5 Nespresso Summer Drinks That Do Not Taste Like Melted Ice

UK recipe note

Volumes in this recipe are in millilitres, the way UK capsule packs and jugs are marked. Semi-skimmed milk gives a lighter latte and froths well; whole milk gives a richer, glossier microfoam. If you use a plant drink, the versions labelled "barista" hold foam best.

The cold-coffee rule

Brew an Original 40 ml / 1.35 oz espresso or use an appropriate Vertuo espresso or double espresso capsule. Do not run a mug-size capsule through an espresso recipe and expect the same balance. Add ice to a glass, not to the machine. If fresh espresso meets a delicate glass, brew separately into a heat-safe cup first. Use large ice cubes when you want slower dilution; crushed ice chills rapidly but melts faster. A taller drink needs a stronger coffee base or less mixer. The Original versus Vertuo guide settles capsule format before flavour.

1. The balanced iced latte

Use: 80 ml coffee (two Original espressos or a Vertuo double espresso), 120 ml / 4 oz cold milk, 100 g ice, optional 5 ml vanilla syrup. Put ice and milk in a 350 ml glass. Brew coffee into a separate cup and pour over the glass; stir. This is creamy, not fizzy or citrusy. If it tastes like plain milk, cut milk to 100 ml before adding extra syrup. For all the adjustments, use the full iced-latte recipe.

2. Espresso tonic for a dry, sparkling finish

Use: 40 ml espresso, 120 ml / 4 oz chilled tonic water, 100 g ice and a small citrus peel. Fill a tall glass with ice and tonic. Slowly pour a fresh espresso over the back of a spoon. The layers are attractive for a moment; stir before judging the taste. Tonic can be quite sweet or bitter depending on brand, so taste before adding anything else. A bright capsule such as Colombia can play against the tonic; a heavy dark roast will produce a more bitter contrast. This is not an iced latte and needs no milk.

3. Iced mocha for a dessert-like cup

Use: 40 ml espresso, 10 g chocolate or 1 tbsp cocoa with a little sweetener, 100 ml / 3.4 oz cold milk and 90 g ice. Dissolve the chocolate in the hot espresso in a separate cup, stir smooth, then pour over ice and milk. Do not sprinkle dry cocoa into cold milk and hope it dissolves. A roasty Arpeggio is a useful base. Our mocha guide covers the hot drink and a lower-sugar variation.

4. Coffee lemonade, carefully balanced

Use: 40 ml espresso, 90 ml / 3 oz chilled lemonade and 100 g ice. Put ice and lemonade into a 300 ml glass, then add coffee slowly. Start with a mild, not overly sweet lemonade; coffee acidity plus a very sour mixer can be sharp. No milk belongs here because acid can curdle it. Taste first, then dilute the next glass with more ice or a little sparkling water, rather than adding sugar blindly. This is a playful variation, not a claim that it will appeal to everyone.

5. Affogato, the shortest summer recipe

Use: one 70–90 g scoop of vanilla ice cream and one 40 ml espresso. Put the scoop in a small chilled bowl, brew coffee separately and pour over immediately before serving. Eat while the cold scoop and warm coffee are still distinct. Our affogato guide explains capsule pairings and a make-for-guests setup.

An Essenza Mini or Pixie is enough for all five because only the coffee is machine-made; a Vertuo Pop+ works when its espresso-sized capsules are used. Choose Freddo Intenso for a roasty Original ice base where available or Double Espresso Chiaro for a Vertuo milk drink. The illustrated capsules and machine slider below link to system-specific searches. Nespresso's US recipe collection includes iced latte, iced coffee and affogato methods; these ratios are WhichCapsule starting points.

Set up for guests without making five watery pitchers

Prepare the non-coffee parts ahead: chill milk and tonic, weigh ice into serving portions, and mix the mocha chocolate base only when it can be refrigerated safely. Brew espresso close to serving. The iced latte, tonic and lemonade all use similar-looking glasses but need different mixers; label them so nobody accidentally pours milk into an acidic drink. Keep ice out of a communal pitcher until serving, because it will melt and change every ratio.

A six-person gathering does not require one of every recipe. Pick one milk drink and one black sparkling drink, then offer the affogato after food. Keep sweetener on the side. If someone asks for decaf, verify that the decaf sleeve fits the machine; decaf still can contain some caffeine. The best summer menu is small enough to make consistently.