Summer Calls for Iced Coffee. Here Are Our 5 Favorites

Out with the hot drinks, in with the iced drinks. Try out these 5 refreshing recipes to get your daily dose of (ice cold) caffeine.

Summer breeze. Sunkissed skin. Iced coffee in hand.

It’s not hard to believe that coffee is the most popular beverage in the world. From coast to coast, from hemisphere to hemisphere, you’ll find it brewing in people’s homes, coffee shops, and offices.

In the United States alone, 646 million cups of coffee are consumed in a single day (and the US population is only 330 million) [1], [2].

What is it about this drink that makes it so popular?

In this article, we’re brewing up the benefits of coffee, why it’s everyone’s beverage of choice, and what our 5 favorite iced coffee recipes are.

Grab your cup of joe and let’s dive in…

It all started with a goat (no joke)...

One of the earliest legends about the origin of coffee dates back to the 9th century in the coffee forests of the Ethiopian plateau.

A goat herder named Kaldi noticed that his goats ate the berries from a certain tree and became so energetic that they weren’t able to sleep at night.

Kaldi went to the abbot of the local monastery, explaining what had happened. The abbot proceeded to make a drink with the berries and, too, found that he had increased energy and alertness through his lengthy evening prayer.

Alas, the abbot shared his findings with the other monks, and soon after, coffee and its energizing effects spread east and across the globe [3], [4].

Did you know that coffee shops used to be called “Schools of the Wise”?

This is because they were people’s go-to place to exchange information, and they still are—500 years later.

The top two reasons why people drink coffee are because of its energizing abilities and because it’s a habit.

The next time you sit down to watch a movie, pay attention to how many cups of coffee there are throughout it. There is almost always a cup of coffee or to-go cup in the hands of the characters. It’s a ritual for people [5].

The list of perks that coffee provides is becoming longer by the day. When you drink a cup of coffee, you’ll find that it [6], [7], [8], [9]...

• Enhances energy and alertness
• Improves mood
• Decreases the onset of type 2 diabetes
• Decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease
• May protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
• May protect against a variety of cancers
• Enhances liver functioning
• Is the number one source of antioxidants in many countries

We’ve rounded up our favorites. Swap out your steaming cup of joe for these refreshing iced coffees...

1. Iced Almond Coffee Smoothie

Say hello to a refreshing dose of energy. This Iced Almond Coffee Smoothie is silky smooth and packed full of healthy fats, protein, and caffeine.

2. Cacao + Coffee Collagen Smoothie

The ultimate wake-up call is here. This Cacao + Coffee Collagen Smoothie is bound to be your new best friend this summer.

Here’s the lineup of the ingredients and their healthy perks:

Coffee: A natural energizer and stimulant

Ghee: Strengthens the brain and nervous system [10]

Cacao: A healthy dose of magnesium to reduce inflammation and encourage relaxation [11], [12]

Flax Milk: Reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, and diabetes, among others [13]

Grass-Fed Collagen: Enhances bone, joint, and skin health

3. Cacao Collagen Coffee

1. Iced Almond Coffee Smoothie

Hot coffee, but make it iced.

This Cacao Collagen Coffee will help anyone wake up on the right side of the bed.

Simply blend all of the ingredients in a blender and pour over a cup of ice. The best part: You’ll stay full into lunch!

If you’re not feeling up for coffee one morning, power up with this rich and creamy Supercharged Matcha Latte.

Add one scoop to water or unsweetened nut milk and stir. This can be enjoyed either hot or iced.

4. The 30 Second Iced Coffee

This recipe is the quickest way to delicious coffee out there.

Simply blend 2 shots of espresso, ½ cup of unsweetened nut milk, and 1 scoop of French Vanilla or Vanilla Chai Collagen Coffee Creamer.

Once blended, pour over a cup of ice and savor your sips!

5. Supercharged Matcha Latte