Learn how to make the best homemade coffee ice cream with deep roasted coffee flavor and a silky texture. Made with premium ingredients using the Master Pantry ice cream method for perfect results.
This coffee ice cream recipe is for anyone who truly loves coffee. The flavor is bold, aromatic, and deeply satisfying, with the rich roasted notes of real coffee balanced by a silky custard base. Each spoonful tastes smooth and creamy while delivering the unmistakable complexity of freshly brewed coffee.
What makes this recipe special is the quality of the ingredients. When ice cream is built around a simple custard base, every ingredient matters. Using freshly roasted coffee, excellent dairy, and carefully balanced sugar creates a flavor that is deeper and more nuanced than most store-bought versions. Instead of tasting overly sweet or artificial, this ice cream highlights the natural bitterness, caramel notes, and aroma that make great coffee so compelling.
This recipe also reflects The Master Pantry philosophy that guides many of the recipes on this site. By starting with a reliable master ice cream method and combining it with exceptional ingredients, it becomes easy to create endless variations with consistent results. Here, that master technique transforms high-quality coffee into a smooth, luxurious ice cream that captures the essence of a great cup of coffee in frozen form.
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Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Table of contents
What it is
Homemade Coffee Ice Cream. Summer is the season of sunshine, flip-flops, and most importantly, ice cream! As temperatures continue to rise, there’s nothing quite like a cool, creamy treat to beat the heat. And while there are endless flavors to choose from, nothing compares to the rich, bold taste of coffee ice cream. But why settle for store-bought when you can make your own? Today, we are sharing our favorite recipe for homemade coffee ice cream that’s sure to impress even the pickiest of taste buds. With just a few simple ingredients and some patience, you’ll have a batch of the creamiest, most decadent coffee ice cream you’ve ever tasted. So grab a spoon and let’s get churning!
Ingredients for the Best Homemade Coffee Ice Cream
We didn’t want to make just a good coffee ice cream. We wanted to create the best. So first, we researched the science and techniques behind making ice cream, and how to keep it creamy. The most important thing is to start with the best ingredients. Brands matter – they vary in quality and can change the way a recipe comes out. So, whenever it makes a difference, we have listed the brands we used. We made the ice cream using our master ice cream method, and added the coffee powder and chocolate to it.
Coffee
Starbucks VIA Instant Italian Roast Coffee Packets – one packet contains 3.3 grams of instant microground coffee. We tried lots of different ways of adding coffee flavor, from espresso powder to making our own cup of espresso. But Starbucks instant packets were so good we stopped looking and threw out the other powders. An added bonus was that this was also the easiest. We used the Italian Roast, but there are other flavors to try.
Chocolate
Valrhona Chocolate – Valrhona produces some of the world’s finest chocolate; unique, artisan quality chocolate with complex, balanced and consistent flavors. Their chocolate is responsibly sourced from growers with whom they have long term partnerships and they have committed to assisting producers, protecting the environment and promoting innovation. Chocolate production is one of the major causes of destruction of the rain forest, and long term partnerships with stable growers is good way of preventing this destruction.
Cream
Horizon Organics Cream is a high quality product – Organic and produced sustainably from pasture raised cows. It has a rich, sweet, and fresh dairy flavor.
Sugar
Wholesome Regenerative Organic Certified Cane Sugar – produced from organic sugar cane fields that are green cut and are not burned or treated with herbicides or synthetic fertilizers.
Vanilla
Heilala Vanilla – Ethically sourced and harvested, produced using environmentally sustainably methods.
Crème Fraîche
Crème fraîche – We use crème fraîche in the recipe to keep the ice cream from freezing solid. And to make sure it’s the best, we made it ourselves from Horizon cream and a real crème fraîche starter. It’s actually very easy. See the link to our recipe below.
No Affiliates Statement
We call this our “no affiliates” statement because we accept no advertising, have no affiliates and accept no payment. We are not paid to mention brands – we just love buying the best, sharing that information and saving the planet at the same time. The effort put into writing and photographing the blog is solely based on our dedication to the cause.
Sustainability
One of the guiding principles behind this recipe is sustainability—choosing ingredients that support responsible farming practices, and long-term food systems.
Through my work in agriculture, including organic farming and integrated pest management, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for how ingredient choices impact both flavor and the environment.
Above, I describe each key ingredient in this recipe and explain what makes it a more sustainable choice—and how small decisions in the kitchen can make a meaningful difference. These ingredients are also the highest quality and have incredible flavor.
Method
This recipe uses an easy, foolproof method that requires only a few minutes of active time. Check out our Master Ice Cream Method for a more detailed explanation on how this works.
- Measure the ingredients by weight
- Simmer the syrup mixture while whipping the sugar and egg mixture
- Slowly add the syrup mixture to the egg mixture, then add the rest of the ingredients
- Chill the mixture
- Freeze in an Ice Cream Maker
- Chill in the Freezer
This recipe uses our Master Ice Cream Method. An easy, foolproof, updated way of making ice cream.
Why this Works
The cream and syrup are heated while the egg and sugar are whipped. Then the cream mixture is added to the egg mixture, which brings the egg to a high enough temperature that it is safe to use in ice cream without having to temper the mixture, which can be more difficult to do. The flavors are added afterward so they are not cooked, which might reduce the flavor. Powdered flavor is used which adds a lot of flavor without diluting it with water.
The highest quality ingredients are used, and flavor is added at every opportunity – Horizon cream, Starbuck’s coffee, Heilala vanilla, and Valrhona chocolate.
This recipe is made with ingredients that help keep the ice crystals small while the ice cream is churning and afterwards while it is hardening. This keeps it smooth and creamy. The ingredients that are key to keeping the ice crystals small are:
- Cultured cream – the beneficial bacterial culture in Crème fraîche
- egg – the fat and protein in the egg, and cooking the egg denatures the protein
- invert sugar – the concentration of sugar in relation to water lowers the freezing point
- alcohol – the alcohol lowers the freezing point
- powdered coffee – the powder adds flavor without adding extra water
RECIPE
Equipment
CHOOSING BRANDS:
For certain products, the choice of brand will make a big difference in the outcome of the recipe and in your carbon footprint. So, for those products, we have listed the brand. We are not paid to mention a brand and have no affiliates.
Ingredients
- 450 grams Horizon cream
- 85 grams corn syrup
- 1 large egg
- 70 grams organic sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 50 grams Crème fraîche homemade from Horizon cream
- 1 Tablespoon vodka
- 1 Tablespoon Heilala pure vanilla paste
- 1 packet Starbucks Via Instant Italian Roast Coffee 8.8 grams
- 30 grams Valrhona Manjari 64% cacao chocolate Shaved into tiny slivers and frozen
Instructions
PREPARE THE STORAGE CONTAINER
- Put a glass storage container in the freezer.
MEASURE THE INGREDIENTS
- Use a scale to measure the ingredients – zeroing the scale between measurements. Into a small saucepan, measure the cream and corn syrup.Into the mixing bowl of the stand mixer, measure the egg, egg yolk, sugar, and salt. Into a small bowl, measure the crème fraîche, vodka, vanilla paste and instant coffee.
MIX THE INGREDIENTS
- In the stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk together the egg, sugar and salt for at least 2 minutes on medium speed.
- While the stand mixer is whisking the egg and sugar, put the saucepan on the stove and bring the cream, corn syrup and vanilla bean (if you are using one) to a simmer and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring to combine.
- Switch the mixer to low speed and very slowly add the cream and corn syrup mixture. This should take about a minute.
- Continue whisking on low and add the crème fraîche, vodka, vanilla paste and instant coffee. Whisk just until combined.
- Refrigerate overnight, or you can use an ice bath to bring it down to 45° F, if you are in a hurry.
FREEZE THE MIXTURE
- Pre-chill the ice cream maker by letting it run for 5 minutes before adding the mixture.
- Pour into the ice cream maker and freeze according to the directions.
- When the ice cream maker is finished, quickly transfer the ice cream into the glass container that has been in the freezer, cover, and put the container back in the freezer to harden for ten minutes. Sprinkle the shaved, frozen chocolate over the ice cream and fold in with just a couple of folds. Return the ice cream to the freezer overnight.
- Store in the freezer for up to a week.
Nutrition
WHY THIS RECIPE IS A GAME CHANGER:
This recipe is a total game-changer — crafted with the finest [brand name] ingredients, simplified using a master recipe with pro-tested techniques from top chefs and bakers, and designed for deliciously sustainable cooking made easy.”
Other Ice Cream Flavors that Started with our Master Ice Cream Method
These recipes use our Master Ice Cream Method. An easy, foolproof, updated way of making ice cream.
True to The Master Pantry philosophy, this recipe combines the best seasonal ingredients and quality brands with homemade methods to maximize both flavor and sustainability. It was inspired by our travels and works well as a holiday recipe.
Photos by Tony Fitzgerald Photography
Recipes created by Lisa LeCoump — Food Photographer, Agricultural Expert, and Home Baker. Sharing master recipes, chef secrets, and sustainable baking for every kitchen. Featured on various publications.