The Secrets to the Best Iced Coffee (According to The Nines)

The Best iced coffee is more than just hot coffee poured over ice. It’s a craft that guarantees a strong, flavourful brew from the first sip to the last. A truly great iced coffee is never watery and is something you’ll crave on repeat.

Here’s what sets a cafe-quality iced coffee from The Nines apart:

• Specialised brewing methods: We use cold brew or flash-chilled coffee, never hot coffee over ice.
• Controlling dilution: Our coffee-first techniques keep your drink from getting watery.
• Premium local beans: We exclusively use the Vintage Black blend from Tim Adams.
• Balanced flavours: Our house-made syrups are measured to complement, not overpower, the coffee.
• Obsessive quality control: We avoid common pitfalls like weak brews or stale beans.

Let's be real. A lukewarm, watery iced coffee is a letdown. Here at The Nines Emporium, we've spent nearly a decade perfecting our iced coffee because we believe in our philosophy: We Don't Do Boring. We're not about to serve a watered-down cup of mediocrity.

I'm Janice Kuz, owner of The Nines Emporium, and with over 20 years in hospitality, I know what separates average coffee from the kind that keeps locals coming back every day. Since 2015, we've been dialling in serious coffee at Shop 17A, Sunshine Homemaker Centre in Maroochydore. For us, the best iced coffee comes down to fresh beans, proper technique, and a genuine passion for the craft.

Here's a look into how we make our iced coffee stand out.

It All Starts with the Brew: How We Do It at The Nines

The foundation of our iced coffee is the brew itself. Pouring hot coffee over ice is a shortcut that instantly dilutes the flavour, which is why we never do it. At The Nines, our baristas use two superior methods every day: cold brew and flash-chilled coffee .

Cold brew is our choice for a slow-steeped, smooth, and rich coffee, perfect for bringing out the big, chocolatey notes in our beans that locals love.

Flash-chilled coffee is how we lock in the beans' bright character. It’s brewed to be crisp, clean, and downright refreshing.

We proudly pour the local Vintage Black blend by Tim Adams . Our team dials in the grind and extraction daily to ensure both brewing methods deliver exceptional flavour, whether it's a straight iced long black or one of our signature creations.

Here's a quick rundown of the two distinct experiences these methods offer:

We put a lot of thought into our brewing process because a great coffee experience starts long before it hits your cup. It's all part of our commitment to creating Chill Vibes, Great Coffee: Why The Nines Cafe is a Must-Visit every single day.

The Secret to a Strong Finish: Our Coffee Ice

The biggest enemy of iced coffee is dilution. That's why we developed our game-changing solution: coffee-first ice . While regular ice melts and waters everything down, our custom coffee ice keeps the flavour strong to the last sip. Behind the scenes, we batch and freeze coffee specifically for our iced drinks, ensuring your latte stays bold, not bland. It’s how a Maple Sea Salt Iced Latte still hits different halfway through a sunny arvo.

Getting the Flavours Right: Sweeteners, Milks, and The Nines' Signature Twists

With the perfect brew as our base, the next step is personalising the pour, Nines style.

Sweeteners: We lean into liquid sweeteners that blend cleanly. Our bar is stocked with house-made syrups, think vanilla or cinnamon infusions, measured for balance so the coffee still shines.

Milks: Whole milk gives a rich, creamy texture. Oat milk is a top pick for plant-based creaminess without overpowering the cup. Almond and coconut have their place too, we'll steer you right.

Flavour Syrups & Signature Twists: Think beyond vanilla and caramel. Our crew plays with cold foams and limited flavours that change monthly. Past drinks like Ube Taro Cold Foam and Iced Matcha Taro turned simple sips into layered, silky treats. Keep an eye on our specials, they're limited-time only, once they're gone, they're gone.

Want a pro pairing from the team that pours it daily?

• Maple-leaning iced lattes with our fluffy Pancakes, sweet and salty, nom nom.
• Bright flash-chilled long black with the Bacon Benny from our Benny Trilogy, pure balance.
• Iced mocha or a taro foam number with the Waffle, fruity, zesty, a bit cheeky.

Our Solutions to Common Iced Coffee Problems

At The Nines, we've built our entire process around solving the issues that lead to a disappointing iced coffee.

1. The Problem: Weak, Watery Coffee. This is the number one complaint, usually caused by pouring hot coffee over ice. Our Solution: We only use cold brew or flash-chilled methods, backed by our signature coffee ice to prevent dilution.
2. The Problem: Stale, Burnt, or Sour Taste. Bad coffee starts with bad beans or poor extraction. Our Solution: We exclusively pour fresh Tim Adams Vintage Black and train our baristas to dial in a clean, bold extraction every single time.
3. The Problem: The Wrong Ice. Standard water ice melts quickly and strips away flavour. Our Solution: We use custom-sized ice for each drink and use our coffee ice where it counts to maintain intensity.
4. The Problem: Unbalanced, Overly Sweet Flavours. Too much sugar masks the coffee's character. Our Solution: Our crew carefully measures our house-made syrups to ensure the espresso notes always lead.
5. The Problem: Lack of Boldness or Freshness. A great iced coffee should taste vibrant, not flat. Our Solution: We rely on fresh beans, precise ratios, and consistent technique. No shortcuts, ever.

We refine our methods constantly so your cup is consistent and damn good, every visit. If you want the full experience, come see the crew and let us pour one for you.

Ready for the Real Deal?

We've walked you through how we craft the best iced coffee , and sometimes the move is to let the pros handle it, no stress.

Why Nothing Beats a Pro-Made Brew at The Nines

1. Barista Skills & Expertise: Our baristas are artisans, trained in precise extraction and consistency. They know our Tim Adams Vintage Black like a mate, so your iced latte lands smooth, strong and balanced.

2. The Tim Adams Difference: We proudly pour the local Vintage Black blend. It's reliable, rich, and the backbone of our iced range.

3. Signature Cold Foams & Creative Twists: We Don't Do Boring. Expect rotating cold foams and limited drinks that are here for a good time, not a long time. When the month ends, they're gone.

4. The Nines Emporium Experience: Since 2015, we've built a cozy, busy, fun spot in Maroochydore. Family friendly, dog friendly, walk-ins only on weekends, and always welcoming.

Open 7am to 3pm, 7 days. Find us at Shop 17A, Sunshine Homemaker Centre, 100 Maroochydore Rd.

Perks for the regulars, grab a coffee card, jump on our monthly specials, and keep an eye out for next-level giveaways. Bring the crew, order your iced favourite with a Benny or Pancake stack, and make it a ritual.

Stay in the loop, follow us on socials and keep tabs on the monthly drinks that sell out fast. Or dive deeper here:

• The Nines Cafe Maroochydore: Coffee So Good, It's a Whole Mood
• Chill Vibes, Great Coffee: Why The Nines Cafe is a Must-Visit
• Come see why we're Maroochydore's best cafe and bar

We can't wait to pour your next iced coffee. It's a mood.