Amazing Cold Coffee Concoctions to Drink All Summer Long

With temperatures slowly climbing and summer well on its way, it’s time to build a go-to menu of refreshing drinks to enjoy during the warm weather that’s sure to come to Portland. Eventually.

While it’s important to stay hydrated in the summer heat, nothing tastes quite as refreshing or smooth as good ol’ fashioned iced coffee. Not to mention the rush of caffeine that boosts your energy on a busy summer day has its perks too!

Prepare to dazzle your friends and family this summer with one of these easy to make coffee drinks that’s ideal for sipping in the sun.

1. Coffee on Nitro

Okay, this one might be cheating. Even though you probably won’t make your own nitro iced coffee this summer, we highly recommend that you make your way to a local coffee shop or grocery store to enjoy a glass of nitro coffee.
This coffee drink consists of cold brew that has been paired with nitrogen gas. Once combined, the coffee beverage is pressurized, stored in a keg, and then dispensed for enjoyment. Cascading bubbles, smooth foam, and a strong dose of caffeine – what’s not to love about this summer coffee drink?!

2. Pioneer Woman Iced Coffee

If you’ve fallen hard for nitro cold brew coffee, this home-brew iced coffee is a godsend for your appetite and your wallet. The Pioneer Woman cookbook includes a simple, 4-step recipe for making coffee with grounds, cold water, half and half, and sweetened condensed milk. Her secret? Use a cheesecloth to keep the coffee grounds from filtering into your cold drink.

3. Vanilla Iced Coffee

Continuing onward with this summer’s trend of making iced coffee, you can expect vanilla iced coffee to be a go-to coffee drink this season. Williams and Sonoma has one of our favorite recipes for making vanilla iced coffee at home. Their directions advise using freshly ground coffee for the best overall flavor.

4. Cafe Affogato

This great coffee drink is the perfect dessert on a warm day. Cafe affogato literally translates to a scoop of ice cream or gelato “drowned” by espresso. To create a cafe affogato that perfectly balances aesthetics and taste, add cinnamon sticks and an orange peel to this delicious coffee beverage, perfect for warm summer evenings.

5. Iced Horchata Latte

Nothing mends a rough day of summer heat like a glass of crisp, cold horchata. And what makes this drink even better? Adding espresso, that’s what! Add a shot (or two!) to your glass of iced horchata and you’ll have an iced horchata latte. It’s as easy as that.

6. Bee’s Knees Over Ice

Every summer coffee menu needs a few stunners that you can pull out for parties and entertaining. One of our favorite recipes comes from Archive, a coffee roaster based out of Salem, Oregon. To create an iced variation of the “Bee’s Knees,” you’ll combine espresso, honey, milk, lavender, rosemary, simple syrup, and a touch a pepper. Once cooled, pour over ice and enjoy. Really enjoy.

7. Iced Comfy Chair

Another Archive speciality, the “Comfy Chair” drink is a refreshing tea and coffee hybrid beverage. Made with Lapsang Souchong, a smoky black tea from China, this drink combines espresso, Lapsang Souchong, milk, black walnut bitters, and simple syrup.

8. Thai Iced Coffee

Another summer staple: Thai iced coffee. This tried and tested summer drink is best with a dark roast for full-bodied flavor. Our tip: spice up your Thai iced coffee with cardamom pods to add a spicy-sweet kick.

9. Coffee Tonic

As a cocktail-inspired beverage, a coffee tonic ranks high on our list of refreshing summer drinks. To create an espresso tonic at home, simply combine espresso and tonic water over ice. For added fizz, up the tonic water to coffee ratio and enjoy!

10. Iced Spanish Latte

For a dose of extravagance in your summer coffee drink, create an iced Spanish latte. For this drink, coffee is balanced by the sweetness of condensed milk and the flavor of cinnamon. Serve as a dessert beverage or a stand-alone drink.

[Image via: Bon Appetit]