Coffee Ice Cream Shake – 2 Ways

Coffee AND ice cream? It can’t get much better. These amazing coffee milkshakes are thick, creamy, and super easy to make! Made with either two or three ingredients, we have a coffee milkshake option for both the vanilla and the chocolate lover.

As someone who’s developed over 60 dessert recipes for this website and makes 1-2 milkshakes a week during summer, I’ve become quite skilled at creating the ideal homemade shake. I’ve been making desserts for more than 30 years, starting in my childhood kitchen with my mom and grandma, and I’ve gotten blender milkshake making down to an art. I make myself a small shake in a personal-sized blender more often than I’d like to admit because it’s such an easy way to have a special treat without leaving the house.

These coffee milkshakes combine my love for coffee recipes with my lifelong passion for ice cream. What sets our recipe apart is that we use strongly brewed coffee rather than instant coffee like many recipes you’ll find online, because good coffee makes a good coffee milkshake. I’ve tested this recipe multiple times to get the coffee-to-ice cream ratio just right so you get bold coffee flavor without it being too strong or too weak.

Coffee Milkshake Ingredients

Vanilla Version

• Vanilla Ice Cream
• Strongly Brewed Coffee, Chilled

Chocolate Version

• Chocolate Ice Cream
• Strongly Brewed Coffee, Chilled
• Chocolate Malt Powder (may be labeled as Chocolate Malted Milk Powder)
  • NOTE: Ok, technically, this is a coffee and chocolate malt. We’ve tried leaving out the malt powder, and honestly, the chocolate and coffee combination alone can be a little bitter. The chocolate malt powder takes this coffee shake to a whole new level of awesome! I highly recommend using this ingredient.

How to Serve Your Coffee Milk Shake

• Whipped Cream
• Chocolate Sauce / Chocolate Syrup
• Pirouette Cookies
• Maraschino Cherries
• Wafer Cookies
• Waffle Cone Pieces
• Chocolate Shavings

See the recipe card at the bottom of the page for ingredient measurements and full instructions.

Place ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth.

Check the consistency.

• If you’d like your milkshake to be a little thicker, add another scoop of ice cream. 
• If you’d like your milkshake a little thinner, add another splash of cold coffee.

If making a change, blend again to combine.

Pour into a serving glass. Add optional garnishes if desired.

Serve with a spoon and a straw, and enjoy!

Coffee Milkshake FAQ

Can I make my coffee milkshake ahead of time? Homemade milkshakes are best enjoyed straight from the blender. Plan to make your coffee milkshakes when you want to enjoy them.

How to make a thick milkshake? If you prefer an extra thick milkshake, add an extra scoop of ice cream! You can always alter the consistency of your coffee malt after blending, creating your perfect homemade milkshake.

What’s the Difference Between a Malt vs. Shake? You may be wondering what is the difference between a malt and a shake? A malt uses malted milk powder in addition to the other milkshake ingredients. 

What is malt powder?

Malt powder is used to give beverages, like malts, their distinctive flavor. Malted milk powder can also be used in baking for various reasons.

Malt powder, aka malted milk powder, is made of malted barley, wheat flour, and powdered milk. Chocolate malt powder has the addition of cocoa powder as well. Depending on the brand, there may also be some sugar added.