The most popular iced coffee drink is…
The most popular iced coffee in every country infographic. Image: Coffeeness
It is summertime in many regions around the world so of course there is a survey revealing the ‘most popular iced coffee drinks’ (although many consumers do drink iced or cold coffee year round). Germany-based coffee website Coffeeness, analysed Google search data in English and local languages to compile a list of the most popular iced coffee drinks around the world — with some curious results.
Coffeeness reports that the most popular iced coffee beverage globally is the frappe, with 35 countries naming it their most preferred iced coffee drink. According to Coffeeness, frappe was the most searched-for iced coffee drink in Africa, Europe, Asia and South America. The frappe is a French coffee drink (originating from lait frappe, ‘milkshake’) that is made of espresso shots mixed with cold water, cold milk, sugar and ice cubes. Instead of being stirred, the mixture is beaten, shaken or blended to combine the ingredients and produce a creamy, frothy and icy drink.
Iced coffee latte, frappuccino, cold brew coffee (although cold brew is actually a brewing method and not technically ‘iced’ coffee) and Spanish latte rounded out the top five spots for the most popular iced coffee beverages around the world. [For the full report by Coffeeness click here.]
Emerging second on the list is the iced vanilla latte, which is loved in 14 countries across the globe. These include Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Luxembourg, Iceland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Iced vanilla lattes are made by mixing milk, espresso and vanilla syrup, which is then served over ice cubes.
Although often confused for a frappe, the third most popular iced coffee beverage – the frappuccino – is different from a frappe. A frappuccino is made using strong brewed coffee or espresso, which is then blended with milk, sweeteners, ice, syrups, sugar and any other flavor of choice. Whipped cream and chocolate shavings are also added as garnishes. Frappuccinos are sweeter than frappes, have more calories and come in a variety of flavours. They are popular in 12 countries including Belgium, Chile, Egypt, Jamaica, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Trinidad and Tobago.
The fourth most popular iced coffee beverage is cold brew, which again, is not actually iced coffee because as the name implies, ‘cold brew’ is a brewing method. Cold brew is achieved by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for 12-24 hours. This brewing method allows the coffee grounds to slowly release their flavour, aroma and essential oils, resulting in an aromatic, chocolatey, low-acidity flavour profile. Cold brew is the preferred coffee drink in countries like Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Poland, Norway and Singapore. It is also popular in Turkey, outdoing the famous Turkish coffee on its home ground, according to Coffeeness. [Side note, cold brew is extremely popular in the US and is drunk year round by many consumers not just in summer months.]
The Spanish latte rounds out Coffeeness’s list of the top five most popular iced coffees globally. It is a creamy drink made of an espresso shot mixed with sweetened condensed milk and milk. It is popular in six countries, including Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Spanish lattes are sweeter than regular lattes but aren’t as sweet as the common flavoured lattes, Coffeeness notes.
Interestingly, there are two additional drinks Coffeeness referenced that I had never heard of before: eiskaffee and mazagran. Per the website, eiskaffee is a coffee variation made using vanilla ice cream, chilled coffee and topped with whipped cream, which is popular in Austria and Germany.
Mazagran originated in Algeria and is a tart and tangy drink that’s diluted and served cold in a glass. It is popular in France and Portugal, per Coffeeness.
Of course, no matter the country or time of year, it is always fun to be adventurous to try a new type or different style of coffee — hot or cold/iced. Although, since we’re in the midst of our third heat wave of summer in New York City (averaging 32°C/94°F excluding the humidity!), I’m definitely opting for a cold coffee when I head out this afternoon, and perhaps try something new…
- Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
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