Cold Coffee Creations for Summer

There's something almost magical about that first sip of perfectly chilled coffee on a warm New England afternoon. Maybe you're sitting on T-wharf, watching the boats head out, or perhaps you're taking a break from tending your garden. Whatever the setting, cold coffee has become as much a part of our summer ritual as beach days and farmers markets.

Cold coffee isn't just hot coffee poured over ice – though there is no better way to use leftover coffee from the morning pot. The best cold coffee drinks are intentionally crafted to get the best flavor out of the coffee. When coffee is brewed cold or chilled quickly, different compounds are extracted, creating smoother, less acidic, and often more nuanced flavors.

Let's dive into a few cold coffee creations that'll keep you caffeinated this summer.

Cold Brew

Cold brew is an easy base for coffee drinks, and it really can be done with any of our coffees. The real difference is that we are brewing over time and in the cold.

What You'll Need:

• 1 cup coarsely ground coffee
• 4 cups cold water
• Large Ball jar or container
• Fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth or a Jarva coffee filtering system

The Method: Mix coffee and water in your container and stir well. Cover and let sit in your refrigerator for 12-24 hours. Strain out the grounds twice if needed for clarity or using something like what our friends over at Jarva have created. This cold brew concentrate can be stored for about a week. Mix equal parts cold brew concentrate with water or milk, add ice, and adjust strength to taste!

Coffee & Tonic

If you haven't tried coffee tonic yet, prepare for a nice treat. This drink sounds strange on paper but creates one of the most refreshing coffee experiences you can imagine.

What You'll Need:

• 3 oz cold brew concentrate (or strong cold coffee)
• 4-5 oz quality tonic water
• Ice
• Lemon wheel for garnish

The Method: Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in your cold brew concentrate, then slowly top with tonic water. The bubbles create a beautiful cascade effect, and that first sip delivers a complex interplay of bitter, sweet, and effervescent flavors. The quinine in the tonic water actually complements coffee's natural bitterness beautifully.

Cold Brew Lemonade

Another strange combination, the tartness of fresh lemon juice creates an incredible balance with cold brew's smooth richness.

What You'll Need:

• 4 oz cold brew concentrate
• 2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz simple syrup (adjust to taste)
• 4 oz sparkling or still water
• Fresh mint for garnish

The Method: Shake the cold brew, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice, then strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Top with water (sparkling adds a nice touch) and garnish with fresh mint. The result is surprisingly balanced – the acidity cuts through the coffee's richness while the caffeine keeps you alert through those long summer afternoons.

Japanese-Style Flash-Chilled Coffee

This technique gives you the bright, complex flavors of pour-over coffee with the refreshing temperature of iced coffee. It's all about the timing.

What You'll Need:

• Your favorite Motif coffee, ground for pour-over
• Ice (lots of it)
• Your pour-over setup

The Method: Use your normal pour-over ratio, but replace half the water with ice placed directly in your serving vessel. Brew the coffee hot over the ice, which immediately chills and locks in those bright, aromatic compounds that might be lost in traditional cold brewing.

The key is working quickly – you want that coffee to hit the ice while it's still hot. The result is a clean, bright iced coffee that tastes like the essence of your beans, concentrated and chilled.

Frozen Coffee Granita

When it's too hot for regular iced coffee, this Italian-inspired treat hits the spot.

What You'll Need:

• 2 cups strong cold coffee
• 1/4 cup sugar (adjust to taste)
• Optional: a splash of vanilla

The Method: Dissolve sugar in your coffee while it's still slightly warm, then freeze in a shallow dish. Every 30 minutes, scrape the mixture with a fork to break up ice crystals. After 3-4 hours, you'll have a slushy, granular texture that's incredibly refreshing. Serve in chilled glasses with a spoon.

Cold Brew Float

Think root beer float, but for coffee lovers.

What You'll Need:

• 6 oz cold brew
• 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
• Optional: a shot of hot espresso for contrast

The Method: Pour cold brew over ice cream in a tall glass. For the adventurous, add a shot of hot espresso on top – the temperature contrast is incredible. Use a good quality vanilla ice cream for best flavor.

Choosing the Right Beans for These Drinks

Different cold coffee drinks highlight different aspects of your beans. For cold brew concentrate, darker roasts like Twin Lights, Dogtown, and Nor'easter provide rich, chocolatey notes without excessive acidity. For flash-chilled coffee, lighter roasts like Lanesvillain and Halfmoon shine because the quick chilling preserves their bright, fruity characteristics.

Our seasonal blends often work beautifully in cold applications – the complexity that goes into creating a balanced blend really shows when the coffee is chilled and you can taste each note clearly.

Making It Your Own

The beauty of cold coffee is how forgiving it is. Start with these recipes as templates, then experiment. Try different syrups, add fresh fruit, play with different milks or creamers. Some of our customers swear by adding a pinch of sea salt to their cold brew, while others love incorporating local honey or maple syrup.

So grab your favorite Motif Roasters beans, fill up that ice tray, and start experimenting. Summer coffee has never tasted so good.