As the summer season heats up, customers flock to restaurants, cafes, and bars in search of cool and refreshing beverages. To entice your guests, it's essential to revamp your menu with a range of refreshing summer drinks during this season. In this blog post, we'll explore eight tantalising drink ideas, including fresh fruit coolers, iced teas, crafted mocktails, frozen delights, seasonal lemonades, classic milkshakes, fresh smoothies, and cold coffees.

Fresh Fruit Coolers

Capture the essence of summer with fresh fruit coolers that burst with natural flavours. Incorporate the juiciness of watermelon, the tang of citrus fruits, or the sweetness of berries into your concoctions. Consider offering customisable options where customers can mix and match their favourite fruits and add a splash of lemonade or sparkling water for a refreshing fizz.

The Robot Coupe J80 juicer is a great option for extracting fruit juices for your fruit coolers. This juicer operates at a speed of 3000 rpm which means the juice oxidises less quickly resulting in juices that are bursting with flavour. The combination of vibrant colours and delightful flavours will leave your customers feeling rejuvenated and satisfied.

Iced Teas with a Twist

Take your iced tea to the next level by infusing them with unique flavour combinations. Experiment with hibiscus, mint, or jasmine teas and add a twist of fresh herbs like basil or thyme. You could also enhance the sweetness with fruit syrups or natural sweeteners such as honey or agave.

To elevate the presentation of your iced teas, serve these delightful teas over ice in Cooksmills Tennessee Handled Jar for a vintage feel. You can also decorate the jars with garnishes of fresh fruit or herb sprigs. Your customers will appreciate the refreshing and aromatic experience of these refreshing iced teas.

Crafted Mocktails

Don't overlook the demand for non-alcoholic options during the summer season. Create sophisticated mocktails using fresh ingredients, herbs, and high-quality syrups. You can also muddle fruits, infuse waters with fragrant botanicals, and experiment with flavour profiles to make tantalising mocktails. These mocktails will provide a unique and enjoyable experience for those seeking flavourful and alcohol-free alternatives.

Monin syrups are essential for any mocktail or cocktail. These syrups are the perfect way to add a burst of flavour to your beverages. Made with carefully selected ingredients, these syrups offer an exceptional taste experience that will keep your customers coming back for more.

This summer, Monin has a special promotion to give you the chance of winning £1,000 every week throughout summer! All you need to do is purchase a bottle of Monim syrup and upload the receipt to Monin. Click here for more information on how you can enter.

Frozen Delights

Embrace the summer spirit with a selection of frozen drinks that transport your customers to a tropical paradise. Offer frozen margaritas, daiquiris, or pina coladas in a variety of flavours like mango, strawberry, or coconut. Cooksmill stocks the Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut Cocktail Mix. This cocktail ingredient is naturally derived coconut cream made from sun-ripened Caribbean coconuts which brings a genuine flavour to any drink. It’s blended with natural cane sugar to give the perfect balance of sweetness.

Experiment with other unique ingredients like herbs, spices, or even a dash of chilli pepper for an unexpected twist. Blend these frozen delights to perfection and serve them in stylish glasses with garnishes that evoke the essence of summer. Your customers will appreciate the opportunity to cool down and indulge in these frozen delights.

Seasonal Lemonades

Lemonades are a timeless summer classic that can be elevated with seasonal flavours and creative presentations. Move beyond traditional lemonade and experiment with raspberry lemonade, lavender lemonade, or even a spicy jalapeno-infused lemonade. The basis of a good lemonade comes from freshly squeezed high-quality lemons. Cooksmill’s Manual Lever Citrus Juicer Press is a great way to extract every drop of juice from all your citrus fruits to make the best lemonade.

Your seasonal lemonade creations can be served in handled jars and garnished with fresh herbs or fruit slices for an Instagram-worthy presentation. The combination of tangy citrus and unique flavours will leave your customers feeling refreshed and eager to try more.

Classic Milkshakes

Indulge your customers with creamy and decadent milkshakes that are perfect for the summer season. Offer classic flavours like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, or get creative with unique combinations like salted caramel, cookies and cream, or mint chocolate chip. Top them off with whipped cream, sprinkles, or a cherry for that extra touch of delight. Milkshakes provide a nostalgic and refreshing treat that customers of all ages will enjoy.

The Fimar FP1L single spindle milkshake maker is a great addition to your kitchen if you want to offer milkshakes on your summer menu. Made in Itlay to a very high standard, this milkshake maker is easy to use as the mixer automatically starts when the cup is attached. It’s also easy to operate and clean, making it ideal for use in commercial settings. 

Fresh Smoothies

For health-conscious customers seeking a nutritious and refreshing option, add a variety of smoothies to your summer drink menu. Blend together fresh fruits, yoghurt, and a splash of juice or milk for a creamy and revitalising beverage. Offer a range of options, including tropical flavours like mango and pineapple, or antioxidant-rich combinations like berry and spinach.

Smoothies provide a refreshing and guilt-free option that will keep your customers feeling energised and satisfied, but to make a truly refreshing smoothie, a high-quality blender is necessary to ensure all the ingredients are well blended into a smooth texture. Cooksmill has a range of industry-grade blenders that can be used for a range of different recipes in your kitchen. Designed with user-friendliness in mind, these blenders are equipped with intuitive controls and displays, making them easy to operate for anyone.

Coffee Creations

For coffee lovers looking to get a caffeine kick from their summer drink, iced coffees are always a great addition to the menu in summer. From simple iced lattes to more luxurious affogatos, creating cold coffee drinks is simple as long as you have the necessary tools for your creations.

Ice is essential for any type of cold drink. Cooksmill’s range of ice machines allows you to cool down your coffee-based drinks with perfectly formed ice every time. There is a range of models to choose from, whether you’re looking for countertop models for small spaces, or large commercial models for high-volume ice production.

For affogatos, high-quality ice cream is a must. Our soft-serve ice cream machines made the perfect light and creamy ice cream. These machines deliver performance and reliability in a compact design, with some having a capacity of 80 cups per hour. If you’re looking for an easier way to make affogato, you can always use pre-made vanilla ice cream to pour your espresso over. To get the perfect scoop of ice cream for your summer drink, Cooksmill has a range of high-quality ice cream scoops. They are made from stainless steel, which ensures longevity and is also dishwasher safe.

With the scorching summer days upon us, it's crucial for restaurant, cafe, and bar owners to add coller options to their drink menus with a wide array of refreshing options. From fresh fruit coolers to iced teas, crafted mocktails to seasonal lemonades and more, there are plenty of options to satisfy every customer's taste buds. Cooksmill offers a range of catering essentials to help you embrace the flavours of summer and elevate your menu with these delightful beverages.