Studybucks: Heatwave edition ☀️??

So Summer has fallen upon us and in blazing and broiling glory, that I am in love with. It is not often we have the privilege to bask in such hot conditions in the UK, and I am making the most of it. But of course, one of the best ways to make the most of such weather is to pair it with a deliciously iced beverage from the one and only Starbucks. Today I’m going to share my favourite summer drinks that you can currently order form the coffee chain.

Strawberry Deluxe

How to Order:
Tall: ‘Base of half pouring cream, half whole milk. Add 3 pumps Vanilla to the base and blend with ice. 1 pump of Strawberry at the bottom of the cup, 1 in the spout of the jug; marble. Pour halfway into the cup, add a layer of whipped cream, and pour the rest on top’
Grande: ‘Base of half pouring cream, half whole milk. Add 4 pumps Vanilla to the base and blend with ice. 2 pumps of Strawberry at the bottom of the cup, 2 in the spout of the jug; marble. Pour halfway into the cup, add a layer of whipped cream, and pour the rest on top’
Venti: ‘Base of half pouring cream, half whole milk. Add 5 pumps Vanilla to the base and blend with ice. 2 pumps of Strawberry at the bottom of the cup, 3 in the spout of the jug; marble. Pour halfway into the cup, add a layer of whipped cream, and pour the rest on top’

This is the ultimate summer-Wimbledon-season drink. Reminiscent of quintessentially British strawberries and cream – or even better, a scone with clotted cream and organic strawberry compote – it’s the ultimate British summertime drink. Not only is it fruity and refreshing, but this version tastes extra creamy and super luxury, allowing you to revel in a velvety freshness whilst sat back in Hyde park or a rooftop, watching Wimbledon on the big screen.

Pink Lemonade

How to Order:
Tall: Use a tea shaker; 2 pumps of peach, 2 pumps of strawberry sauce. Add lemonade and tall ice, and shake.
Grande: Use a tea shaker; 2 pumps of peach, 3 pumps of strawberry sauce. Add lemonade and tall ice, and shake.
Venti: Use a tea shaker; 3 pumps of peach, 3 pumps of strawberry sauce. Add lemonade and tall ice, and shake.

This is for when you need a light refreshing drink to ease the withering heat of summer, but don’t want the heaviness of milk and cream. For that, this drink is a dream. Fresh, fruity and light, it’s almost akin to a mocktail. It combines British seasonal flavours and American sweetness with the classic limoncello of Italy, and they merge to form this divine summer drink that you could sip for hours at a garden party, as the sun dips down into the golden evenings.

Solero Frappucino

How to order
Tall: ‘Base of half pouring cream, half whole milk. Add 3 pumps Vanilla to the base and blend with ice. Pour some mango-passion juice at the bottom of the cup, and pour some into the spout of the jug; marble. Pour halfway into the cup, add a layer of whipped cream, and pour the rest on top’
Grande: ‘Base of half pouring cream, half whole milk. Add 4 pumps Vanilla to the base and blend with ice. Pour some mango-passion juice at the bottom of the cup, and pour some into the spout of the jug; marble. Pour halfway into the cup, add a layer of whipped cream, and pour the rest on top’
Venti: ‘Base of half pouring cream, half whole milk. Add 5 pumps Vanilla to the base and blend with ice. Pour some mango-passion juice at the bottom of the cup, and pour some into the spout of the jug; marble. Pour halfway into the cup, add a layer of whipped cream, and pour the rest on top’

Akin to the Strawberry Deluxe in a sense, this does a similar job but replaces the British strawberry with a more exotic mango and passionfruit. Where the Strawberry deluxe is for reminiscing in London, this is for when your mind is wandering to a more exotic destination; maybe just before you jet off to Bali or Mauritius. Maybe you’re already there.
To make it even creamier and even more tropical, swap the whole milk for coconut milk, and prepare to invoke a tropical dream; your tastebuds will be whisked away to a land of palm trees, beaches, blue waters and poolside cocktails.

Creamy coffee frap

How to order
Tall: ‘Base of half pouring cream, half whole milk. 3 pumps of frap roast, 4 pumps of coffee Frappuccino base. Add whipped cream to the jug, a tall ice scoop and blend.’
Grande: ‘Base of half pouring cream, half whole milk. 4 pumps of frap roast, 4 pumps of coffee Frappuccino base. Add whipped cream to the jug, a tall ice scoop and blend.’
Venti: ‘Base of half pouring cream, half whole milk. 4 pumps of frap roast, 5 pumps of coffee Frappuccino base. Add whipped cream to the jug, a tall ice scoop and blend.’

This is the all American summer in a drink. If the Strawberry Deluxe is London, and the Solero is say Bali, then this is certainly New York. It’s the iced coffee that America has pioneered and made the millennials fall in love with – but elevated. This one is rich and creamy, cold and refreshing, the perfect pairing of bitterness and a hint of sweetness, mixed with ice and creamy milk. Perfect to sip whilst relaxing with a book in the glorious heat, or to both refresh and energize whilst meandering through the ornate ruins of a European city. To give this drink an even more luxe feel, swap the frap roast out for shots of the origin coffee.

Any of these drinks will be perfect during the blazing heat of summer, so be sure to go to your local Starbucks and check them out. What’s great is that we have a Starbucks right on campus, so head on down and try some of these refreshing beverages today!