The Ultimate Ranking Of 16 Coffee Ice Cream Flavors From Popular Brands
Coffee and ice cream might just be the perfect match made in dessert heaven.
But with so many flavors out there from your favorite brands, finding the ultimate scoop can feel like a caffeinated adventure.
Some flavors buzz with bold espresso hits, while others lean sweet and creamy.
Whether you’re a hardcore coffee fan or just looking for a cool pick-me-up, this ranking will guide your taste buds to the best coffee ice cream delights around.
1. Jeni’s Cold Brew Coffee
Crown jewel of the coffee ice cream world! Jeni’s Cold Brew starts with fair-trade beans steeped overnight for maximum flavor extraction without bitterness.
The creamy base contains just enough sugar to complement rather than mask the coffee notes.
What separates this masterpiece from competitors is its authentic roasty flavor that lingers pleasantly on your palate.
2. Van Leeuwen Organic Coffee
Simplicity shines in Van Leeuwen’s approach. Their organic coffee beans infuse slowly into a custard base that contains only six pronounceable ingredients.
Forget artificial flavors – this tastes like the perfect morning cup transformed into dessert form.
The velvety mouthfeel comes from their small-batch churning process that incorporates minimal air, resulting in a dense, luxurious texture you’ll dream about.
3. McConnell’s Triple Bean Coffee
California-based McConnell’s doesn’t mess around with their Triple Bean creation.
They blend three different coffee varieties – Ethiopian, Colombian, and Sumatra – for a complex flavor profile that evolves as you eat.
Family-owned since 1949, their dedication to quality shows in every spoonful. The ice cream maintains perfect balance between cream and coffee, never tasting burnt or bitter even with its intense flavor.
4. Häagen-Dazs Coffee
Sometimes classics earn their reputation! Häagen-Dazs keeps it straightforward with their coffee flavor, focusing on premium ingredients rather than fancy mix-ins.
The coffee essence permeates every molecule of the dense, rich base. Their higher butterfat content creates that signature silky texture that coats your tongue.
No wonder this has remained in their lineup since the 1970s – perfection doesn’t need reinvention.
5. Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz!
Leave it to Ben & Jerry’s to create a caffeine lover’s dream with this playfully named pint. Beyond the base, you’ll discover espresso bean chunks and chocolate-covered coffee crunchies providing textural contrast.
The sweetness level hits just right – present but not cloying. Fun fact: this flavor was originally created in 1996 as a limited edition but became so popular they brought it back permanently.
6. Talenti Cold Brew Coffee Gelato
Italian-inspired but American-made, Talenti’s version delivers coffee intensity in their signature clear container.
The cold brew concentrate they use provides deeper flavor than regular coffee. Gelato’s lower fat content lets the coffee notes shine brighter than traditional ice cream.
You’ll notice subtle caramel undertones that develop naturally during the cold brew process. The smooth texture feels indulgent despite containing less butterfat.
7. Graeter’s Coffee Chocolate Chip
Cincinnati’s finest ice cream makers elevate coffee flavor with their famous chocolate chips. Unlike typical chips, Graeter’s massive chocolate chunks result from their unique French Pot process.
The coffee base itself offers medium roast notes – approachable rather than overwhelming. Family-owned since 1870, they’ve perfected their craft over generations. The dense, creamy texture contains minimal air, making each pint satisfyingly heavy.
8. Ample Hills A Lot of Coffee
Brooklyn-born Ample Hills doesn’t hold back with their coffee creation. They start with cold-steeped coffee beans from local roasters before adding crushed chocolate-covered espresso beans.
The base strikes a perfect balance between sweet cream and robust coffee.
What makes this stand out is the textural experience – smooth ice cream punctuated by crunchy, slightly bitter espresso beans that intensify the coffee experience.
9. Baskin-Robbins Coffee ‘n Cream
Nostalgia in a scoop! Baskin-Robbins has been serving this flavor since the 1950s, making it one of America’s first widely available coffee ice creams.
The lighter coffee intensity makes it appealing even to those who don’t drink coffee regularly. Subtle vanilla notes complement the mild coffee flavor.
Many ice cream lovers report this as their gateway into coffee-flavored desserts before exploring more intense options.
10. Talenti Espresso Chip Gelato
Talenti appears twice in our ranking for good reason! Their Espresso Chip variety takes everything great about their Cold Brew version and adds semi-sweet chocolate flakes throughout.
The bittersweet chocolate perfectly complements the robust espresso flavor. The gelato base contains real espresso, not just coffee flavoring.
Each spoonful delivers the perfect coffee-to-chocolate ratio without either component overwhelming the other.
11. Blue Bell Homemade Coffee
Southern charm meets coffee perfection in Blue Bell’s take on this classic flavor. The Texas-based company uses a lighter roast profile that appeals to a wide audience.
Their signature creamy texture comes from the higher butterfat content they’re known for.
Blue Bell’s version tastes closest to sweetened coffee with cream – simple but executed flawlessly. The mild flavor makes it excellent for pairing with desserts.
12. Tillamook Coffee Ice Cream
Pacific Northwest creamery Tillamook sources beans from neighboring Portland roasters for their coffee ice cream. The result tastes like a perfect café au lait frozen into creamy perfection.
Made with more cream than legally required for premium ice cream, their extra-rich base carries coffee flavor beautifully.
Tillamook’s farmer-owned cooperative ensures quality control from cow to cone. The clean, straightforward coffee taste never includes artificial flavors.
13. Magnum Coffee Milk Chocolate
Breaking the mold with their bar format, Magnum combines coffee ice cream with a crackling chocolate shell. The contrast between smooth interior and crunchy exterior creates an addictive textural experience.
The coffee flavor leans sweet rather than intense, making it approachable for casual coffee drinkers.
Belgian chocolate coating adds richness while complementing the coffee notes. Each bite delivers the satisfying crack that Magnum fans crave.
14. Turkey Hill Coffee Chocolate Ice Cream
Value meets quality in Turkey Hill’s offering. Their coffee chocolate swirl combines two complementary flavors in perfect harmony without breaking the bank.
The coffee base provides a solid foundation while chocolate ripples add sweetness and complexity.
Pennsylvania Dutch country roots influence their approach to ice cream – straightforward, honest flavors without pretension. Particularly delicious when slightly softened.
15. Dreyer’s/Edy’s Coffee Rich & Creamy
Supermarket staple Dreyer’s (known as Edy’s east of the Rocky Mountains) delivers consistent coffee flavor at an accessible price point.
Their slow-churned process incorporates more air for a lighter texture. The flavor profile aims for broad appeal rather than coffee connoisseurs specifically.
You’ll notice hints of caramel complementing the mild coffee base. Perfect for coffee ice cream beginners or those who prefer a gentler coffee presence.
16. Breyers Coffee Ice Cream
Simplicity defines Breyers’ approach to coffee ice cream. Their clean ingredient list focuses on milk, cream, sugar, and coffee extract without artificial additions.
The flavor delivers exactly what you’d expect – straightforward coffee notes in a lighter-textured base.
Breyers uses a natural freezing process that creates smaller ice crystals for smoother results. While not the most intense coffee experience, it satisfies basic cravings reliably.
