Guest article by Kristin Leigh
The Texas sun is as incessant and nagging as your great uncle at a family reunion and there’s little chance to escape it, short of hunkering down in a dark, air conditioned bunker until October when, hopefully, the mercury drops to bearable.
This time of year, Austin coffee shops have you covered. Armed with these ten quenching iced drinks, rest assured you’ll have found the silver lining to these dog days of summer.
#1 Radio Coffee: Stumptown Cold Brew
Stumptown cold brew at Radio Coffee
Portland, Oregon might not have brutal summers, but they do know how to make a mean cold brew. Owner Jack Wilson was inspired to start Radio Coffee after a stint in Seattle, and he brought an amazing Pacific Northwest cold brew back with him.
The crema on Radio Coffee’s nitro pour let’s you know you’re in for velvet smooth, frosty coffee, no ice needed. Pair with a Veracruz taco (they have a food truck on site) and the heavenly combination makes for a breakfast you’ll be dreaming about all day long.
4208 Manchaca Rd – Website
#2 Summermoon Coffee: Iced Winter Moon Mocha and Frozen Chai
Summermoon’s airy Buda location (Credit: Summermoon Coffee)
Let the coffee magicians at Summermoon work their wizardry on your mocha and take your espresso to the next level with their housemade, top secret Moon Milk and wood fired espresso beans. After one sip, you’ll be a convert.
If you’d rather enjoy a cold drink without any intergalactic involvement, try the frosty Frozen Chai.
3115 S 1st St 1 B and 316 N Main St in Buda, TX – Website
#3 Cuvee: Black & Blue Nitro Cold Brew
Cuvee’s Black & Blue nitro fresh from the tap
A hometown favorite, this canned cold brew is ubiquitous at bodegas and eateries all over town, but it’s worth enjoying a glass of Cuvee’s Black & Blue nitro on tap at their flagship East Austin coffee shop.
Step inside Cuvee’s sleek, modern cafe and prepare to be inspired. After your eyes adjust from the bright sun to the dim interior lighting, the state of the art brewing system at the heart of the shop draws you in. Baristas whip up drinks and will pass you a freshly poured Black & Blue, cold brewed to perfection.
2000 E 6th St – Website
#4 Beware Coffee: Cafe Affogato
Some desserts are classics for a reason and this one-of-a-kind coffee cart is one of the best spots to enjoy a Cafe Affogato in Austin. Savor shots of espresso over ice cream under their unique tented seating or stroll through the tree lined streets of Hyde Park while you indulge.
2908 Fruth St – Facebook Page
#5 Seventh Flag: Tibetan Tiger Iced Tea
Looking to enjoy a refreshing drink without overcaffeinating? Head to South First’s newest coffee shop and sip Tibetan Tiger in this hip cafe. Seventh Flag sources their teas from New York-based T Salon and this exotic oolong bursts with rich chocolate, caramel and vanilla flavors.
1506 S 1st St – Website
#6 Pacha Coffee: Iced Pacha Latte
It’s tempting to get distracted as you enter Pacha. This cozy cafe serves drinks and smoothies, and is stocked to the brim with organic treats and small bites that beg you to hang out a while.
First things first: make sure to order an Iced Pacha Latte. Pacha’s signature latte is a creamy blend of cold brew and soy milk, decadent and rich with just a hint of sweetness that kicks your tired coffee routine up a notch.
4618 Burnet Rd – Website
#7 Houndstooth: Iced Coffee Julep
Not sure if you need a cocktail or a coffee for happy hour? Houndstooth continues to raise the bar with trend setting espresso drinks, and the Coffee Julep is no exception. Creating a refreshing concoction made with the same care and attention to detail as a craft cocktail, baristas mix espresso with vanilla and fresh mint and pour over icey San Pellegrino.
Available until Labor Day, take advantage of your opportunity to enjoy this drink while it lasts.
401 Congress Ave, Ste 100 – Website
#8 Spider House: The Bon Bon
Full bar at Spider house (Credit: John Cabuena).
If you’re craving a sweet, boozy and caffeine laden trifecta, head to Spider House. Brandy and espresso swirl through a glass of sweetened condensed milk in this over the top treat.
2908 Fruth St – Website
#9 Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery: Vietnamese Iced Coffee
This Hyde Park bakery has been churning out coffee drinks and pastries for sleepy eyed hipsters for over thirty years and there’s a reason why locals continue to flock to this quirky spot.
The baristas at Quack’s don’t mess around, serving this chicory coffee and condensed milk slurry in giant cups nestled in a bed of crunchy ice. The drink is a sugar infused punch in the mouth. If you don’t feel invigorated after indulging in this potent, sweet beverage, consider yourself beyond help.
411 E 43rd St – Website
#10 Bennu Coffee: Iced Coffee Frappe
Credit: Steve Williams
One part coffee, one part milkshake, Bennu’s Iced Coffee Frappes are the perfect motivation to get you through all night study sessions at this 24 hour coffeehouse. The staff at Bennu take their chilled offerings so seriously that owner Steve Williams is behind another iced coffee start up, Chameleon Cold Brew.
2001 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd – Website
Making it to fall in Central Texas can be a challenge, to say the least. It’s as if mother nature is hazing Austin residents, daring us to head north to cooler climes. But this collection of the best iced drinks in Austin inspires us to kick back, cool off and stay awhile.
@theAustinot wants to know:
What’s your favorite iced drink in Austin?
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