When summer arrives and the temperatures begin to climb, coffee lovers don’t put away their favorite drink—they simply find new ways to enjoy it.
Everyone has their own “cold way” of drinking coffee when the heat is on. Whether it’s iced coffee, cold brew, frozen espresso drinks, or coffee poured over ice, there is something satisfying about getting your caffeine while staying cool.
But summer coffee culture looks very different depending on where you are in the world.
Italy: Hot Coffee, Even in the Heat
One thing often surprises visitors to Italy: despite the Mediterranean sunshine, Italians still happily drink hot espresso throughout the summer. Coffee is less about cooling off and more about taking a brief moment to slow down and enjoy a perfectly prepared espresso.
That doesn’t mean Italy lacks refreshing coffee traditions.
One of our absolute favorite Italian desserts is the Affogato—a scoop of creamy vanilla gelato or ice cream “drowned” with a freshly pulled shot of hot espresso. It’s one of the simplest desserts imaginable, yet one of the most satisfying.
During the hotter months you’ll also find refreshing favorites like:
● Caffè Shakerato — Espresso shaken vigorously with ice and a touch of liquid sugar until silky and frothy before being strained into a chilled glass.
● Caffè con Ghiaccio — Fresh espresso poured over a few ice cubes, creating an elegant, lightly chilled coffee without excessive sweetness.
Notice something? Italian summer coffee tends to stay simple. Rather than oversized sugary drinks loaded with syrups, the focus remains on letting excellent coffee speak for itself.
Austria: Coffee Meant to Be Savored
Travel north into Austria and you’ll find a somewhat cooler summer climate and an entirely different coffee culture.
Summer afternoons are often spent relaxing in Schanigärten—the charming sidewalk cafés where people linger for hours over conversation, pastries, and coffee.
Some traditional Austrian summer favorites include:
● Wiener Eiskaffee — Rich iced coffee served with vanilla ice cream and topped generously with whipped cream.
● Mazagran — Strong black coffee served over ice with sugar and traditionally a splash of rum.
● Verlängerter — Austria’s version of an Americano, often served with milk.
● Einspänner — A strong black coffee crowned with a thick layer of unsweetened whipped cream. While served hot, it’s beloved year-round—even in summer.
The Austrian café isn’t simply somewhere to grab coffee—it’s somewhere to spend time.
The Birth of Summer Coffee
The story of coffee as a true summer beverage actually began in the 1840s in Algeria.
French soldiers stationed at the fortress of Mazagran found themselves without fresh milk while enduring intense North African heat. They began mixing strong coffee with cold water and sugar, creating what is widely considered the world’s first iced coffee.
When the soldiers returned to France, they brought the drink with them, and from there it spread across Europe, evolving into countless regional variations.
From that humble beginning, summer coffee continued to evolve.
The 1920s
In the United States, the Joint Coffee Trade Publicity Committee launched advertisements encouraging Americans to “Cool Off With Coffee,” promoting coffee as something to enjoy throughout the year—not just during winter.
The 1950s and 1960s
Countries developed their own unique traditions.
Spain popularized Café del Tiempo, serving hot espresso alongside a glass of ice and lemon peel so customers could cool it to their liking.
In 1957, Greece introduced the now-famous Frappé, invented at the Thessaloniki International Fair. Instant coffee, water, and ice became one of the country’s defining summer drinks.
The 1990s
Large coffee chains transformed iced coffee into a worldwide commercial phenomenon. Starbucks, Dunkin’, and other companies introduced countless frozen beverages, flavored iced coffees, and bottled coffee drinks that brought cold coffee into the mainstream.
Today
Cold brew has become one of the defining coffee trends of the modern era. By steeping coffee in cold water for many hours instead of brewing it hot, cold brew creates a remarkably smooth, naturally sweet, and less acidic cup.
Nitro coffee, sparkling coffee refreshers, espresso tonics, and countless specialty drinks continue to push the boundaries of what summer coffee can be.
The Story Isn’t Finished
Perhaps the most exciting part of coffee culture is that it never stops evolving.
Traditional European drinks like the Shakerato and Mazagran are steadily making their way into cafés across the United States. At the same time, American roasters and baristas continue creating entirely new ways to enjoy coffee during the warmer months.
Coffee has always adapted to the people who drink it, and every generation adds something new to its story.
Sometimes Simplicity Wins
As much as we enjoy an Affogato on a hot afternoon or a perfectly made Shakerato after a long day, there’s still something timeless about a simple cup of hot coffee.
A warm mug on the porch as the summer sun rises.
A quiet cup around the campfire after the day’s heat has finally faded.
Coffee has never really been about the temperature.
It’s about the ritual.
Whether it’s steaming hot or poured over ice, coffee still brings people together, encourages us to slow down, and reminds us to appreciate the moment.
At Green Man Coffee Co., we love exploring coffee traditions from around the world while honoring the timeless ritual that inspired us from the beginning. However you enjoy your coffee this summer, we hope it becomes part of a morning well spent, an afternoon conversation, or a peaceful evening under the stars.