Summer is officially here!!
Depending on whereabouts in the UK you are, this may seem unbelievable but, trust us, June 20th marks the start of summer (astrologically speaking, at least…). And when the sun comes out and temperature starts to rise, caffeine lovers often find themselves facing a conundrum - what should I drink when it's too hot for coffee?
The answer, of course, is iced coffee! Cool, refreshing and delicious, iced coffee's popularity has grown steadily in recent years and the drink is now a summertime staple throughout the UK.
At Cafe2U, we offer a seasonal range of summery drinks, designed specifically with hot days in mind. This year, your local Cafe2U van will be offering:
Sparkling raspberry and pomegranate lemonade
Cherry or raspberry craft soda
Peach or lemon iced tea
Vanilla frappe, and
Any of our regular coffees served over ice!
Iced coffee is also easy to make and tailor to your own tastes, so refill your ice tray and we'll explain how to make one at home!
Basic iced coffee.
Iced coffee can either be poured hot over ice or served already chilled. If you're attempting the latter, start by making a cup of strong black coffee, then allow it to go completely cold. Pour it into a blender, add 60ml of milk, two handfuls of ice and your favourite-flavoured syrup - if using - then blend until smooth and serve in a tall glass.
If you usually add sugar to your brew, remember it doesn't dissolve easily in cold liquids, so you'll need to add it to the coffee before it cools or swap it for a sugary syrup. And don't worry about it being too strong as the ice will dilute and weaken the coffee!
Coffee lemonade.
If there's a drink that symbolises summer better than lemonade, we've yet to try it. Combining it with a hit of caffeine results in a refreshing drink you'll want to make every time the sun's out.
Making coffee lemonade couldn't be simpler. Just combine cold black coffee, 120ml of orange juice, 80ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 80ml of honey and two handfuls of ice cubes in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve in a tall glass half filled with more ice cubes and enjoy!
The sweet treat.
When the first ingredient is ice cream, you know you're onto a winner! Put a scoop of your favourite ice cream into a tall glass, cover it with cold black coffee, add another scoop of ice cream, then finish with a dash of sparkling water to make the whole thing fizz.
For an even greater sugar fix, thread your favourite jelly or gummy sweets onto a toothpick and lay across the mouth of the glass.
Peanut butter iced coffee.
OK, peanut butter isn't traditionally associated with summer, but trust us, this rich, creamy recipe will quench your thirst and cool you down in no time!
To make, simply combine peanut butter, Nutella and cream in a saucepan, then heat gently while whisking until the mixture is melted and smooth. Leave it to cool in the fridge, then pour into a blender alongside black coffee and ice and blitz until foamy.
Embrace summer with Cafe2U!
At Cafe2U, we love experimenting with new flavours and ingredients. Ask your nearest Cafe2U mobile barista about our summer range today!