coffee, milk, and simple syrup for that smooth, slightly sweet flavor you get at the restaurant.

In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to make the classic version, plus how to turn it into the Chick-fil-A vanilla iced coffee or mocha version using simple add-ins.

No drive-thru needed.

Since you are here looking for Chick-fil-A coffees, check out this copycat recipe of their mocha cream cold brew and this Chick-Fil-A vanilla iced coffee recipe!

What is in Chick-fil-A iced coffee?

Chick-fil-A iced coffee is made with basic ingredients such as:

• Cold brew coffee (made from specialty-grade beans)
• 2% milk
• Cane sugar (or simple syrup)
• Ice

It’s known for being smoother and less bitter than regular iced coffee because it uses cold brew instead of hot brewed coffee.

What Does the Iced Coffee from Chick-Fil-A Taste Like?

The delicious Chick-fil-A iced coffee is made with cold-brewed coffee, 2% milk, and pure cane sugar. The coffee flavor is strong and refreshingly prevalent, with a nice light amount of milk and sweetness.

Most coffee from fast food restaurants doesn't usually taste high quality, but to my surprise, Chick-fil-A's actually does. They claim to source their coffee from a company called Thrive Farmers which reinvests profits back into the farmers, so it makes sense for their coffee to taste top-tier.

Ingredients for this Copycat Chick-fil-A Iced Coffee Recipe

Cold Brew Coffee: Cold brew-specific coffees work best since that is what Chick-fil-A uses. Cold brew actually has a different flavor that's distinct from normal hot coffee. It tastes less acidic, less bitter, and more mellow. It also has a higher caffeine content. If you're wondering how to make it, we have an entire section below devoted to explaining the multiple different approaches you could take. Or you could always just pick up a bottle from the grocery store on your way home.

Milk: If you want the true Chick-fil-A experience at home, then 2% milk is what you should use. However, you could easily replace it with whichever dairy or dairy-free milk you like. For me personally, I prefer whole milk to give the coffee more body and creaminess. If you're looking to keep the calories down, nonfat milk works great as well. For dairy-free options, check out our Substitutions Suggestions below to learn more.

Simple Syrup (optional): Simple syrup is what's used to sweeten this tasty drink if you want to keep it consistent. But similar to the milk, there are a variety of sweetening options you could try if you want something different or avoid it entirely for an unsweetened iced coffee. To make simple syrup, just simmer equal parts of water and sugar until dissolved.

Ice Cubes: Even though both the cold brew coffee and milk will be cold from the refrigerator, you'll want to fill the cup with ice to give your coffee that refreshing chill, especially if it's a hot day during the summer months. Nugget ice specifically works best and is the most fun and enjoyable. There arenugget ice machines for your home you could buy, or you could just take whole cubes from the freezer and throw them in the blender until they're smaller. You could also buy bags of chewy ice from Chick-fil-A restaurants.

How to Make this Chick-fil-A Iced Coffee Recipe

For the full step-by-step instructions with detailed measurements, check out the recipe card at the bottom of the page!

1. Pour ice into a cup and fill it to the top.
2. Pour the cold brew coffee over the ice. Stop at about 3/4 of the way to the top to leave room for the milk.
3. Pour in the milk and fill in the last quarter of the cup. Stir with a straw or spoon.
4. (Optional) Add in your favorite sweetener and stir again.

Ingredient Substitutions

To substitute the Simple Syrup, try:

• Healthy, naturally derived sweeteners such as Stevia, Erythritol, Xylitol, Yacon Syrup, and Monk Fruit Sugar.
• Flavored and natural sweeteners such as Honey, Agave Nectar, Molasses, Coconut Sugar, and Maple Syrup.
• Artificial sweeteners such as Aspartame and Sucralose.

To substitute the milk, try:

• Vegan milks such as Soy milk, Coconut milk, Oat milk, and Almond milk.

How to make Chick-fil-A vanilla iced coffee

To make the vanilla version:

• Replace simple syrup with vanilla syrup
• OR add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract + sugar

This gives the drink that slightly sweet, creamy vanilla flavor Chick-fil-A is known for.

How to make Chick-fil-A mocha cold brew

To make a mocha version:

• Add 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
• Optional: add a splash of cream for richness

Stir well until fully combined. This version is richer and more dessert-like.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much caffeine is in Chick-fil-A iced coffee?

A medium Chick-fil-A iced coffee contains about 100–120 mg of caffeine, depending on the strength of the cold brew.

Since this easy recipe uses cold brew, the caffeine level may be slightly higher than regular iced coffee.

What coffee does Chick-fil-A use?

Chick-fil-A uses coffee sourced from Thrive Farmers, a company known for ethically sourced beans.

To get a similar flavor at home, use:

• Medium roast coffee
• Cold brew concentrate or freshly steeped cold brew

How Do I Make Cold Brew Coffee?

There is no preferred method to making cold brew, the end result should be the same regardless. The easiest way is with items that are specifically designed for it, but you can make it just as well with a little more patience and normal household items.

*Note: The recommended ratio to make cold brew coffee is 1 ounce of coffee grounds to 1 cup of water. Keep this in mind for whichever method you choose.

Cold Brew Coffee Maker: There are actual cold brew coffee makers that exist to make this process as easy as possible. They essentially include a large pitcher or carafe, that has a long vertical tube with a lid. The tube is made out of meshed strands of metal which creates micro perforated holes. The holes are so small that zero coffee grounds can pass through, only liquid. To use this, simply pour a scoop of measured coffee grounds into the tube, fill the pitcher with water, and place the tube inside. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours.

French Press: A French press is not as top-notch as a cold brew coffee maker, but it still does a great job in terms of ease and convenience. It has a built-in circular sieve that strains the coffee while pressing down the grounds, hence why it's called a French press. A small amount of coffee grounds may slip through the sides but it is minimal. To make a cold brew, take off the lid and pour in a measured amount of coffee grounds and room temperature or cold water. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours.

Buy or Make Your Own Cold Brew Coffee Bags: There are premade cold brew bags out there that you can buy. They look exactly like a tea bag and work the same as well. You just steep the bag in cold water overnight and your cold brew is ready the next day.

Making your own can be very easy if you have everything you need. Grab a coffee filter and put a scoop of coffee in the middle. Pinch and fold the top closed. Take a rubber band and twist it around the top until it's secure. Place the bag in a jar full of water and store it in the fridge overnight.

Mason Jar and Coffee Filter: If you don't want to partake in the process directly above, then this is the method to take if you don't have any special items for making cold brew. Start by pulling out a mason jar or any airtight container. Then put in a scoop of coffee grounds and water that is either cold or room temp. Seal the lid and store in the fridge for 12-24 hours.

The next day, pull out your coffee, a sieve, a coffee filter, and an extra cup. Place the sieve over the extra cup, and then the coffee filter over the sieve. Gently start pouring a small amount of coffee into the filter and allow the liquid to pass through before adding more. You have to have a good amount of patience for this.

If you don't have a sieve, lower the coffee filter into the cup until half of it is below the rim. Take the tops of the sides fold them over the edges of the cup and secure them in place by stretching a rubber band around the rim over the filter. If you don't have a coffee filter you can use a paper towel, but from my experience, it does not work as well.

Cold Brew Concentrate: Plenty of brands out there are hopping on the cold brew train and making bottles of coffee concentrate. As long as the packaging says it was made from cold-brewing coffee then it will still give you the same cold-brew flavor if you follow the diluting steps provided.