There’s no need to force yourself to drink a hot cup of coffee when temperatures are pushing triple-digits. Iced coffee has been the move lately in Dallas, but there are summer drinks hitting café menus that are more buzzy and intriguing than a standard cold brew.
Coffee beans naturally give off fruity notes—they’re grown in cherries and can taste like other fruits, depending on where they’re grown and how they’re processed and roasted. Coffee beans from Costa Rica may have hints of kiwi and berry while beans from Guatemala have orange and green apple notes. There are also a bunch of other flavors coffee can taste like—chocolate, floral, nutty—though espresso is usually exempt from all these flavors.
The Specialty Coffee Association, a nonprofit with memberships for coffee experts and professionals, has a flavor wheel that breaks down all kinds of flavor notes coffee can have. Fruit is one of the most common and includes more specific flavors like blueberry, cherry, pineapple, and pear.
Not only is coffee naturally fruity, but adding fruit to a coffee drink pairs well with the natural bitterness. Toss in some sparkling water, and the whole drink dances. Let’s take a step into the land of local, iced, fruity caffeinated drinks, all of which accomplish three things: cooling you off, boosting your energy, and exciting your taste buds.
Kitchen Confidential and The Sun Also Rises at Fiction Coffee
The Kitchen Confidential is available at two of the three Fiction locations. It’s an iced coffee drink made with cold brew, ginger, juniper, and lemon zest. It has an earthy, refreshing kick. At the third Fiction Coffee location on N. Hall Street, there’s The Sun Also Rises, made with cold brew, strawberry syrup, and orange juice. It’s like a fruity caffeinated mocktail for your morning. The Kitchen Confidential ($6) is available at 3309 Elm St.; 2323 Victory Ave. The Sun Also Rises ($6.25) is available at 1623 N. Hall St.
Grapefruit Espresso Tonic at Parterre
A drink made with Fevertree tonic, espresso, and Fevertree sparkling grapefruit served over ice. The combination of the grapefruit and the espresso surprisingly complement each other and make this drink a refreshing break in your day. $5. 1601 Elm St.
Mango Mother at Triumphs Espresso and Whiskey
Before the jazz music starts and the menu switches to cocktails and spirits, Triumphs serves coffee and other snacks during the day. One of its summer drinks is the Mango Mother, an iced drink with house-made mango purée, Kyoto cold brew, and lavender syrup. P.S.: Triumphs and Parterre are sister concepts, so you can also find the Grapefruit Espresso Tonic here. $5. 141 Manufacturing St., Ste. 110.
Mister Pop at Cultivar Coffee
While waiting for your delicious Goodfriend Package sandwich order, you can walk over and grab the Mister Pop at Cultivar Coffee. It’s made with a spice-infused coffee syrup (nutmeg, cacao nibs, and cinnamon) that’s been diluted with sparkling water and plump Amarena Toschi black candied cherries. It tastes incredibly similar to a Dr Pepper. $6.75. 1155 Peavy Rd.
Tropical Bliss Latte at Berni Bean Coffee
Berni Bean specializes in Costa Rican coffee, and the Tropical Bliss Latte leans into its South American roots. The drink is made with chamomile-infused guava syrup, honey, and can be made with espresso or matcha. With espresso, which uses those Costa Rican coffee beans, the drink is refreshingly cozy and smooth. $6. 400 N. St. Paul St., Ste. 120; 2820 Elm St.
Tropic Thunder at Lemma Coffee
Made with either matcha or their signature Flash Brew (coffee brewed hot onto cold, cold ice), the Tropic Thunder is shaken with banana, coconut, and pineapple flavors, which give the iced drink a coconut-y island vibe. $6.75. 1014 S. Broadway St., Ste. 110, Carrollton; 9250 Dallas Pkwy., Ste. 150, Frisco; 1023 E. 15th St., Plano.
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