The sun blazes overhead, reflecting off the baked pavement, superheating air that just hangs there, clinging to you without stirring. Temperatures soar, and a warm summer morning turns into another record-breaking afternoon high. In the shimmering distance you see… relief or another heat fueled mirage?
Beating the Heat: 11 Refreshingly Cold Coffee and Tea Recipes
When summer turns up the heat, there's nothing better than sipping on something cold, refreshing, and utterly delightful. From upgraded iced teas to rich and creamy coffees, we've got you covered with these fantastic recipes that are sure to keep you cool this summer. We are not going for the simple brewed coffee and ice cubes; you don’t need a recipe to do that. But, because you don’t want to wait when you’re teetering on overheating, we are keeping the recipes simple, with no more than six common ingredients that you can mix together in just a few minutes.
So crank down the A/C, grab some ice cubes, and let’s get brewing!
Iced Vanilla Latte
Let’s start with something easy, cool, and super pleasey. The classic iced vanilla latte has just a touch of sweetness with that luscious vanilla taste and aroma. It's creamy, cool, and oh-so-delicious. Feel free to experiment with your favorite milk options, or get fancy with steamed milk froth on top.
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee
- Ice cubes
- 1/2 cup of milk (any kind)
- 1-2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup
Instructions:
- Brew a shot of espresso or strong coffee and let it cool.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Add the cooled coffee and milk to the glass.
- Pour in the vanilla syrup and stir well.
- Sip on this sweet, velvety delight!
Iced Mocha
Chocolate lovers, rejoice! The iced mocha is another classic summer drink, and delightful combination of coffee and chocolate. It is absolutely perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth on a hot day. Some prefer the slightly bitter taste of dark chocolate in this drink, which balances well with whipped cream and festive chocolate sprinkles.
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee
- 1 cup of milk (any kind)
- 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup
- Ice cubes
- Whipped cream (optional)
- Chocolate shavings (optional)
Instructions:
- Brew a shot of espresso or strong coffee and let it cool.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Add the cooled coffee, milk, and chocolate syrup to the glass.
- Stir well to combine.
- Top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings if desired. Indulge in this chocolatey delight!
Iced Thai Coffee
Take your taste buds on a trip to Thailand without even leaving your kitchen! This exotic iced coffee is a favorite around the world. It’s rich and creamy, and deliciously spiced. We stock cardamom in our HQ Coffee Station, but some prefer to use cinnamon and nutmeg. To amplify the spices, add them to your coffee grounds before brewing.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of strong brewed coffee
- Ice cubes
- 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground cardamom (optional)
Instructions:
- Brew a strong cup of coffee and let it cool.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Add the cooled coffee and sweetened condensed milk to the glass.
- Stir well to combine. Sprinkle a pinch of cardamom for an exotic twist.
- Enjoy this creamy, dreamy treat!
Iced Chai Latte
Spice up your summer with another exotic drink, iced chai latte. It can be complicated to blend your own chai spices, so we rely on packaged chai tea bags. Because I like the taste, I let it steep for the full five minutes or longer, but you can vary the intensity by adjusting the brew time. It’s aromatic, flavorful, and absolutely refreshing.
Ingredients:
- 1 chai tea bag
- 1/2 cup of boiling water
- 1/2 cup of milk (any kind)
- Ice cubes
- Sweetener (optional)
Instructions:
- Brew the chai tea bag in boiling water for 5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bag and let the tea cool.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the cooled chai tea over the ice.
- Add milk and sweeten if desired. Stir well and enjoy this spicy delight!
Iced Matcha Latte
Matcha is renowned for helping you achieve a calm alertness. Put it on ice, and it’s a great way to stay cool and awake during those hot, dull summer afternoons. If you haven’t sampled Japan’s favorite flavor, an iced matcha latte is a must-try. It's vibrant, energizing, and perfect for a hot day.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of matcha powder
- 1/4 cup of hot water
- 3/4 cup of milk (any kind)
- Ice cubes
- Sweetener (optional)
Instructions:
- Sift the matcha powder into a bowl to remove any lumps.
- Add hot water and whisk vigorously until the matcha is frothy.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the matcha over the ice.
- Add milk and sweetener if desired. Stir well and enjoy this green goodness!
Coffee Lemonade
It might sound unusual, but coffee lemonade is a surprisingly refreshing combination. It’s also a coffee rich in history. Also known as Mazagran Coffee, it is said to be the world's first iced coffee, invented by the French while defending Mazagran Fort during the conquest of Algeria in the 1840. The tartness of the lemonade complements the bitterness of the coffee for a unique summer drink.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of freshly brewed coffee (cooled)
- 1/2 cup of lemonade
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices (optional)
Instructions:
- Brew your favorite coffee and let it cool.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the cooled coffee and lemonade over the ice.
- Stir well and garnish with lemon slices if desired.
- Enjoy this unexpected but delightful drink!
Peach Iced Tea
Nothing screams summer like a glass of peach iced tea. It’s fruity, refreshing, and so easy to make. The peaches add a nice floral note and sweet taste. Surprisingly, it works just as well in coffee, but the blended peaches are perfectly suited to this fruit tea.
Ingredients:
- 4 black tea bags
- 4 cups of boiling water
- 2 ripe peaches, sliced
- Ice cubes
- Sweetener (optional)
Instructions:
- Brew the tea bags in boiling water for 5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bags and let the tea cool.
- Blend the peach slices until smooth.
- Mix the peach puree with the cooled tea.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour the peach tea over.
- Sweeten to taste and relish this fruity delight!
Mint Iced Green Tea
Cool and refreshing, mint iced green tea is perfect for a hot summer day. If we had to rank summer drinks by how refreshing they are, iced tea would be third, iced green tea at number two, and mint iced green tea right at the top thanks to the cooling shot of mint. We particularly enjoy it with honey or agave as the sweetener.Â
Ingredients:
- 4 green tea bags
- 4 cups of boiling water
- A handful of fresh mint leaves
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices (optional)
- Sweetener (optional)
Instructions:
- Brew the green tea bags in boiling water for 3 minutes.
- Remove the tea bags and let the tea cool.
- Add fresh mint leaves to the tea and let it infuse for 10 minutes.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the mint-infused tea over the ice.
- Garnish with lemon slices and sweeten if desired. Enjoy the cool minty flavor!
Iced Caramel Macchiato
The iced caramel macchiato is a favorite in coffee shops across America, but it’s something that you can easily make at home. It’s rich, sweet, and utterly delicious. It lends itself well to experimenting with other flavors, like chocolate or vanilla, as well. You can pull out all the stops with whipped cream and sprinkles, and you basically have dessert in a cup!
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee
- 1 cup of milk (any kind)
- Ice cubes
- 1-2 tablespoons of caramel sauce
- Sweetener (optional)
Instructions:
- Brew a shot of espresso or strong coffee and let it cool.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Add the milk to the glass.
- Pour the cooled coffee over the milk.
- Drizzle caramel sauce on top and stir gently.
- Sweeten if desired and enjoy this sweet, creamy treat!
Coconut Iced Coffee
For a tropical twist on your usual iced coffee, try this coconut iced coffee. It’s creamy, nutty, and transports you to a beachside paradise. It’s the one iced coffee that deserves its own umbrella and a seat by the pool! Side Note: We love combining Coconut and Mocha for a tasty treat.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of freshly brewed coffee (cooled)
- 1/2 cup of coconut milk
- Ice cubes
- Sweetener (optional)
- Toasted coconut flakes (optional)
Instructions:
- Brew your favorite coffee and let it cool.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the cooled coffee and coconut milk over the ice.
- Stir well and sweeten to taste if desired.
- Garnish with toasted coconut flakes for an extra tropical touch. Enjoy!
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Affogato
We literally saved the best for last! In the heat of summer, who doesn’t enjoy a quick and decadent treat? Say hello to one more of Italy’s greatest contributions to the world of coffee, affogato! It’s a simple yet luxurious dessert coffee that combines hot espresso with cold ice cream. Vanilla is traditional, but who says you can’t mix things up with chocolate chip, or plain old chocolate? (Nobody, that’s who!)
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of hot espresso
- 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream
- Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder (optional)
Instructions:
- Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a glass or bowl.
- Pour a hot shot of espresso over the ice cream.
- Garnish with chocolate shavings or a sprinkle of cocoa powder if desired.
- Enjoy this delightful contrast of hot and cold!
What, no Cold Brew?
You’ve made it through the list and may be wonder where the Cold Brew Coffee is. Honestly, it was going to go here, as the absolute epitome of refreshing cold coffee drinks. But, as luck would have it, we already have The Ultimate Guide to Making Cold Brew Coffee at Home. You might want to head there next!
Ready to Tame Summer’s Heat?
With the trend of global warming, hot summers and only going to get hotter. These top eleven summer coffee and tea recipes are your perfect companions to beat that heat. Whether you're on Team Tea, or a dedicated Coffee Head – or anywhere in between - there's something here for everyone to enjoy.
Each recipe is designed to be simple, quick, and bursting with flavor, so your summer refreshment is just a few steps away. Still, we encourage you to experiment with these ingredients and recipes to find your own summer delights!
Stay cool, stay refreshed, and let these drinks add a splash of joy to your sunny days!
