Whew, I don’t know about wherever you are, but the summer months in the southeast parts of the U.S. are brutal. I’m talking about sticky humidity and a heat index floating around the upper 90s that make it super uncomfortable to stay outside for very long unless you’re participating in a water activity or wearing light, airy, breathable fabrics made to bear the heat.
Staying hydrated is essential for making it through the warmer months, and drinking iced coffee can help feel refreshed without adding more heat.
Today, I’m sharing a round-up of cold coffee drinks you can enjoy if you’re looking for a refreshing drink like a cold brew throughout the summer season.
10 Summer Coffee Drinks
Try these summer coffee recipes the next time you’re wanting to try out a refreshing drink to cool off in the warmer months.
Vanilla Cream “Cold Brew”
Ingredients
1 cup Coffee – 0 calories
½ tsp Vanilla – 0 calories
¼ tsp Cinnamon – 0 calories
¼ cup Milk, 2% (cups) – 31 calories
Directions
- Brew coffee. Refrigerate overnight.
- Add in all ingredients and stir.
- No milk? Use a dairy-free milk.
Iced Coffee with 1/4 Cup Half & Half
We can’t kick off this list without mentioning a basic recipe for iced coffee. Here you have your go to coffee with half and half added to the mix. You can also try it with 2% milk, coconut milk or almond milk.
Ingredients
1 cup Coffee – 0 calories
4 Tbsp Half & half – 80 calories
White Mocha Iced Coffee
Ingredients
1 cup Coffee – 0 calories
¼ cup Milk, 2% (cups) – 31 calories
1 Tbsp White chocolate chips, Tbsp – 70 calories
Instructions
- Brew coffee. Refrigerate overnight.
- When ready to drink, microwave white chocolate chips in a microwave safe dish for 15 seconds, or until have melted.
- Add in all ingredients to the coffee and stir.
Cookies and Cream Mocha Milkshake
(photo from almostsupermom.com)
Everyone loves a cold milk shake to help beat the heat in the summer months. Try this version of cookies and cream ice cream with mocha flavored iced coffee!
Ingredients
- 2 scoops cookies and cream ice cream
- ½ cup mocha-flavored iced coffee
- Whipped cream
- Crumbled Oreo cookies
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until desired consistency is reached.
- Top with whipped cream and crumbled cookies.
Cold Brew Coffee, Pro Style
Ingredients:
- 500 grams coffee
- 2 liters water, filtered
Instructions:
- Grind coffee at a medium setting: slightly finer than what you would use for a French press and slightly coarser than what you would use for a pour-over.
- Line a 4-quart/4-liter container with the nylon mesh bag, draping the edges over the side of the pot. Place the paper filter bag in the mesh one, folding over the top of the paper filter to form a cuff to give it some structure.
- Add ground coffee to the paper filter bag. Pour 1 quart/1 liter of water onto the grounds, and gently stir the slurry with a wide spoon for 5 minutes. It’s important to stir for the full period of time. Add remaining water.
- Twist close the top of the paper filter bag. (You can tie it with a piece of string.) Set a timer for 5 hours 30 minutes. During this time, do not move or otherwise agitate the container.
- After the brewing time elapses, gently lift the mesh bag out of container, and place it into a large metal strainer set on top of the steeping pot. Drain for 10 to 15 minutes. Discard the filter bag with the grounds, and decant the cold-brewed coffee concentrate into a clean 1½-quart/1½-liter carafe or jar with an airtight lid. Pour gently so that any remaining sediment is left behind in the pot.
- To make a cold brew drink, pour three parts concentrate over ice and dilute with two parts water. For a richer flavor, dilute with milk. For a hot drink, combine coffee with hot water or milk. The concentrate will last 2 weeks refrigerated.
DIY McDonald’s Caramel Frappe
If you’ve got a little more time on your hands, you have to try this summer coffee drink at home.
Ingredients
- ½ cup Strong Coffee
- 2 tsp Granulated Sugar
- ½ cup Milk
- 3 tsp Caramel Syrup
- Whipped Cream
- 4 cups Coffee Ice Cubes
- 1 scoop Vanilla Ice Cream
Instructions
- Add ice cubes, sugar and milk to your blender.
- In a glass, mix the coffee with a tablespoon of caramel syrup.
- Then add some ice cream and blend it.
- Pour the frappe in a glass. Squirt the whipped cream over the top.
- Drizzle caramel syrup over the whipped cream to serve.
- Add the sugar and the milk to your blender.
Boozy Frozen Latte
Ingredients
- A shot of espresso
- Frozen Milk (in ice cubes)
- a shot of Baileys Irish Creme
- a shot of Kaluha
- heavy cream
Instructions
Get the full recipe here.
Iced latte
There’s nothing quite like having a cold coffee on a warm’s summer’s day. An iced latte is the perfect summer drink if you’re looking for more ways to stay cool. Try this summer coffee recipe with whole milk or condensed milk for an extra sip of sweetness.
Ingredients
- 2 espresso shots (60ml)
- 2 tsp sugar, honey or maple syrup (to taste)
- ice
- 100ml whole milk
Instructions
- Mix the hot espresso with the sugar until it dissolves.
- Fill a glass with ice and stir in the sweetened coffee.
- Pour over the milk and stir until combined.
DIY Starbucks Iced Cold Brew Latte
Ingredients
- 2 cups cold brew coffee , chilled
- ½ cup milk (regular or plant-based)
- ¾ tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 1½ – 2 cups ice * see notes
- cocoa powder to garnish
Instructions
- Add ice cubes into 2 glasses. Pour in coffee, milk, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Sprinkle some cocoa powder on top (optional). Serve immediately. ENJOY!
Coffee Shake
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Instant Coffee Granules
- ¾ cup Milk
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 teaspoons White Sugar (or to taste)
- 6 Ice Cubes
- 2 teaspoons Chocolate Syrup
Instructions
- Combine the instant coffee, milk, vanilla extract, sugar, ice, and chocolate syrup in a blender; blend until smooth.
Is It Good To Drink Coffee In Summer
Contrary to popular belief, coffee is a good beverage to drink in the summer because of its high water content and ability to offer hydration. Although coffee is considered to be a diuretic, drinking moderate amounts of coffee is a proven way to stay hydrated. Just be mindful that too much can have the opposite effect. According to reports, caffeine becomes dehydrating in doses around 250–300 mg, the equivalent of two to three 8-ounce (240-ml) cups of coffee, or five to eight 8-ounce (240-ml) cups of tea.
Do you have a go-to cold brewed coffee recipe you drink during summer months? Would love to know in the comments down below.
