How To Get Iced Coffee In Europe

American tourists have long lamented the lack of familiar iced coffee beverages overseas. Here's what experts have to say about getting your fix.

Summer after summer, Americans flock to popular European destinations in Italy, France, Spain, Greece and beyond. During those visits, they must contend with a host of cultural differences, like smaller water glasses, different systems of measurement — and the fact that iced coffee doesn’t seem to be as readily available overseas.

“Cold coffees in general are not as popular abroad,” said barista and coffee consultant Laila Ghambari. “Serving cold brew or iced coffee requires access to ice. An ice machine is standard in every coffee shop in the U.S. but not as common abroad in coffee shops.”

Plenty of American tourists have stories 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 coffee ice cream.

“I think iced coffee is more popular in the U.S. and Canada because we have a much stronger culture of drinking cold things in general,” echoed Brodie Vissers, a coffee consultant currently living in Barcelona. “Ice water is often served as a courtesy in restaurants, and a bottle of cold water, soda or beer is definitely seen as refreshing. Though the concept of cold drinks obviously exists in Europe, it has much longer histories and traditions that span different countries, and warm or hot drinks are even sometimes seen as healthier, better for digestion, and even more comforting.”

The rich food and beverage culture in Italy, for instance, certainly does not revolve around iced coffee. Though the drink might be known in the country, it is not particularly in demand there.