Give Your Iced Coffee An Elegant Upgrade By Smoking It (Yes, Seriously)

Expanding on simplicity

While you can ignite combustion with something as basic as a match, you might consider upgrading to a handheld smoking "gun." At the premium end, there's the Breville Smoking Gun, which allows you to infuse a smoky flavor into various culinary creations, including meats, cocktails, sauces, and even coffee. Priced at nearly $100, it’s on the pricier side. A more affordable alternative is the Cypress Sunrise Portable Smoke Infuser Gun, which costs about half as much. Both products receive positive reviews for their user-friendliness and ability to generate a substantial amount of smoke.

Another option is a smoker that resembles a tea infuser; however, instead of tea, you fill it with wood chips. Rather than submerging it in a glass, it sits atop like a lid. You light the wood chips and place it on the glass until you achieve your desired level of smokiness. The Spiritlabs Cocktail Smoker Kit is one such choice, retailing for around $29 and including wood chips and a butane torch.

Now, when it comes to choosing the best wood for smoked iced coffee, there’s plenty of guidance available for smoking meats and cocktails, but you might want to experiment to find your personal preference. Some woods may work better or worse depending on whether you enjoy your coffee black or with milk. Fruit woods like cherry and apple are generally excellent choices, while maple wood offers a subtle sweetness that pairs nicely with coffee. Additionally, you’re not restricted to just wood; flavors like cinnamon, lavender, and dried orange peel are also commonly associated with coffee and can produce delightful smoky notes.