What to Drink When Brisbane Heats Up: Iced Coffee, Cold Brew & Summer Sips

Too hot for a flat white? Here's what to drink instead

If you live in Brisbane, you know the feeling. It's 7am, already 28 degrees, and the humidity hits you the second you step outside. A steaming cup of coffee suddenly feels like a punishment.

The good news: you don't have to give up good coffee for summer. You just need to change how you make it. We've been roasting coffee in South East Queensland since 1982, so we've had plenty of hot summers to work out what actually tastes great when the mercury climbs.

Here are our favourite summer coffee drinks for Brisbane weather, how to make them at home, and which beans to use.

1. Cold brew: the Brisbane summer staple

Cold brew is coffee steeped in cold water for 12 to 18 hours. Because no heat is involved, it comes out smooth, naturally sweet and low in bitterness. It's also the easiest way to have great iced coffee ready in the fridge all week.

How to make cold brew at home:

1. Coarsely grind 100g of coffee (think raw sugar texture).
2. Add it to a jar or jug with 800ml of cold, filtered water and stir.
3. Cover and steep in the fridge for 12 to 18 hours.
4. Strain through a paper filter or fine mesh sieve.
5. Serve over ice, diluted 1:1 with water or milk.

The concentrate keeps for about a week in a sealed bottle in the fridge. For a clean, sweet cold brew, try our single origin Colombian Vienna. If you like it richer, Roasters Reserve (Caramel 4) brings chocolate and hazelnut. Want to know how cold brew differs from regular iced coffee? Read Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee: They're Not the Same Thing.

2. Iced latte and iced long black

If you're an espresso person, you don't need to switch teams. Just pour your shot over ice.

• Iced latte: Fill a tall glass with ice, add 150 to 200ml of cold milk, then pour a double shot of espresso over the top. It layers beautifully and mixes in as you sip.
• Iced long black: Fill a glass with ice and 100ml of cold water, then add a double shot. Crisp, bold and refreshing.

Tip: pull your espresso into a small jug first and let it cool for 30 seconds before pouring. Your ice melts slower and your drink stays stronger. For iced lattes, our Heritage Blend (Black Label) is the one, as it's our most popular blend with milk. For an iced long black, the balanced, milk-chocolatey Byron Blue Estate is grown right here in Australia.

3. Espresso tonic: the one to impress your mates

Espresso and tonic water sounds strange until you try it. The bitterness and fizz of the tonic lift the fruity notes in the coffee, and the result is closer to a summer spritz than a morning brew.

How to make an espresso tonic:

1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
2. Add 150ml of chilled tonic water.
3. Slowly pour a double shot of espresso over the back of a spoon so it floats.
4. Garnish with a slice of orange or a sprig of rosemary.

Pour the espresso slowly. Tonic foams up fast. A fruity, floral coffee works best here, so reach for our Ethiopian Mocca and save your darker blends for milk drinks.

4. Affogato: coffee and dessert in one

On a stinking-hot afternoon, nothing beats an affogato. It's simply a scoop of vanilla ice cream or gelato "drowned" in a fresh shot of espresso.

Put one or two scoops in a small glass or bowl, pour a hot shot over the top, and eat it straight away. For a grown-up version, add a splash of hazelnut liqueur, or a drizzle of Aromas coffee syrup to keep it alcohol-free. Roasters Reserve (Caramel 4), with its rich chocolate and hazelnut, gives you the classic dessert-bar flavour. For more ideas, see The Complete Coffee and Food Pairing Guide.

5. Not a coffee day? Try iced tea

Sometimes it's just too hot for caffeine-heavy drinks, especially in the afternoon. Cold-brewed tea is the answer, and it's even easier than cold brew coffee.

Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of loose leaf tea to a litre of cold water, refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours, then strain. Green tea, fruit infusions and herbal blends like peppermint all shine served this way. Add lemon, fresh mint or a little honey to taste.

Browse our Fruit & Iced Tea, Green Tea and Herbal Tea ranges, or follow our step-by-step guide on how to make iced tea at home. Still want the coffee taste late in the day? Our Decaf Coffee Beans make a great decaf cold brew.

Which coffee beans are best for iced coffee?

Cold drinks dull some flavours and highlight others, so the bean you pick matters. Here's a quick guide:

Freshness matters even more for cold drinks, because there's no heat to mask stale flavours. We roast in-house every day and rest our beans for at least 48 hours, so they reach you at their peak. Not sure which to choose? Take our coffee quiz.

Shop our coffee beans and find your summer favourite.

Beat the heat with Aromas

Brisbane summers are long, but your coffee routine doesn't have to suffer. Brew a jar of cold brew on Sunday, keep tonic in the fridge, and you're set for the week.

If you're local, drop into our roastery at Unit 4, 14-16 Cairns Street, Loganholme to pick up fresh beans and get brewing advice from the team, or call us on 1300 576 324. [Add opening hours.] Otherwise, order online and we'll deliver fresh roasted coffee across Brisbane and Australia.

Summer coffee FAQs

What is the best coffee drink for hot weather? Cold brew is the most refreshing option for hot weather. It's smooth, low in bitterness and can be made in advance, so it's ready whenever you need it.

Is cold brew stronger than iced coffee? Cold brew concentrate is stronger, but once diluted 1:1 it's similar to a regular coffee. Iced coffee is usually hot-brewed espresso poured over ice, so it tastes brighter and more bitter.

Can I use regular coffee beans for cold brew? Yes. Any beans work, but medium to medium-dark roasts with chocolate or caramel notes give the smoothest result. Grind them coarse.

How long does cold brew last in the fridge? Cold brew concentrate lasts about 7 days in a sealed container in the fridge. Diluted cold brew is best within 2 to 3 days.

Where can I buy fresh coffee beans in Brisbane? You can buy fresh roasted beans from the Aromas Coffee Roasters roastery in Loganholme or order online at aromas.com.au for delivery.