Since summer is officially here, there’s no reason to keep drinking hot coffee. Granted, perfect latte art makes getting likes on Instagram easier, and warm coffee soothes the soul during rough times. But the lure of iced coffee is undeniable — it’s the perfect pick-me-up for hot summer mornings and restless afternoons.
Coffee culture is a way of life in the Twin Cities, so there’s no shortage of places to grab an iced coffee around town. Here are our top picks for a tall glass of cool joe.
The pink espresso machine at Dogwood Coffee’s East Lake Street flagship is reason enough to swing by the shop. The well-curated retro space is too cool for school — without veering into Jetsons territory. Since Dogwood is the top roaster in town, it’s no surprise their summer-only Zamboni cold brew is treated with the same care and precision as their warmer drinks. The beans are chocolaty and light, making cream superlative in this concoction. For $4.04, you can sip on 16 ounces of heaven while you wander around Forage Modern Workshop, the home goods boutique connected to Dogwood.
4021 E. Lake St., Minneapolis
3001 Hennepin Ave. S.,
Minneapolis
228 Washington Ave. N. Minneapolis (inside Shinola)
Maybe it’s because I’m smitten with Urban Bean’s new West Lake Street outpost, but the UB Cold Brew ($3.75-$4.50) is ambrosia in a coffee cup. The UB Cold Brew sets itself apart from the rest of the pack thanks to vanilla bean syrup, which coaxes out the rich flavor of the top-notch Four Barrel and Intelligentsia beans.
While the UB Cold Brew is the perfect on-the-go fuel that will get you through your day, feel free to stay awhile and bask in the stark white room featuring stenciland neon signs.
822 W. Lake St., Minneapolis
2401 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis
Blink and you’ll miss this little slip of a coffee shop located in the heart of the Central Avenue corridor. Anelace’s modernist wood and brick digs encourage patrons to work out of the shop, and the beans from Counter Culture Coffee and Ruby Coffee Roasters keep them coming back for more. Order one of the brewed coffees and ask for it iced — the brand new Ethiopia is particularly good, with a hint of raspberry flavor. At $2.75, it’s one of the most affordable top-tier iced coffees you can buy in Minneapolis.
2402 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis
Silky smooth cafe lattes are Kopplin’s forte. No coffee shop does them better in town, ditto for the iced variant. The cream-top milk and cream Kopplin’s uses balances out the inherent bitterness of the coffee beans, and the shop’s conviviality makes it a perfect place for a meeting with a friend or a date. Though Kopplin’s drinks are pricier than their its competitors’, the extra dollar spent is well worth it, as is the trek to St. Paul.
2038 Marshall Ave.,
St. Paul
Coffee drinks deserve the same love, care and attention that cocktails do. Five Watt Coffee slings a full menu of craft coffee drinks, with many featuring bitters, a botanical alcohol known for tying cocktails together. You can’t go wrong with the Kingfield, named after the burgeoning foodie neighborhood where Five Watt is located. The drink combines vanilla with coriander bitters, and the potent combo packs a one-two punch without making the drink too sweet. If you’ve had a particularly sinful weekend, Five Watt holds a Sunday Service every Sabbath so you can repent to the gods of coffee for your guilt and misgivings — all, while listening to live music and getting rid of your hangover with a bowl of oatmeal.
3745 Nicollet Ave. S.,
Minneapolis
