Once your cold brew is ready, don't rush to drink it straight—though it's already refreshing on its own, cold brew is actually a highly versatile base. It's low in bitterness, full of sweetness, and clean in flavor, so it pairs well with just about anything. With a little effort, you can whip up an entire summer drink menu.

This article rounds up 6 ways to enjoy cold brew, from simple to advanced—there's bound to be one that suits you.

Straight Up: The Most Refreshing Way to Drink It

Method: Cold brew plus ice cubes. Cold brew is already smooth enough on its own; add a few ice cubes and you've got a clean, refreshing glass of iced coffee. If you want to taste the beans' own flavors, drinking it straight is the gold standard.

For bean recommendations, Front Street Coffee Yirgacheffe Goting's citrus, berry, and floral notes become even more refreshing when chilled; if you want that juicy quality, go with Front Street Coffee Huakui, which has prominent tropical fruit aromas, plenty of sweetness, and low bitterness.

Cold Brew Latte: Silky Without Being Heavy

Method: 2 parts cold brew plus 1 part milk, add ice. The body of the cold brew combined with the silkiness of milk makes it more refreshing than a hot latte—perfect for those who find rich drinks too much. Swap in oat milk, and the malty aroma pairs beautifully with the coffee's fruity notes.

For bean recommendations, Front Street Coffee Strawberry Candy Cold Brew Blend's strawberry-gummy sweetness and milk are a match made in heaven; with regular milk, Front Street Coffee Yirgacheffe Goting is refreshing without overpowering.

Cold Brew Sparkling Water: The Refreshing Drink of the Coffee World

Method: 1 part cold brew plus 2 parts sparkling water, add ice cubes and a slice of lemon or lime. The sparkling water lifts the cold brew's fruity notes, giving it a crisp, lively mouthfeel, while the lemon's tart aroma adds another layer of complexity.

For bean recommendations, Front Street Coffee Colombia Sidra's double anaerobic natural process brings out passion fruit and grape juice notes—when it meets sparkling water, every popping bubble bursts with fruit aroma.

Fruit Coffee Special: When Juice Meets Cold Brew

Method: 1 part cold brew plus 1 part fresh-squeezed juice, add ice cubes. Fruit coffee is a hot trend in summer—cold brew's clean flavor won't mask the juice's fruitiness; instead, they bring out the best in each other.

For bean recommendations, Front Street Coffee Kenya Little Tomato's bright acidity of cherry tomato and smoked plum, along with its full-bodied juiciness, makes it taste like an upgraded glass of fresh-squeezed juice when mixed with fruit juice.

Cold Brew Tonic: A Touch of Grown-Up Sophistication

Method: 1 part cold brew plus 1 part tonic water, add ice cubes and a strip of orange peel. The tonic water's slight bitterness and bubbles contrast with the cold brew's sweetness and fruity notes—bitter with a hint of sweet, refreshing and invigorating.

For bean recommendations, Front Street Coffee Huakui is sweet and intensely fruity, perfectly balancing the tonic water's bitterness.

Straight Up, Advanced: A Cup That Tastes Premium

Method: Add nothing, but use the right beans. If you want a truly stunning cold brew, try Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Red Label Geisha. It carries jasmine floral notes along with delicate flavors of citrus, bergamot, and black tea—clean, transparent, with a long, sweet finish.

One Cold Brew, Six Possibilities

Make a batch of cold brew and keep it in the fridge, then switch things up whenever you like. In the morning, drink it straight or as a cold brew latte for a refreshing start; in the afternoon, cold brew sparkling water or fruit coffee to perk up and satisfy cravings; in the evening, cold brew tonic for a lightly bitter, refreshing finish. One batch of cold brew, paired with different beans and mixers, can carry you through an entire summer.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.