National Coffee Ice Cream Day

Sep 5, 2025 | Food Blog

The spotlight today is on Coffee Ice Cream.

Coffee ice cream is a blend of ice cream and strongly brewed coffee or espresso. The coffee adds a bitter, nutty flavor that cuts the sweetness of the ice cream. Coffee ice cream is made up of milk, sugar, cream, vanilla extract, and coffee. The coffee flavor comes from instant espresso powder, which dissolves well and has a strong flavor. It has a satisfying rich taste and a bitter, nutty flavor that pairs well with toppings like chocolate chips, fudge, and almonds.

Coffee ice cream also blends the love for a strong caffeine buzz with the comfort and nourishment of a rich and creamy bowl of ice cream. A scoop of coffee ice cream contains, on average, around 30-45 milligrams of caffeine. This is less than the amount of caffeine found in a typical cup of coffee, which can contain anywhere from 70-140 milligrams of caffeine depending on the size and strength of the brew. A cup of coffee ice cream could contain as much caffeine as a shot of espresso. If you are sensitive to caffeine, coffee ice cream can keep you awake.

 

Here are some tips for choosing coffee for ice cream:

  • Roast: Darker roasts can add bitterness to the ice cream.
  • Grind: A medium grind will deliver a lot of coffee flavor while still being easy to filter.
  • Beans: Using less beans can create a mild, toasty, caramel flavor.
  • Brewed or instant: You can use brewed coffee or instant coffee granules.
  • Decaffeinated: You can use decaffeinated coffee if you’re sensitive to caffeine.

You can also try leaving a little of a coarser grind in the ice cream to add texture and deepen the flavor.

 

History

Coffee ice cream has been around for many years. Coffee ice cream is believed to have originated in Italy, where it was made with coffee and cream. It became popular in the United States in the late 1800s. People first started eating coffee ice cream around 1860. It was made with cream, crushed ice, and coffee syrup. In 1869, coffee ice cream was used in a parfait.

Coffee ice cream became a staple in most ice cream shops’ flavor lists. It’s often enjoyed with a scoop of whipped cream or chocolate syrup.

 

Here are some fun facts about coffee ice cream:

  • A recipe for Egg Coffee, which includes cream, crushed ice, and coffee syrup, appeared in a 1919 cookbook.
  • Coffee ice cream is a popular flavor in the Midwest.
  • Coffee ice cream contains caffeine, with a scoop containing around 30-45 milligrams.
  • Coffee ice cream is often enjoyed with a scoop of whipped cream or chocolate syrup.
  • Coffee ice cream is a staple flavor in most ice cream shops.

Coffee ice cream is one of the most popular ice cream flavors, with 23% of adults in the US saying they like it. However, only 4% of Americans count coffee ice cream as their favorite flavor. Northeasterners are more likely to be fans of coffee ice cream than people from other regions.

 

Here is a Coffee Ice Cream Recipe for you to try:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups half and half
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 to 1 ½ TBS instant coffee (decaf or regular)
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

 

Directions:

  1. Warm half and half, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking to dissolve sugar.
  2. Beat egg yolks in a small mixing bowl, add ½ cup of the warm mixture to the egg yolks and whisk to combine. Then add that mixture to the half and half on the stovetop.
  3. Whisk in coffee granulates until dissolved.
  4. Cook over medium-low heat stirring constantly until the mixture thickens slightly – just barely sticking to the back of a spatula or until it reaches 170 degrees F.
  5. Place the heavy cream into a bowl with a fine mesh strainer on top of the bowl.
  6. Strain the custard into the heavy cream. Discard what is left on the strainer.
  7. Add vanilla extract, stir to combine.
  8. Transfer to an airtight container and cool completely in the fridge (preferably overnight).
  9. Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and churn until frozen (about 30-40 minutes).
  10. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze completely, about 4 hours.
  11. Enjoy!

 

Coffee ice cream is often enjoyed with a scoop of whipped cream or chocolate syrup. It contains caffeine, with a scoop containing around 30-45 milligrams of caffeine.

 

Nutrition and Health

The average American eats more than 23 pounds of ice cream every year, which is almost 5 gallons. 4% of that is coffee ice cream.

Coffee ice cream is high in sugar and fat, making it a relatively high-calorie dessert option. A typical serving size of 1/2 cup can contain around 200-300 calories, depending on the brand and recipe. Coffee ice cream also contains moderate amounts of protein and calcium.

Eating a small scoop of chocolate or coffee ice cream before bed is usually fine for most people, but consuming large amounts can disrupt your sleep.

 

Haagen-Dazs

Coffee ice cream is popular at Haagen-Dazs. In 2020, coffee was one of the most popular flavors of Haagen-Dazs ice cream, along with vanilla and strawberry. Haagen-Dazs has been around since 1961 and is known for making high-quality ice cream.

Some say that Haagen-Dazs coffee ice cream is rich and creamy, with a nice coffee aroma and a milder coffee flavor. The ice cream is made with Brazilian coffee beans. A half-cup serving of Haagen-Dazs coffee ice cream contains about 21 mg of caffeine, which is roughly equivalent to a quarter cup of brewed coffee.

 

Here are the ingredients in Häagen-Dazs Coffee Ice Cream:

  • Cream
  • Skim milk
  • Cane sugar
  • Egg yolks
  • Coffee
  • Brazilian coffee beans
  • Vanilla extract
  • Butterfat: 16% butterfat, which is higher than many other ice cream brands.
  • Caffeine: 21.6 mg of caffeine in a 1/2 cup serving, which is a little more than 1/4 cup of brewed coffee.

Häagen-Dazs uses clean label, kitchen-friendly ingredients, and does not use preservatives, stabilizers, colors, or palm oil.

 

Here are some nutrition facts for Haagen-Dazs coffee ice cream:

  • Calories: 300 per 2/3 cup Smart & Final
  • Total fat: 21g, 27% of daily value
  • Saturated fat: 13g, 65% of daily value
  • Trans fat: 1g
  • Cholesterol: 95mg, 32% of daily value H-E-B
  • Sodium: 45mg, 2% of daily value
  • Potassium: 130mg, 4% of daily value
  • Total carbohydrates: 17g, 6% of daily value
  • Sugars: 24g
  • Caffeine: 21 mg of caffeine per half-cup serving
  • Coffee Equivalent: equivalent to a quarter cup of brewed coffee

The ingredients in Haagen-Dazs coffee ice cream. It may contain and instant Brazilian coffee.

 

 

National Coffee Ice Cream Day

But one thing you should not lose sleep over is National Coffee Ice Cream Day, which is celebrated on September 6th annually. Take this opportunity to grab a scoop and enjoy this day. Let us know in the comments if you are one of the 4% of people who love this delicious frozen treat.

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