Written by Sara Macauley I Photographs by Getty Images

The tube has become a sauna, people are flocking to the fridges in supermarkets for a moment of relief and coffee drinkers everywhere are feeling torn. How do you get your caffeine fix when even looking at a steaming hot cup of cappuccino is enough to make you break out in a sweat? There’s really only one answer here: the humble iced coffee. Long-regarded as a drink reserved for tweens and fashion PR’s on the go, the iced coffee is an absolute saviour for coffee drinkers acrossthe UK as this oppressive heat continues to make everyday life that little bit more difficult. But what makes a good iced-coffee and how bad is it for us? We’ve done a bit of research into the icy beverage and come up with our definitive list of the best iced-coffee from our favourite chains, so you can order with confidence.

STARBUCKS: COFFEE FRAPPUCINO It wouldn’t be a list of iced coffees if the Starbucks Frappucino didn’t make an appearance. One of the golden oldies, this Frapp is a mix of ice, milk and coffee frappucino syrup. Have yours with or without cream on top, it’s really up to you. This classic coffee is a treat for the tastebuds; not too sickly like some of their caramelbased offerings and really quite refreshing. Starbucks also now offer coconut and oat milk as well as soy, for those of us who don’t drink regular old cow’s milk. A grande sized Coffee Frappucino with whole milk contains 240 calories, which is actually quite reasonable a amount of a treat.

CAFFE NERO: COCONUT ICED LATTE A newbie to the Caffe Nero fridge is the Coconut Iced Latte, made with semi-skimmed milk, coconut syrup and their signature espresso. If you’re after a sweeter taste than the classic iced latte, this coconut dream is the one for you. A mere 169 calories, it lives in the fridge in stores, so pick one up and bring it to the till for the barista to whizz up with some ice for a perfect midafternoon refresher.
Long-regarded as a drink reserved for tweens and fashion PR’s on the go, the iced coffee is an absolute saviour for coffee drinkers acrossthe UK as this oppressive heat continues to make everyday life that little bit more difficult.

PRET:  ICED LATTE Everyone’s favourite stop on the mad dash to work is undoubtedly Pret – and it just so happens that their iced coffee is one of the best. All of Pret’s iced coffees are served in a recyclable cup with a paper straw too, so you can be safe in the knowledge that your 8am caffeine fix isn’t going to contribute to plastic waste. While Pret offers everything from a black iced coffee to a rice-coconut iced latte, our favourite has to be their classic Iced Latte. Simple, creamy and delicious, Pret’s offering is also a mere 120 calories – so you can afford to have one as a morning treat every once in a while.

COSTA: COLD BREW COFFEE If you’re the kind of coffee addict that likes things plain and simple, then Costa’s Cold Brew Coffee is the iced drink of your dreams. Nothing but 8 calories of black coffee and ice, the Cold Brew is a no-frills drink that gives you your caffeine hit and true coffee taste without any other ingredients masking the flavour. If you like your coffee strong, we’d recommend sticking to the standard double shot, but if you’re after a mellower taste then go for a single. Just pure, honest coffee (only cooler).
We hope this guide makes you feel less flustered next time you nip out on the office coffee run during the heatwave. Just don’t blame us when you develop a serious iced coffee addiction!

WRITTEN BY Sara Macauley