8 Iced Coffee Drinks to Beat the Summer Heat | Crazy Cups

It’s getting hot in here, so take off… wait, no, don’t do that. Just break out the ice! With summer back again in force around the U.S., everyone knows the best solution is to put the ice machine on overdrive again so that there’s no shortage of our best weapon against the brutal heat. For many, that often starts first thing in the morning--with our daily coffee fix. Yes, indeed, iced coffee is back on the menu!For those that aren’t year-round ice enthusiasts, now is about the time many begin making the switch from a hot brew to the cooler variety of our beloved daily fix. Here at the Flavor Nation, we are no exception. We’re so obsessed with flavor that we have tried every option available when it comes to getting a quality iced joe. To help you in that same quest, we have put together this fun list of iced combinations to try today to help you beat that summer heat without having to sacrifice any of the coffee flavors you love.

Cold Brew

Of course, we’re leading this one off with the current champion of cold, caffeinated beverages. Cold brew has taken the world by storm despite actually having been invented several decades ago in the form of the “Toddy.” This tasty drink involves coffee being steeped in cold or room temperature for much more extended periods of time, brewing coffee that is less acidic, more chocolatey, and more caffeinated. It’s also much easier to enjoy over ice as it will not melt the ice, nor will the flavor change like with hot coffee that has been poured over ice.

Nitro Cold Brew

This exciting elixir is like cold brew’s much bigger, stronger brother. Essentially the idea is to take a typical finished cold brew and infuse it with nitrogen gas through a pressurized valve, much like beer often is. This allows the cold brew to feature a much thicker body at a very cold temperature like a draft beer, removing the need to even add ice. The syrupy consistency also means you typically don’t want to add cream or sugar unless it is infused in the brew originally. It’s super delicious but also not for the faint of heart.

Iced Pour-over

Another newly rediscovered variation of the popular pour-over coffee method is the iced pour-over or often referred to as the Japanese pour-over. If you’re unfamiliar with pour-over, it’s simply coffee brewed in a special device that allows hot water to flow over the coffee as it drains into a cup below. While that technique requires its own separate article (or maybe even a book), a popular variation is to place a small amount of ice below the pour-over to “flash-chill” the coffee as it finishes brewing. When using the correct amount of ice, this has the benefit of cooling down the coffee quickly (so it doesn’t go stale like it would if allowed to cool naturally) while also minimizing the changes to flavor (through using the minimum amount of ice possible). This same concept can even be applied to other brewers like a traditional drip or even a Keurig! While tricky to master at first, the results from this one are always positively yummy.

Iced Americano

These next few drinks require access to a fully equipped espresso machine or a local cafe willing to do the dirty work. Among our favorites is the classic Iced Americano. This concoction starts with your typical Americano — espresso mixed with fresh water after brewing — and pours it over ice for a refreshing but stronger drink. It’s a wonderful balance of rich, full-bodied espresso without the extra bite, making it much easier to drink. It’s also perfect for those looking for a softer drink without having to add too much milk or sugar.

Iced Espresso Shot

Much like the Nitro Cold Brew, this drink is not for beginners. All there is to this one is to simply take a raw espresso shot and serve it over ice, often with plenty of cream or sugar. While this may seem similar to an Americano or even a Latte if adding in those sweeteners, it is much stronger in its coffee flavors. The lack of additional water and lower cream to coffee ratio means the body is much thicker, much like a hot chocolate drink.

Iced Latte

The hot version of this one is probably one of the most popular coffee drinks around as it is, but — make no mistake — it can be just as delicious when served over ice! You may want to consider doubling your espresso dose when serving the Latte this way, as the ice may water down the flavor a touch. This is especially important as the Latte is primarily a milk drink, so it is far easier to lose that special coffee component in the flavor. It’s even great with your favorite syrups like caramel, hazelnut, or even something fun like lavender!

Affogato

For a splendid coffee-based dessert, consider one of the newest coffee crazes: the Italian Affogato. This exciting treat is rather simple but no less rich and delicious. For this one, all you need to do is take a scoop of ice cream, ideally pure vanilla bean, and pour a fresh espresso shot right on top. That’s really all there is to it! It’s so minimal and tasty as it combines the sweet creaminess of the vanilla ice cream with the vibrant acidity of the espresso. They’re such a perfect pair that you’ll wonder why you haven’t always been pouring coffee on your ice cream (or putting ice cream in your coffee, we won’t judge if you won’t).

Blended Frappe

Last but certainly not least is everyone’s favorite coffee-shop dessert staple, the Blended Frappe or Frappuccino. The coffee milkshake that we all know and love is just that, coffee blended with ice cream or sometimes just ice, milk, and sugar. It’s an easy one to experiment with as you create the perfect treat for you with different flavored syrups and toppings. It’s the perfect indulgence for someone who loves variety and doesn’t mind the extra calories. Be careful with these, however, as they’re often truly more dessert than an actual cup of joe!

We hope these fun suggestions help you on your journey to enjoying great coffee anywhere, any time of year. Whether you have access to a fully stocked cafe in your neighborhood or simply a home kitchen and a Keurig, there are always options for you to get the great, iced flavor in your cup without too much extra hassle. Try one or try them all; we’re sure you’re going to love every sip.

Exploring all of the different flavors of coffee is our passion, and we guess you could say that we’re a little obsessed. Follow us on Instagram to keep up with our journey to understanding everything coffee has to offer and to try out all of the different recipes we’re constantly unveiling for you to explore too. We can’t wait to see what exciting paths coffee will take in the future, and we look forward to sharing it with you!