Spectacularly brewed siphon coffee, or a refined espresso from La Marzocco – home baristas love getting the most out of their precious beans. But coffee isn’t just for hot drinks – served cold and with a bit of creativity, it opens up entirely new flavour dimensions. Here are our tips for the trendiest coffee drinks for (not only) hot days – bet you haven’t tried them all yet!
How does the caffeine addict get their much-needed fix when the heat kills any desire for cappuccinos and other hot drinks? Everyone knows about the White Russian and Espresso Martini, but the world of coffee is much more diverse, and there are countless mixers to play with. With a bottle of limoncello in hand, we set off to visit our friends at Fietsen, a cycling café in Stuttgart, to mix and sample five summer coffee drinks. To be precise, four with actual coffee and another caffeinated classic that no speciality café in the world should be without. Curious? Here are the drinks, prepared by Robi, who brings years of barista experience from running her own café in London.
Citrus Freshness Meets Caffeine Kick – Espresso Limoncello Spritz
Espresso? Sure. Limoncello? Absolutely. But, together in one glass? With tonic water? Raised eyebrows. Just go for it, Robi.
What do you need? Ingredients for the Espresso Limoncello Spritz
10 cl tonic water
2–3 cl limoncello
1 freshly extracted shot of espresso
The Verdict
The alcoholic version of the Espresso Tonic rewards an adventurous spirit, combining the best of both worlds: Espresso provides a little caffeine boost, while the limoncello and tonic give a refreshing coolness, with a touch of extravagance. Either way, you’ll be longing for Italy.
Flash Brew Almond Iced Latte: Ice, lots of ice
Five words for a single drink – the name rolls off the tongue about as easily as the Beatles’ LSD-inspired song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” But what’s truly numbing about this summer drink are the masses of ice inside. The reason? The filter coffee is freshly brewed over a heap of ice cubes, instantly chilling it, before being mixed with almond milk and even more ice in the glass.
What do you need? Ingredients for the Flash Brew Almond Iced Latte
250 ml filter coffee, extracted over a carafe filled with ice cubes
100 ml almond milk or your milk of choice
100 g ice cubes or crushed ice, depending on your preference
The Verdict
Admittedly, the Iced Latte is only truly beautiful at the moment of preparation, when brown and white swirl together in perfect harmony. Still, it’s a refreshing thirst-quencher and a classic for a reason, even if it doesn’t offer any surprises in terms of flavour. It’s just coffee with milk – the extravagance depends on your milk choice, as this summer coffee drink also works with spelt, cashew, or macadamia milk.
Refreshing coffee co*cktail, 13 letters – Espresso Tonic
Smartphone ready, Instagram-worthy rooftop setting? Then ice cubes in the glass, tonic on top, and once the bubbles have settled, sloooowly pour the freshly brewed espresso over the ice. Visually stunning, as the contrasting layers swirl through the glass like mist and the crema floats beautifully on top. Likes guaranteed.
What do you need? Ingredients for the Espresso Tonic
15 cl tonic water
4 cl freshly extracted espresso
Ice cubes
The Verdict?
Double the bitter: The bitter note of tonic water harmonises surprisingly well with the espresso, and thanks to its subtle citrus hint, the drink is super refreshing on hot days. No wonder it’s secured a permanent spot on the menus of many cool urban cafés. Though the mystical layers fade quickly into a more unassuming iced tea look, you can counter that by adding a sprig of rosemary or a lemon slice as a visual touch – or just enjoy the drink quickly, standing at the bar.
Iced Matcha Latte – Odd one out
Dancing ice cubes in green and white. Mild, earthy notes in the air. In your mind, the satisfying feeling of holding something very healthy. The Japanese cult drink made from powdered green tea is a summer classic at Fietsen and other cosmopolitan café-bars. As a caffeine-packed energy booster, it makes for a refreshing change from the usual hot drinks, earning its rightful place in our lineup of liquid testers.
What do you need? Ingredients for the Iced Matcha Latte
2 tsp matcha powder
Bamboo whisk (or just a normal whisk)
30-50 ml of water to mix the powder
100 ml water for stirring
50-100 ml cold milk
Ice cubes
The Verdict
Matcha is like smoking – the first one tastes awful, the second isn’t much better, but by the third, your taste buds are craving more. If you love the slightly bitter, spinach-like taste of matcha, the refreshing iced version with milk is an absolute must in the summer.
Caperol – Fight the boredom!
Aperol, really? With the oversaturation of Spritz variations, it’s quickly finding its way onto the red list of summer drinks by now. But we’re still curious to see what the deep, earthy notes of cold brew will do when mixed with the bright red aperitif…
What do you need? Ingredients for the Caperol
35 ml Aperol
30 ml cold brew
35 ml tonic water
Ice cubes
Orange slice
The Verdict
Wow. Sweet and bitter, naturally. The individual ingredients are distinct, yet blend into a wonderfully new flavour. It’s like candy, or an ice cream substitute – the bitterness of the three main ingredients only reveals itself in the aftertaste. It’s a real reminder of why Aperol became so popular. And what a reason! We wish we had a beard like the Dude’s, just to savour it a little longer. And we’ve decided we need to rewatch The Big Lebowski soon.
What we learned at Fietsen
We’re pleased to conclude – first: Our beloved espresso performs just as well as cold coffee, and the fusion of barista skills and mixology is totally worth it. Second: Alcohol and coffee are a perfect match, not just in a White Russian or Espresso Martini. Just be careful with the ice, because – spoiler alert – ice melts! Otherwise, you’ll have to drink it quickly, and that would be such a shame.
Coffee drinks are like Ottolenghi recipes: familiar ingredients, reimagined, and wham! – you’ve got a surprise. Those who are curious and willing to experiment will be rewarded. Our summer has never tasted this good!
For more info about our wonderful hosts, visit fietsen-stuttgart.de
Words: Felicia Nastal Photos: Julian Schwede
