10 Refreshing Caffeinated Drinks for Summer

When summer hits, you’re ready to ditch the hot coffee for some ice cold, refreshing coffee drinks. Summer is for indulging in coffee cocktails, flavored cold brews, iced coffee concoctions and blended coffee drinks.

The days are longer and your need for caffeine is even stronger.  While all of our blends make bold, smooth iced coffee, we decided to kick it up a notch and release Ice Breaker, a roast specially crafted to make a strong, flavorful iced coffee.

Here are 10 unique coffee drinks that will keep you wired all summer long. After all, no one looks back on their life and remembers the nights they had plenty of  sleep. 

1. CHURRO ICED COFFEE FLOAT

Like summer in a glass, this Churro Iced Coffee Float hits the spot every time. It’s sweet, spicy and decadent—with a double shot of espresso—and will keep you buzzing all summer long. [Source: Delish] 

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 can sweetened condensed milk  
• 1/2 cup half-and-half, coffee creamer or a plant-based coffee creamer 
• 4 cinnamon sticks 
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 
• 2 shots espresso  
• Ice or coffee ice cubes 
• Cold cream soda 
• Vanilla ice cream 
• Cinnamon sugar 

Pro Tip: If you don’t have an espresso machine, you can still get that bold espresso taste by brewing Death Wish Coffee Espresso Roast. 

Directions: 

1. Combine condensed milk, half-and-half and cinnamon sticks in a small saucepan over low heat to make churro creamer. 
2. Cook on low heat for 8 minutes until cinnamon is infused. Remove from heat, discard cinnamon sticks and add vanilla. 
3. Pour churro creamer into a mason jar and refrigerate.  
4. Brew Death Wish Coffee Ice Breaker.  
5. Fill a tall glass with ice and add espresso shots and 2 ounces of churro creamer. 
6. Top off glass with cream soda and garnish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and cinnamon sugar. 

2. BLUEBERRY COFFEE SMOOTHIE

When I sip, you sip, we sip. This smoothie is "berry" good, trust me. Made with iced coffee, frozen blueberries, maple syrup and milk, this Blueberry Coffee Smoothie recipe will blue you away. [Source: Sweet and Savory Meals] 

Ingredients: 

• 1 packet Death Wish Instant Coffee or 1 cup freshly brewed Death Wish Coffee Ice Breaker
• 1 cup boiling water 
• 1 cup frozen blueberries  
• 1/4 cup maple syrup  
• 1 cup milk or a plant-based coffee creamer
• 1 banana  
• Ice or coffee ice cubes

Directions:  

1. Mix instant coffee with water. Let it cool to room temperature and transfer to the fridge.  
2. In a high-speed blender, combine all ingredients and 1 cup chilled coffee.  
3. Blend until well combined and smooth. 
4. Pour into a glass and enjoy!  

3. MAPLE ALMOND ICE BREAKER

This 4-ingredient drink is the perfect way to start the morning—especially when you’re sleep deprived. All you need is ice, coffee, maple syrup and milk. [Source: A Taste of Madness] 

Ingredients: 

• Ice or coffee ice cubes
• 1 cup Death Wish Coffee Ice Breaker
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup 
• 1/2 cup milk or a plant-based coffee creamer
• Extra: pinch of sea salt 

Directions:  

1. In a tall glass or mason jar, combine the ice, cold brew and maple syrup.  
2. Pour the milk into a separate mason jar. Close and shake until frothy.  
3. Pour the milk over the cold brew and add a pinch of sea salt. 

4. LEMONADE ICED COFFEE

Forget the lime in the coconut. Put the lemon in the coffee cup and mix it all up! This coffee lemonade is sweet, refreshing and caffeinated so you can make the most of your long summer days. [Source: Milk and Pop] 

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup orange juice 
• 1 cup Death Wish Coffee Ice Breaker
• Ice or coffee ice cubes
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 
• Extra: 1/3 cup honey 

Directions: 

1. Combine coffee, orange juice, lemon juice and honey in a mason jar and stir.  
2. Add ice cubes to a tall glass or mason jar and fill halfway. 
3. Pour lemonade iced coffee into the tall glass over the ice cubes. 
4. Stir and enjoy! 

[Photo Credit: Zachary Keimig via Unsplash]

5. FRESH MINT ICED COFFEE

Iced coffee spiked with fresh mint and vanilla syrup. Like a mint mojito with a caffeinated kick, this crisp, cool and refreshing concoction is enough to put you in a caffeinated daze. [Source: How Sweet Treats] 

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup freshly ground Death Wish Coffee Ice Breaker
• 1 cup water 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 2/3 cup fresh mint leaves 
• 1 vanilla bean 
• Optional: 3 tablespoons milk or plant-based creamer

Directions:  

1. Add water, sugar, mint leaves and vanilla beans (empty pod) to a small saucepan over medium heat.  
2. Whisk the mint syrup mixture until the sugar dissolves and comes to a boil. Reduce heat and allow it to cool.  
3. Place the mint syrup in a bowl until it reaches room temperature. Then place in fridge overnight.  
4. Before using, strain the mint leaves and vanilla pod from the mint syrup. 
5. Place ice cubes or coffee ice cubes in a mason jar. 
6. Brew Death Wish Coffee and allow it to cool to room temperature. Pour coffee into the ice-filled glass. 
7. Pour fresh mint syrup over the coffee and top it off with some fresh mint leaves.  

6. ICED COFFEE MARGARITA

Espresso-flavored tequila, anyone? Warning: Can cause rosy, warm cheeks and make you wobble a little—and if you drink enough, you WILL fall down (but seriously, please drink responsibly.)

[Source: Today] 

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 ounce silver tequila 
• 1 ounce espresso or Death Wish Coffee
• 1 ounce triple sec 
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice 
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil  
• Ice or coffee ice cubes
• Cocktail shaker 

Directions:  

1. Brew coffee or make espresso and allow to cool.  
2. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake to chill.  
3. Strain over fresh ice into a cocktail glass and stir. 

7. NUTELLA BLENDED FROZEN COFFEE

Getting your caffeine fix just got so much better with this easy 3-ingredient recipe. You're welcome.

[Source: The Flavor Bender] 

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup  Nutella or hazelnut spread 
• 1/4 warm milk or plant-based creamer
• 2 cups Death Wish Coffee Ice Breaker
• Coffee ice cubes
• Extras: whipped cream and Nutella sauce 

Directions: 

1. Place Nutella in a bowl and add warm milk. Whisk until you have a smooth Nutella sauce. 
2. Place the milk and Nutella in the blender until the Nutella is completely mixed with the milk.  
3. Add the coffee ice cubes to the blender. Blend on high speed until the ice cubes are crushed and you have a slushie consistency.  
4. Drizzle Nutella sauce (from step 1) into a glass or mason jar.  
5. Pour your Nutella Blended Frozen Coffee into the glass.  
6. Top it off with whipped cream and Nutella sauce and enjoy!  

[Photo Credit: Jonathan Borba via Unsplash]

8. KICKED-UP COFFEE GRANITA

If you're looking for that sundown treat to hit the spot, this is it. It may be a bit more time-consuming than whipping up a Frappuccino, but it’s worth the wait. [Source: Cooks With Cocktails] 

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups cream, half-and-half or a plant-based creamer
• 1 vanilla bean 
• 4 ounces Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur  
• 4 cups Death Wish Coffee Ice Breaker
• 4 ounces Kahlua  
• 2 freezer proof containers (glass freezes faster) 

Directions: 

1. Brew Death Wish Coffee and pour into a large, freezer-friendly glass container to cool.  
2. Add the creamer to a new freezer proof container.  
3. Scrape the insides of the vanilla bean and add to the cream. Mix the creamer and vanilla bean until all the sticky vanilla breaks apart. 
4. Add the Bailey’s to the creamer container and stir.  
5. Add the Kahlua to the container with the cooled coffee and stir. 
6. Place both containers in the freezer and allow them to cool for about 45 minutes. 
7. Take the containers out and scrape them with a fork to move the coffee and creamer around. Place them back in the freezer for another 45 minutes. Repeat this process until both the coffee and the creamer are slushy. 
8. Fill up a glass with the coffee slush and top it off with the cream slush and indulge! 

9. ICED BOBA COFFEE

What’s better than bubble tea? Iced boba coffee. You get the same consistency of bubble tea with the chewy tapioca balls—but with a caffeinated kick. This homemade recipe only requires 6 ingredients and will be ready in 20 minutes. [Source: Budget Delicious] 

Ingredients: 

• 1/3 cup black tapioca pearls  
• Sweetener like honey or brown sugar 
• 1 cup freshly brewed Death Wish Coffee Ice Breaker
• Milk, creamer or a plant-based creamer
• 1/2 cup ice or coffee ice cubes 
• Wide straw for slurping  

Directions:  

1. Brew Death Wish Coffee and allow it to cool. 
2. Cook tapioca according to package instructions.  
3. When done, transfer the tapioca pearls into a cup of ice for 5 minutes and strain. 
4. Pour the pearls into a glass or mason jar and fill with 1/2 cup ice.  
5. Pour cooled coffee over the ice until about 3/4 full. 
6. Top with cream and enjoy!  

[Photo Credit: Rosalind Chang via Unsplash]

10. LONG ISLAND ICED COFFEE

Potent, refreshing, caffeinated and may get you feeling a little frisky. This creation is a spin-off of the classic Long Island Iced Tea—but with a strong coffee buzz.

[Source: Super Golden Bakes] 

Ingredients: 

• 1 tablespoon dark rum 
• 1 tablespoon vodka 
• 1 tablespoon gin 
• 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur  
• 2 tablespoon ginger beer 
• 1-2 tablespoons lime juice 
• 3/4 cup Death Wish Coffee Ice Breaker
• 1-2 lime wedges 
• 1 cocktail shaker 

Directions: 

1. Brew Death Wish Coffee and cool in fridge. 
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all the spirits and lime juice. Shake until ingredients are combined. 
3. Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour the cocktail mixture into the glass.  
4. Add ginger beer and coffee to the glass and stir. 
5. Garnish with lime wedges and enjoy!

Shatter Your Expectations of Iced Coffee

Meet our newest addition to the Death Wish family—Ice Breaker. A brew that’ll baffle your understanding of hot AND cold coffee. Get ready to make these recipes with the boldest at-home iced coffee ever imagined.

[Featured Image Credit: Pariwat Pannium via Unsplash]

RELATED: Iced Coffee vs. Cold Brew: What's the Difference?