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Summer usually nudges me away from the mug I reach for in cooler months, even though I miss that first hot sip.
I still drink hot coffee in summer sometimes, but once the room feels sticky, a steaming cup loses its appeal.
So I usually reach for something colder, and these are the summer coffee drinks I come back to.
Here are 15 summer coffee drinks worth trying at home or ordering when the weather turns warm.
They keep the caffeine fix and feel easier to drink on hot days.
15 Summer coffee drinks (Best orders for the upcoming hot season)
1. Cold Brew
Cold brew is the drink I reach for when I want coffee flavor without the sharp edge of a hot brew.
As its name implies, cold brew coffee is made without using hot water. This means that you can easily enjoy the iced coffee without waiting for the coffee to cool down.
At home, it is one of the easiest summer drinks to keep around. I like that you can make a batch or use a concentrate and dilute it when you need it instead of starting from scratch each time.
You can also easily order it in your local coffee shop or try a Starbucks cold brew drink. They even have different variations of this drink available, making it one of the most versatile summer coffee recipes around.
I also like that homemade cold brew takes well to small changes, so it is easy to turn into different summer coffee recipes.
The basic method is simple: cover the grounds with cold water and let them steep for 12 to 24 hours.
Once it is done, I usually pour it over ice and stop there if I want the cleanest flavor.
If the coffee tastes too intense, a little milk or syrup can soften it. Coconut milk works well because it adds a thicker feel without hiding the coffee completely.
2. Iced Matcha Latte
An iced matcha latte is another summer drink I keep coming back to. It is a good option when coffee feels too bitter but I still want something with caffeine.
Matcha is a popular Japanese green tea with a much sweeter taste than your regular green tea.
Hot matcha can feel heavy on a warm day, and I notice the difference as soon as I switch to ice. The drink feels lighter, colder, and easier to finish.
Additionally, Starbucks has matcha tea drinks on their menu.
The milk choice matters more than I expected here. Coconut milk makes the latte feel richer, while lighter milks keep the matcha more open and grassy.
So, if you’re lactose-intolerant or vegan, you can request a non-dairy option, like coconut milk or almond milk. Starbucks offers plenty of vegan options.
At home, the recipe stays straightforward: matcha, milk, ice, and sugar if you want it sweeter. I usually notice the sweetness last, after the earthy matcha settles in.
3. Espresso Smoothie
Do you want a summer iced coffee that’s strong enough to keep you awake the whole day? If so, then this Espresso Smoothie is for you.
The main ingredient in this summer drink is espresso.
What separates it from a regular cold espresso drink is the texture. A smoothie version feels thicker and more like breakfast than a quick coffee hit.
When I make one at home, frozen banana and Greek yogurt change it most. They soften the espresso and give the drink enough body to feel like a smoothie instead of flavored iced coffee.
The trick is to choose ingredients that do not bury the coffee.
I have also seen peanut butter used, along with whatever milk is on hand instead of yogurt. Coconut milk brings a fuller texture, though I would not call it a light option.
Flavored whey protein can work too if you want a more filling drink.
If making one at home is too much effort, a Frappuccino from Starbucks gets you close enough to that creamy, blended feel.
4. Iced Strawberry Latte
Strawberries are one of the easiest ways to make iced coffee feel more like a summer drink.
This drink includes a shot of espresso, your choice of milk (whole or coconut milk are richest), and homemade strawberry syrup.
Homemade strawberry syrup sounds fussy, but it is simpler than it looks.
I just simmer strawberries, sugar, and water over low to medium heat until the color and scent turn syrupy.
Once it is ready, I pour it into a tall glass with milk and ice, then finish with a shot of espresso.
It makes a sweet latte, and I have even skipped the espresso when I wanted something coffee-adjacent instead of fully caffeinated.
5. Affogato
Vanilla ice cream is the kind of thing most of us already associate with hot weather.
Used with coffee, it becomes a float that feels more like an afternoon treat than an ordinary iced drink.
The nice thing is that it works at home or in a coffee shop, so you do not need much to make it happen.
If you want to have an affogato at home, all you need is a scoop of vanilla ice cream with an espresso shot on it; if you don’t have an espresso machine, no problem!
I have tried it with regular coffee, instant coffee, leftovers, and cold brew concentrate, and the base changes the final drink more than you might expect.
Pouring matters too. If the coffee is too hot, the ice cream melts fast. If it has cooled a bit, the drink stays layered longer and tastes sweeter, which I prefer when I want each sip to feel a little different.
A splash of coffee liqueur can turn it into a boozy dessert, and the coffee, syrup, and ice cream hold up better than I expected.
6. Coffee Jelly
Coffee jelly is one of those desserts that sounds unusual until you try the texture.
While the coffee jelly isn’t a summer beverage, you can use it to spice up many of your coffee beverages.
It comes from Japan and is basically coffee set with gelatin, so it works as a topping for affogato or even mixed into iced matcha latte.
I like it in a glass of milk with ice because the jelly turns the drink from plain into something you have to chew a little.
To make it at home, mix gelatin powder, water, coffee, and sugar, then pour it into a container. Ice cube trays give you cleaner cubes, but any dish will do.
If you do not have a tray, just cut it after it chills. Once it sets, it is ready to slice and serve.
7. Homemade Boba Latte
If you already like boba, the idea of putting those pearls in coffee makes a lot more sense than it first sounds.
I thought it would feel odd the first time I saw it, but coffee and boba work together better than I expected. The sweetness and chewiness fit a latte better than I would have guessed, and the drink feels closer to a dessert order than a standard coffee.
All you need is an espresso shot, your choice of milk, boba pearls, and any sweetener you like.
First, pull a shot of espresso and let it cool.
Then cook the boba according to the package instructions. Add the cooled espresso, milk, ice, cooked boba, and sweetener if you want it sweeter, and the drink is ready.
The pearls give a regular latte a very different texture, and that is the part that makes it fun.
8. Vietnamese Iced Coffee
When I want a sweeter summer coffee, Vietnamese iced coffee is usually near the top of the list.
It can feel heavy because the sweetened condensed milk brings a lot of richness and sweetness into the cup. If you do not want something dessert-like, that is worth keeping in mind.
That said, it is exactly the kind of drink I reach for when I want something indulgent.
Vietnamese iced coffee is a mixture of sweetened condensed milk, coffee, and ice.
It is usually made with a Vietnamese phin, though a drip coffee maker will work if that is what you have.
The recipe is simple: brew the coffee, then add sweetened condensed milk and ice.
If your neighborhood coffee shop carries it, it is worth ordering once just to compare it with a standard iced latte.
9. Iced Coffee Orange Juice
Coffee and orange juice still sound strange to me on paper, but the combination is more interesting than messy.
It is also easy to make and does not require any fancy equipment.
All you need to do is mix half a cup of brewed coffee or two espresso shots with half a cup of orange juice.
The first thing I notice here is the acidity. Both orange juice and coffee are acidic, but mixing them does not automatically make the drink taste harsher.
If either drink already tastes sharp to you, the combination may feel that way too. I would still think of it as more of a curious one-off than something I would order regularly.
10. Java Chip Frappuccino
Java Chip Frappuccino has the kind of chocolate, cream, and coffee mix that feels built for hot weather.
I like how easy it is to order at Starbucks, especially when I want something colder and sweeter than my usual iced coffee.
It is also one of the easier Frappuccino-style drinks to recreate at home.
All you have to do is blend coffee, chocolate syrup, chocolate chips, whole or coconut milk, ice, and some sugar and you’re all set. You can even sprinkle some cocoa powder on top for extra indulgence.
The one thing to keep in mind is that it is a rich drink, so I do not treat it like an everyday coffee.
The chocolate flavor makes it easy to keep sipping, which is great until you realize you have finished more of it than you planned.
12. Iced Oat Milk Latte
If you are vegan or lactose-intolerant, an iced oat milk latte is an easy summer swap.
It is still basically a regular latte, just made with oat milk instead of dairy.
The sweetness of the oat blends perfectly with the bitter taste of coffee, making it a refreshing drink even on hot sweltering days.
I would not call it a health drink, but it does feel lighter than a dairy-heavy latte.
In addition, Starbucks is now offering oat milk as an alternative to regular milk, alongside almond milk and coconut milk.
This means that you can order Starbucks oat milk drinks without any problem.
If I want to make it more interesting, I add maple syrup or hazelnut syrup. Those flavors sit nicely on top of the oat milk without overpowering the espresso.
12. Coffee Lemonade
Another odd summer coffee drink worth trying is coffee lemonade.
It sounds like a bad idea at first, but the mix of citrus and coffee is more refreshing than I expected.
This drink is popular in Sweden and known as Kaffelemonad. So, if it’s popular in Sweden, aren’t you curious about what makes this drink so famous?
The origin story points to Sweden, but I am more interested in the fact that you can make it at home without much gear.
All you need is a mason jar or cocktail shaker. Shake lemon juice with honey or sugar, then pour it over ice and tonic water.
Finish it with a shot of espresso or brewed coffee. The result is sharp, fizzy, and a lot more drinkable than I would have guessed from the ingredient list.
13. German Ice Cream Coffee
If you want a drink that leans more dessert-like, this German-style coffee is a good one to try.
Also known as Eiskaffee, the German ice cream coffee resembles an affogato since they have the same main ingredients.
The whipped cream on top gives it a fuller, softer finish than a standard iced coffee.
At home, it is just a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a glass, topped with chilled espresso or brewed coffee and finished with whipped cream.
Chocolate syrup, chocolate sprinkles, or cocoa powder make it even more dessert-like if you already have them around.
It is the sort of drink I make when I want coffee and dessert in the same glass.
14. Chemex Iced Coffee
One downside of cold coffee drinks is waiting for hot coffee to cool, unless you are making cold brew.
A Chemex can speed that up if you already have one sitting on the counter.
You do need the brewer, though, so this only helps if you already own it.
If you do, the process is straightforward.
You just need to put ice on the Chemex brewer and brew your coffee as you would typically do.
Brew the coffee, pour it into a cup right away, and add plenty of ice. The heat will melt some of it, so I usually make the cup a little fuller than I think I need.
15. Coffee Ice Cubes
Last on the list are coffee ice cubes, and they are probably the easiest thing here to prep ahead.
Basically, you just pour cooled-down brewed coffee into an ice cube tray and freeze it. Make sure you’ve removed all the coffee grounds from the coffee beans or it can end up a bit grainy.
I like them in iced drinks and especially in cold brew or a cold brew float.
They also work in milk, and you can even eat them on their own if you do not mind a bitter finish.
They are a simple way to keep summer drinks from getting watered down, and I usually keep a tray in the freezer once the weather turns warm.
How to make summer coffee drinks at home
If you want to make more interesting coffee drinks at home this summer, there are a few easy ways to start.
The most affordable route is usually cold brew concentrate, which you can use as a base for several drinks on this list.
All you need to do to make cold brew is literally brew coffee in cold water for around 12-24 hours. Once the brewing is done, you can store the cold brew coffee for two weeks in your fridge.
Because it keeps well, I usually make a bigger batch and use it as a concentrate when I want quick drinks later in the week.
Another option is an espresso machine with freshly ground beans.
If you have one at home, espresso is also a solid base for summer drinks, as long as you are using beans that suit espresso.
I have used Chemex, Aeropress, and French press too, depending on how much time I have before the coffee needs to cool and go over ice.
Some brewing methods still need a cooling step before they make sense for an iced drink.
It also helps to keep a few sweeteners around, like honey and syrups, plus cocoa powder if you like a dusting on top.
Those small additions can change the drink more than I expected when I started making iced coffee at home. I also like switching between almond, oat, nonfat, and coconut milk to see which one fits the coffee best, since each one changes the body and sweetness a little differently.
If you want to test your own ideas, making a summer coffee recipe from scratch is a good place to start.
Summer drinks at Starbucks (Coffee & non-coffee options)
If home drinks feel like too much work, buying them at Starbucks is the quicker option.
This coffee chain is known to offer a wide variety of drinks, ranging from Starbucks vanilla drinks, mocha drinks, hazelnut drinks, and matcha drinks, and you can even order Starbucks viral TikTok beverages if you wish .
Any iced drink or Frappuccino works well in warm weather, so you still have plenty of choices.
I also check secret menu ideas when I want something a little different.
Or you can build your own combination and ask the barista to make it for you.
FAQs
Is it OK to drink hot coffee in summer?
Yes, you can drink hot coffee in summer. I still do it sometimes, but once the temperature climbs, I tend to reach for iced coffee because the hot cup feels less comfortable.
Do summer coffees have more caffeine than other seasons?
With cold brew, the caffeine level can vary a lot, especially if you are using a concentrate. With espresso-based drinks, I pay more attention to the number of shots than whether the drink is served hot or iced.
Try a refreshing beverage this summer!
If you are looking for summer coffee ideas, this list gives you plenty to try at home or order out.
Hopefully it helps you find a drink that suits the season. If you have a summer coffee recipe you love, I would be glad to hear it.
