For most of us, the switch from hot to iced coffee signals the start of summer. Nothing compares to sipping a refreshing iced coffee while soaking up the hot summer sun.
Although we’re fans of hot coffee all year long, our cold coffee recipes are the perfect addition to any summer beach trip, BBQ, or outdoor adventure.
Cool down and kick back with one of our seven summer coffee recipes this season.
Click below to jump to the recipe that piques your interest:
- First: How to Make Cold Brew at Home
- Cold Brew Tonic
- Mint Mojito Iced Coffee
- Cold Brew Float
- Iced Dirty Chai Latte
- Iced Spanish Latte
- Iced Mocha Pops
- Cold Fashioned
- Choose the Right Beans for Each Recipe
First: How to Make Cold Brew at Home
Many of these recipes call for cold brew or a cold brew concentrate. Luckily, making cold brew at home is simple!
Cold brew coffee is brewed using cold or room temperature water and is steeped for 12+ hours. In comparison, flash chilled or iced pour over coffee is made by brewing coffee over ice.
The cold brew method results in a smooth and sweet drink with subtle acidity and a creamy mouthfeel.
Cold brew concentrate can also be used in our summer recipes—either on its own for a bolder flavor or as a replica for espresso. A cold brew concentrate is created by reducing the amount of water or increasing the amount of grinds used in your brew recipe.
Since the cold brew process diminishes much of the acidity in a coffee, we recommend using a medium roast coffee from the region of your choice. This roast level will highlight the acidity without overshadowing the complex flavors and body of the coffee when made as a cold brew.
Check out our Ultimate Guide to Cold Brew Coffee to get started.
Cold Brew Tonic
Bubbly, refreshing, and fully caffeinated! Cold brew tonic is a coffee shop staple in the summertime and now you can make it at home.
Add a fruity twist to your drink by adding lime wedges, cherries, or blackberries.
Ingredients:
- 2 parts tonic water
- 1 part cold brew concentrate
- Fruit of your choice
Directions:
- Pour tonic water first to avoid separation.
- Add cold brew concentrate.
- Drop in fruit, swirl, and enjoy.
If tonic water is too harsh for your palate, this recipe works well with seltzer water or club soda, too.
Mint Mojito Iced Coffee
Mint is a four-season ingredient—cozy and cool in the winter and refreshing in the summer. For mojito fans, this mint mojito iced coffee is a delicious summer treat with or without the alcohol.
Opt for a chocolate-y coffee from Guatemala or Costa Rica to create a chilly Andes Mint mojito flavor.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of cold brew concentrate
- ½ cup of water
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup
- Fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- Ice
Directions:
- Add cold brew, water, and syrup to the cocktail shaker.
- Add mint leaves and muddle into the mixture.
- Pour in heavy cream and a handful of ice.
- Place the cover on the cocktail shaker and shake until all ingredients are incorporated and chilled.
- Strain drink into a glass filled with ice.
Iced Dirty Chai Latte
During the summer, you might find yourself craving the spicy cardamom flavor of a chai latte. But the thought of steamed milk in the hot summer sun is less than desirable. Switch things up and make yourself an iced dirty chai latte from home.
To make this recipe, you’ll either need to use cold brew concentrate or brew an espresso shot using an AeroPress, Moka pot, or home espresso machine.
Ingredients:
- 1 Chai tea bag
- Espresso shot or ¼ cup cold brew concentrate
- 6-8 oz cold milk or milk alternative
- Honey
- Ice
Directions:
- Steep your tea in 6 oz of hot water. Refer to teabag directions for the proper length of time.
- While the tea is steeping, prepare the espresso shot or measure out cold brew concentrate.
- After the tea has steeped, mix in your desired amount of honey. Pour over ice.
- Add coffee and milk. Stir to mix.
Give your recipe a kick by adding cinnamon, clove, or ginger to the steeped tea.
Iced Spanish Latte
For those who prefer a sweet latte, the Spanish Latte is a popular choice. We’ve transformed this coffee shop favorite into a cool summertime beverage.
Ingredients:
- Espresso (created with an AeroPress, Moka pot, or home espresso machine)
- Ice
- ½ cup milk or milk alternative
- 1.5 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk
- Cinnamon
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker.
- Shake until chilled and incorporated.
- Pour into glass and add more ice as needed.
- Top with extra cinnamon.
Iced Mocha Pops
More coffee for dessert, please! This popsicle recipe combines everyone's two favorite things—coffee and chocolate—for a sweet summer treat.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of cold brew
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
- 6-8 tablespoons dark chocolate chips
- Popsicle sticks
- Popsicle mold
Directions:
- Mix sweetened condensed milk and cold brew in a separate glass or container.
- Place 1 tablespoon of dark chocolate chips in the bottom of each popsicle mold.
- Pour cold brew mixture in each mold.
- Insert one popsicle stick per mold and freeze.
To remove the popsicles once frozen, gently place the mold in hot water about halfway up. After a minute or so, wiggle the popsicles out of the mold and enjoy.
Turn this recipe into a boozy coffee dessert by adding a coffee liqueur such as Kahlua or Baileys to the mix. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the recipe and add other flavors like vanilla, caramel, or maple syrup, too.
Cold Brew Float
No one said your morning coffee couldn’t be dessert too. Not to be confused with an affogato, a cold brew float is a delectable summer dessert and drink all in one. And, the recipe couldn’t be any easier.
Ingredients:
- Cold brew
- Vanilla bean ice cream
Directions:
- Place 2-3 scoops of vanilla ice cream into a tall glass.
- Fill with cold brew.
Experiment with different coffee beans such as a berry-forward Ethiopian coffee to see which cold brew flavor notes complement the vanilla ice cream best.
Cold Fashioned Cocktail
Who said you had to decide between cold brew and liquor? Combine your favorite cold brew and bourbon for this caffeinated version of a classic cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- ½ oz cold brew
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 2 dashes of orange bitters
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- Chocolate bitters (measured to taste)
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass.
- Stir until chilled and incorporated.
- Strain into drinking glass and garnish with lemon or orange wedge.
If you’re a fan of the citrusy notes in a traditional old fashioned, make your cold brew with specialty coffee beans from Kenya, Tanzania, or even Colombia for a highlighted, but complementary, acidity.
Choose the Right Beans for the Recipe
Spoiler alert: Not all coffee beans will work for our summer coffee recipes.
While we’ve included our recommended coffees for each recipe, avoid coffee beans that are:
- French Roast: This roast level will mute the natural coffee flavors you’re looking to highlight in each recipe.
- Old/Stale: Purchase freshly roasted beans for the best taste.
- Flavored: Avoid using low-grade, artificially flavored coffees
For sweet, smooth, and refreshing summer coffee drinks, we strongly recommend you opt for a fresh roasted specialty-grade coffee. These complex coffees provide an assortment of fruity, floral, sweet, nutty, and bright tasting notes—all desirable for our summer coffee recipes.
