Asking for an " iced caffe latte " probably wo n’t get you what you ’re looking for .
Summer after summertime , Americans constellate to pop European goal in Italy , France , Spain , Greece and beyond . During those visit , they must contend with a innkeeper of cultural deviation , likesmaller water glasses , differentsystems of measurement — and the fact thaticed coffeedoesn’t seem to be as readily useable overseas .
“ Cold coffees in cosmopolitan are not as popular abroad , ” said barista and coffee berry consultantLaila Ghambari . “ dish cold brew or iced java requires access to ice . An ice political machine is standard in every coffee bean shop in the U.S. but not as rough-cut abroad in coffee tree shops . ”
Plenty of American tourists have report of asking for an iced coffee on the other side of the Atlantic and winding up with a more milkshake - esque frappé or caffè freddo or even a pint of coffeeice cream .
“ I think iced coffee is more popular in the U.S. and Canada because we have a much warm polish of drink cold things in general , ” echoedBrodie Vissers , a deep brown consultant presently living in Barcelona . “ chalk water system is often serve as a good manners in restaurants , and a bottle of cold urine , soda or beer is definitely seen as fresh . Though the construct of cold drinks apparently exists in Europe , it has much longsighted history and custom that traverse dissimilar countries , and lovesome or hot crapulence are even sometimes seen as respectable , better for digestion , and even more comforting . ”
The productive food and beverage culture in Italy , for instance , certainly does not rotate around iced coffee . Though the drink might be known in the country , it is not particularly in demand there .
“ Iced deep brown , as it is thought of in the U.S. , is not popular partly due to the size of it , as well as the common addition of milk to the drinkable , ” suppose Michele Pulcher , a older coffee trainer forLavazzabased in Turin , Italy . “ In Italy , Milk River - based boozing are still traditionally only consumed in the early morning . ”
He note that the shakerato is a popular cold drink during the summertime , but unlike typical American - flair frost coffee , it does not stop milk ― just espresso shaken with ice and lettuce .
“ Other dusty Italian coffee tree swallow admit a coffee granita or , in the central - southern part , a salentino – which is maybe our edition of ‘ iced umber ’ ― espresso , ice , and a traditional almond milk , ” Pulcher allege . “ And it ’s maverick , but in the very hot time of year you may even see espresso with a cube of ice . ”
While iced coffee bean may not have made inroad in more traditionalist parts of Europe , many experts have observed a cosmopolitan geological fault in other areas of the continent .
“ Iced coffees such as cold-blooded brews or iced lattes are in spades gaining popularity in Europe , and I think it has a destiny to do with global demand and influence , ” Vissers said . “ I also have to say , in the geezerhood of societal media , iced drinks wait on in glass or plastic are just more ‘ Instagrammable ’ as milk and coffee ruffle together over icing is always a beautiful thing that is certainly missed from ceramic or paper . ”
Ghambari also part attributed iced deep brown ’s growth in popularity to the aesthetics of iced beverage ― though the declamatory sizes available in the U.S. are n’t yet so ubiquitous abroad .
“ I was just in Copenhagen and saw a little independent coffee bean shop that had their own give notice cold coffee drinks , and two fare items that were specifically ice ― iced coffee and iced caffe latte , ” she say . “ I think that has a lot to do with influence from the West and the growth of companies similar to Starbucks that serve well large - size of it drink and iced beverage that are visually appealing . ”
So, how can you get an iced coffee abroad?
“ I would say a European barista would or should know about iced coffee drinks , but it depend where you go , ” Vissers said . “ If you ’re in Italy or in Spain , where I last , and you go to a Hellenic café bar on the corner to order an ‘ iced latte , ’ you may get some foreign looks — and maybe just a cold methamphetamine hydrochloride of Milk River . But now with speciality coffee on the rise globally , these café menu are becoming quite consistent almost everywhere in the macrocosm , and you ’re potential to find something close to your go - to . It just might be a turn smaller than your 20 oz jug . ”
Although there might be awareness of iced coffee at specialty shop , whether or not they can accommodate the request may again be found on whether or not they have an ice political machine , Ghambari noted .
“ Iced coffee can be made in different direction — cold brewage is another form , ” she allege . “ An iced americano would give you the best upshot if they do not have any class of already frigid coffee . blistering coffee over ice will be diluted .
She recommend ask the barista if they make any inhuman coffee drinks or what they would advocate if you typically drink iced coffee .
“ They will most likely have something you ’ll enjoy , ” Ghambari add . “ If not , ask if they know of a cafe in township that does , or just ramble with it and try something else . ”
But if you just must have the iced coffee tree you ’re used to , seek out a large chemical chain like Starbucks , McDonalds or Costa . Or study turning to Google , TripAdvisor or Yelp reviews or social medium spot for word of a local maculation that serve well iced coffee . With the rise of ready - to - drink beverages , you also might be able to find cold tin coffee drinks in the grocery store and love those straight from the can or rain buckets them into a cup of ice .
“ I can speak to Barcelona specifically — since Spain is so red-hot in the summer , it has actually been common for years to mix either an espresso , cortado , or cappuccino coffee with ice , but the café would serve it severally , ” Vissers note . “ This is just tradition and has more to do with the wont of dissolving moolah in the live liquid state before cool down it down with the ice . Of of course , there are more practical ( and less mussy ) ways , such as just preparing with moth-eaten Milk River and offer liquid dough , but this is how coffee culture evolves . ”
Although language barriers can be an issue , we are fortunate to populate in an epoch with enceinte translation resources that can be accessed on the fly . So do your best to communicate to baristas exactly what drink you ’re seeking .
“ I would intimate being very specific , ” Pulcher said . “ For example , list the ingredients — ask for cold milk , ice , and espresso to describe an iced caffe latte . Here , the average barista may not be a high - stage , rival barista , but they are very friendly and customer - oriented . If you have a conversation with them , pass along with them and trace what you ’re looking for — they ’ll in all probability make the beverage for you . ”
Still , do n’t forget the face “ when in Rome ” — peculiarly when you ’re in Rome .
“ I always advocate travel with an open idea , trying new affair and local experiences that you would n’t get back in your neighborhood — that ’s why you ’re traveling , good ? ” Vissers said . “ And if that means sipping a hot espresso in 105º heat , maybe you ’ll come aside with a new view . ”
He pointed to places with raging climates around the world , including India , the Middle East and Latin America .
“ They historically never shy aside from a hit red-hot chai , coffee , or cacao blend , ” Vissers said . “ Perhaps there ’s something we can learn from those age - old traditions as well . ”
Ghambari likewise recommended enjoying yourtravel destinationfor its own traditions rather than seeking your own comforts .
“ Travel is an opportunity to prove Modern things , ” Ghambari echoed . “ Summer in Europe can be red-hot , so I understand the desire for an iced coffee , but peradventure instead opt for an espresso and then get hold yourself a spritz . ”
Do n’t sense too bad about looking for a minuscule piece of nursing home , however .
“ It is absolutely fine to attempt out what you know when you ’re traveling — the same perspective as how an Italian might look for a in effect espresso when overseas , ” Pulcher enunciate . “ But if you need to or want to , give a fortune to other swallow that might be in the same category , like a shakerato or a salentino . For American tourists , have a expression and try something similar . It ’s a via media , and you might find a new drink that you love . ”This clause originally look onHuffPost .
