There is good news for coffee lovers around the world. Fact is, it is easy to make iced coffee at home without the fancy machines found at your local java shop. By following the four easy tips below, you can enjoy your iced coffee drinks in the comfort of home.

Cappuccinos and mocha lattes continue to maintain their posture as popular coffee choices; however, consumers are discovering that their favorite beverage is just as tasty and certainly as refreshing when served cold.

According to the National Coffee Association and Mintel Research, the percentage of Americans who drink iced coffee beverages increased from 20 percent in 2003 to as much as slightly more than 30 percent today.

While enjoying a chilled coffee drink is a natural at your local shop, iced coffee can be as easy to prepare as iced tea at home. Your creativity and a variety of options will allow you to create personalized coffee concoctions that are just as delicious as those served in your favorite cafe. Those creations depend on how you use flavor syrups, cold milk, chocolate and spices.

Some of the more popular beverages such as iced vanilla mocha, iced rum coffee and iced latte are easy to make at home. Below are four tips for creating those refreshing iced coffee drinks.

1. Pour your flavoring syrup of choice into the cup first. To complete the drink, pour in espresso or your coffee of choice, then the ice and top it off with cold milk.
2. Do not allow your beverage to become watered down. Cool your favorite coffee beverage with ice cubes made from fresh-brewed coffee instead of water.
3. Your at-home coffee machine should be capable of producing a high quality coffee or espresso. Many of the best machines will allow you to grind your coffee beans right before brewing. This feature gives you better control of the strength of your coffee.
4. It's your creation. Be creative. Experiment with how you personalize your drink. Finishing touches like the addition of whipped cream, chocolate shavings, nutmeg or cinnamon will place your signature on your iced coffee concoction.

As the trend and the numbers continue to grow, more and more coffee lovers will want to duplicate their coffee shop favorites at home. And while it may not be necessary to purchase high-end coffee machines, good old-fashioned know how is a starting place to create the perfect at-home coffee making experience.