Coffee in summer, a refreshing option
Coffee in the summer can be not only stimulating, but also refreshing and delicious. In this post, we'll show you 5 summer coffee recipes that will help you forget (a little) about the heat.
We've all experienced that moment when we start to notice our body craving caffeine (after a nap...) but the idea of having a hot drink puts us off.
A good way to solve this dilemma is to prepare a Cold Brew coffee (a coffee with cold extraction) but for this we have to wait at least 15 hours (the time it takes to make the extraction) if we start from scratch.
In these situations, or simply because we crave other flavors and taste experiences, we can try these 5 recipes for a refreshing, stimulating, and fun summer coffee.
The starting point: an espresso (or failing that, an Italian coffee maker)
The first step in making these recipes is to make a good espresso. Note! This doesn't mean that if you don't have the means (read: the necessary equipment) to do it, these recipes won't work for you.
Espresso is our first choice for these 5 summer coffee recipes. Our second option is to use a Moka pot or Italian coffee maker for coffee extraction.
We do not recommend filter extractions as much since the TDS concentration is lower ( here you can see what that means ) and we may lose some of the coffee's flavor when mixing it.
An important point. A cold brew, which we call cold brew or cold coffee, is not the same as a hot brew that has been allowed to cool ; we call this coffee cooled.
The main difference is that hot brewing produces more acidic and bitter compounds than cold brewing. This isn't bad when we drink it hot, but cooling it increases our perception of these compounds , so we may find it too acidic or bitter.
Therefore, and only in these exceptional circumstances, you can add a little sugar or other sweeteners to these cold brew coffee recipes.
The espresso recipe
In any case, let's start by defining an espresso recipe and use this as the basis for our cold brew drinks (if you're using an Italian coffee maker, this post explains how to do it perfectly).
Since it is not our intention to develop the theory of espresso extraction here, we will use a standard recipe as a reference: 18 grams of coffee in a ratio of 1:2.22, which would give us a 40g drink.
The ratio is obtained by dividing the resulting amount of beverage (40 g) by the amount of coffee used (18 g). The result would be 40/18 = 2.22.
This extraction is often called a double espresso . It's so named because we'll use a double portafilter to make it. A single espresso would be the result of dividing this extraction in two (20 grams of beverage in each cup). With this as a base, we can start creating our summer coffee recipes.
1. Shakerato: iced coffee with lots of rhythm
Shakeratto coffee is made by combining espresso with ice and stirring briskly in a cocktail shaker. Here's the recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of espresso (what we have called double espresso, 40 ml in total)
- Ice
- Optional: a little sugar or other sweetener to taste, and a little vanilla.
Necessary equipment:
- Espresso machine or Italian coffee maker
- Shaker or cocktail shaker (preferably with a strainer lid)
- Cocktail glass or chilled glass
Instructions:
Prepare 1 shot of espresso using the standard recipe mentioned above.
If you want to sweeten the drink a little, we recommend adding the sweetener now, so that it dissolves well while it's hot.
Fill the shaker about halfway with ice and shake.
Pour the espresso over the ice in the cocktail shaker.
Cover the shaker and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds. This will help cool the coffee quickly and create a light foam on top.
To serve, you can add more ice to a chilled glass or cocktail glass. Then, place a strainer over the glass and pour the contents of the shaker to prevent ice cubes from entering the drink.
And now you have a professional Shakerato. The combination of cold espresso and light foam makes for a refreshing drink with an intense flavor . This is the first of our summer coffee recipes. But there's more...
2. Iced latte: summer coffee for those who like life creamy
An Iced Latte is a creamy, cold coffee drink that combines espresso with milk and ice. We've dedicated an entire post to what a latte is , in case you're interested in learning more about this (a controversial topic...).
We're not going to get into the debate here, and we'll use a standard latte recipe to apply to this summer coffee recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of espresso (what we have called double espresso, 40 ml in total)
- 180g cold milk (you can use cow's milk, plant-based milk such as almond, soy, oat, etc.)
- Ice
- Optional: a little sugar or other sweetener to taste.
Equipment:
- Espresso machine or Italian coffee maker
- Jug of milk
- Steamer or milk frother (for heating or frothing milk)
- Tall glass or serving cup
Instructions:
Prepare 1 shot of espresso using the standard recipe mentioned above.
If you want to sweeten the drink a little, we recommend adding the sweetener now, so that it dissolves well while it's hot.
Fill a tall glass or mug one-third to one-half full with 180 grams of hot or cold milk.
To achieve the creamy texture of a hot latte , you must froth the milk with a steamer or milk frother , and this works best when the milk is hot.
Pour the espresso over the frothed milk in the glass and add ice cubes to the glass until it is full.
Stir well to combine the espresso, milk and ice.
3. Cold Brew Recipe: For Purists
This is our recommended way to drink coffee in the summer . It's refreshing, stimulating, and maintains all the organoleptic qualities of a specialty coffee. And it's the only one that isn't based on espresso and you won't need to sweeten it.
But we understand that it requires more preparation time or that you want to experiment with other options (at your own risk…).
Since we've already written an entire post about this way of preparing cold brew coffee in the summer , we won't go into detail. We'll simply remind you that cold brew coffee is not the same as chilled coffee.
This is our suggested recipe for making a delicious cold brew. The ratio, if you want to make more or less than this amount, is 1 g of coffee and 15 g/ml of water. You'll need:
Ingredients:
- Coffee 40 g
- Water 600 g/ml
Equipment:
- A mesh or silk
- A glass container
Instructions:
We grind the coffee with a medium grind.
We pour the coffee directly into the mesh.
We introduce the mesh into a glass container.
We pour the water into the container through the mesh with the coffee.
We stir gently.
We cover the container.
We let it rest for 15 hours in the refrigerator (be careful of strong odors!)
After this resting time, we remove the mesh with the coffee and it's ready. Our favorite way to drink coffee in the summer!
4. Affogato: for those sweetened by nature
Affogato is a delicious and simple combination of hot espresso with vanilla ice cream. In this case, we don't want to chill the coffee; we're interested in the combination of hot and cold. We also don't need to sweeten it...
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of espresso (what we have called double espresso, 40 ml in total)
- Vanilla ice cream
Equipment
- Espresso machine or Italian coffee maker
- Cup or serving cup
Instructions:
Prepare 1 shot of espresso using the standard recipe mentioned above.
Place 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream in a cup or mug. The amount of ice cream will depend on your preference and the size of the cup. We recommend a small scoop to maintain the coffee's richness.
Pour the hot espresso over the vanilla ice cream in the cup or mug.
And that's it! The combination of hot espresso with vanilla ice cream creates a unique experience of contrasting flavors and temperatures . And with a very sweet touch. Perfect as a dessert for coffee lovers in the summer... and always!
5. Espresso Tonic: for those who like bubbles
Our latest summer coffee recipe is perfect as a mid-morning or afternoon snack. It's a refreshing coffee drink that combines espresso with tonic water, creating a unique blend of flavors.
Ingredients:
- 1 shot of espresso (what we have called double espresso, 40 ml in total)
- A cold tonic
- Ice
- Optional: slice of lemon or lime
Equipment:
- Espresso machine or Italian coffee maker
- Serving glass
Instructions:
Prepare 1 shot of espresso using the standard recipe mentioned above.
Fill a tall glass halfway with ice.
Fill the glass with the cold tonic.
Pour the espresso over the bacon and ice.
Gently stir with a long spoon to combine the espresso and tonic.
If you wish, you can add a slice of lemon or lime for a citrusy, decorative touch.
The combination of intense, concentrated espresso with the light, effervescent flavor of tonic water creates a stimulating, refreshing, and bubbly summer coffee drink .
Don't get hot
As we've seen, there's no need to be overwhelmed by the thought of a hot cup of coffee on a hot summer afternoon. These 5 summer coffee recipes are easy, delicious, and refreshing alternatives that will stimulate all your senses.
For us, the ideal cold brew coffee will always be Cold Brew—which , again, is not the same as chilled coffee. It's the way we best appreciate all the tasting notes of a specialty coffee.
In our online specialty coffee shop, we have specific coffees for making Cold Brew , and in this post, we explain all the secrets of how to do it.
And remember, the foundation of good coffee is always good coffee! By this, we mean specialty coffee that has been grown, processed, roasted, and packaged with the utmost care to protect all its organoleptic properties.
Don't get too hot. Try one of these recipes and you'll see that coffee is also a great way to cool off.
