If you're anything like us, iced coffee means serious business for your daily productivity.
Whether you're a self-described coffee connoisseur or a caffeine fiend needing your daily afternoon dose of cold, pure black bean juice (let's call it what it is), iced coffee in the summertime is a necessity for coffee lovers of all dispositions. Today, sneak out of your house, leave your Slack online, and recharge with our picks for the Best Iced Coffee in Austin.
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photo via instagram
4136 E 12th St
Palomino, located in East Austin, is both a coffee shop and marketplace that provides quality products and drinks. Their specialty menu and artisanal goods change with the seasons, giving you something new to look forward to every few months. Bring your computer and get some work done in their super cute shop while sipping on something cold.
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photo via @caffeinatedsips
121 Pickle Rd
1300 E 4th St
Cosmic Coffee is the ultimate oasis with locations right in the middle of South Austin, and East Austin. Whether you're there to work or play you can enjoy the pretty gardens, variety of food trucks (south), or just some cold A/C inside. They serve everything from craft cocktails and local beer to specialty coffees. Speaking of, we highly recommend trying the Cosmic Comet, their cold brew mixed with Mexican vanilla, orange honey, and oat milk. If you're in the mood for an extra buzz, be sure to try the frozen boozy coffee, made with espresso, horchata, and Del Maguey Mezcal w/ cocoa molé spices.
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photo via instagram
Various Locations
Many people refer to Desnudo as "the best coffee they have ever had", and we can see why. They even have five-star reviews on Yelp and Google Reviews. You can expect to try samples while waiting in line (which can get pretty long) and chat with the friendly staff. Their Iced Vanilla Latte is a fan favorite, made with homemade syrup from vanilla bean paste. Another drink of theirs you have to try is the Brown Sugar Miso Latte, yummmm.
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photo via facebook
Various Locations
Next time you're picking up some breakfast tacos from Tacodeli (make sure you get the one with mashed potatoes) and are looking for a pick-me-up, order The Cha Cha. This delicious drink is made with their blend of housemade, dairy-free horchata and cold brew. They also serve Cuvée Nitro Cold Brew if you're wanting something smooth, creamy, and a little less sweet.
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Photo via Instagram
Various Locations
Sure, you can come here for the damn-good mocha variations drizzled with white and dark chocolate syrups, but not all of us have the coin (or propensity for sugar intake) for a $5 latte every day. We introduce you to the slightly less sweet, less expensive sister option to Bennu's famed mochas: the Iced Bennu. From iced coffee and a mysterious sweet creamy blend, this drink will give you the mood + energy boost necessary to get through the rest of your workday without mindlessly scrolling through Reddit to pass the time. Also, they're open 24/7 for maximum caffeine efficiency.
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Photo via Instagram
5353 Burnet Rd
Perhaps one of the most refreshing sips of cold brew you could take in Austin will occur when you stop into this cozy North Burnet coffee shop and order yourself a Cold Brew. We recommend adding one of their extensive flavor options and grabbing a big milkshake straw to maximize your cold brew intake for every sip. Take it to-go and explore the multitude of badass thrift + vintage shops dotted along Burnet Road.
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Photo via Instagram
Various Locations
The latest trend in cold coffee consumption is nitro cold brew. This drink can be found at various coffee shops around town, but our personal favorite is on the menu at Radio Coffee & Beer. As smooth and velvety as you've heard Nitro Cold Brew is, you don't really ~get it~ until you try this no-ice, creamy concoction. With an atmosphere as pleasing as the drink itself, Radio is the kind of place you should go to if you want to post up with your book for an afternoon read on the patio.
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100 Congress Ave
In terms of taste and quality, Patika takes the coffee cake for the best cold brew from the best beans (thanks to Superthing). A simple and small shop located downtown, Patika offers select coffee drinks alongside delicious pastries. With a straightforward take on cold brew, you can drink this cup o' joe straight-up, no compulsory splash of half & half required.
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Photo via Instagram
3825 Lake Austin Blvd
As the name suggests, this Cold Brew ain't got no bottom. With a location as picturesque as it gets, Mozart's is the perfect spot for a long day of coffee drinking. Whether you're posting up for a Sunday of last-minute homework, leisurely reading, or people-watching, Mozart's is your ideal location if you want to drink so much coffee that you get the shakes (in a...good way?)
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Photo via Instagram
Various Locations
For those with a deep-seated aversion to drinking black coffee straight, the Iced Mojo at Epoch is a just-sweet-enough alternative to strong cold brew. Like other coffee spots around town, the Iced Mojo at Epoch is a cold brew + sweetened milk + mystery flavor type of drink; what separates Epoch from the others, though, is the number of locations around town (3 to be exact), each with their own unique character.
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Photo via Instagram
Various Locations
Jo's Coffee's signature iced turbo is a super sweet delight: a blend of cold brew, sweet cream, chocolate, hazelnut, and other flavors all poured over ice. Our personal favorite, though? The Belgian Bomber: the slightly less sweet counterpart to their signature sweet coffee drink. If you need to satiate your sweet tooth but avoid a sugar crash in a matter of hours, heed our advice and pick up a Belgian to-go at your nearest Jo's Coffee location.
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Picture via Yelp
Various Locations
When we asked the public for their favorite iced coffee around town, the Cold Brew at Houndstooth was definitely the most popular answer. With 5 locations around town and beans sourced from only the best roasters, Houndstooth serves up a fresh and smooth take on an otherwise bitter and strong drink.
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Picture via Yelp
1501 S 1st St
Yes, you'll come to Elizabeth Street Cafe for the spring rolls, pork belly buns, and macarons, but you'd be sleeping on Iced Vietnamese Coffee if you didn't order it to accompany your sure-to-be-delicious meal. If you don't have the time or stomach space for a full meal, we recommend stopping into Elizabeth Street for an afternoon iced coffee and one of their famous desserts.
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MORE OPTIONS FOR GREAT ICED COFFEE IN AUSTIN:
Various Locations
401 Orchard Street
1619 E Cesar Chavez St
500 San Marcos St #105
4715 S Lamar Blvd #102
3600 S Lamar Blvd
641 Tillery St
Various Locations
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Where do you go for your iced coffee fix?
