Starbucks Floats Cold Brew Ice Cream Drinks

The landmark Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle introduced cold brew ice cream drinks this summer. They're pretty to look at — and photograph — are refreshingly not-too-sweet and at $9 and $10, not cheap. Are they worth making the trip to this instantly iconic spot? Absolutely! But if you can't get there, read on for a DIY version.

This massive venue in the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood opened in 2014 to crushing crowds eager to sip drinks not found in any other Starbucks in the world. That includes beans roasted on site, a process that's a throwback to the company's early days when it sold just fresh roasted coffee beans. Fans can order drinks skillfully made as pour overs, in a Chemex and more. A cold brew tap appeared recently, a ground-breaking setup that infuses nitrogen gas into the coffee. It's similar to pouring Guinness, giving the cold brew a creamy texture and making it a perfect platform for a scoop of ice cream.

The cold brew ice cream drinks include affagato (a shot of espresso poured over vanilla ice cream), the very cool float and a malted shake that's finished with a dash of bourbon barrel aged bitters. It's not boozy, but certainly created to appeal to grownups.

Float's My Favorite

I adore the float; its brilliant coffee flavor coming through strong. And, the story behind the ice cream source is downright heartwarming. It's made by Mora Iced Creamery, a Bainbridge Island-based family operation (which wouldn't dream of using carageenan in its products). The coffee giant reached out to the teeny producer, looking to collaborate. The results are pretty magical, though I couldn't help wishing there was an option to plop a scoop of cold brew coffee ice cream into the cold brew for double the buzz. Maybe that will happen down the road. (Hint, hint!)

Will these cold brew ice cream drinks surface at Starbucks stores across the globe? I'm guessing by looking around the Roastery, where I spotted many folks sticking straws in these ice cream cold brew drinks that Starbucks has got another hit on its hands, and it won't be long until it goes viral. Then again, maybe that's just wishful thinking.

The Scoop on DIY'ing

If you can't make it into the Roastery, making a cold brew ice cream float is super easy. Add a scoop of ice cream to a tall glass and SLOWLY pour cold brew on top until the glass is nearly full. Serve with an iced tea spoon and a straw, sugar on the side for those who like it sweeter.

Explore More:

• Coffee Drink Recipes
• 10 Ways to Make Cold Brew at Home and Save Money
• The Cool Hack that Makes Cold Brew Even Better
• Surprising Tricks for Making the Best Milkshakes

Watch this short video on how to make cold brew coffee: