What You Might Get When You Order Iced Coffee In Australia

Iced coffee seems like a universal drink that transcends place and time; However, it can take many forms that look nothing like the simple chilled coffee poured over ice cubes you get at Starbucks or one of your other favorite coffee shops when you want to quench your thirst and get a boost of caffeine. Australia is a case in point: If you are headed Down Under, you may need to rethink your iced coffee expectations. 

You may need to ask a server before ordering iced coffee because what you may get in an Australian coffee shop may be a drink that is a combination of ice cream and espresso. If you are getting ice cream float vibes, but for coffee lovers, that's about right. In addition to a scoop of ice cream and a couple of shots of espresso, an Australian iced coffee also includes milk. Thankfully, that's probably the kind of delicious surprise that isn't going to have you tossing the drink into the circular.

The Aussies aren't the only nationality that have their own take on this beloved drink. In fact, Australian iced coffee may have you feeling like you are in Italy because it is a little reminiscent of the Italian dessert affogato. Affogato uses a scoop of ice cream or gelato doused with a shot of hot espresso at its most basic. The contrast of the rich and bitter taste of the coffee with the sweet, smooth, and cool taste of the ice cream makes this pairing quite tasty and refreshing. 

Head over to Brazil and order an iced coffee and it will have a similar feeling to the Australian version only with a soda twist that may have you thinking of the 1970s show, "Laverne & Shirley." The Brazilian riff on iced coffee features chocolate milk, a soda pop like Pepsi or Coca-Cola, chilled coffee, and either whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream to create a sweet and cool drink. Sounds like the perfect way to start a morning. So, if you are looking for a way to change up your iced coffee, sans the travel, take a page from the Aussies, Italians, or Brazilians.