4 non-coffee drinks to try at Huntsville coffee shops this summer

One thing about me—I’m always down for a coffee shop visit. Now that summer is in full swing, I hit up some of my favorite local coffee shops to try their summer drinks, and I was not disappointed.

Keep reading to see all the drink specials I had this week and my thoughts.

1. “Toad Style” Matcha | Gold Sprint

Gold Sprint’s matcha got a summer upgrade. (Elizabeth Hobbs / Hville Blast)

• iced matcha soda with house-made pineapple/lemon syrup, sparkling water and ceremonial-grade matcha

A quality, tasty matcha is hard to come by, especially a creative matcha concoction. Gold Sprint has my favorite matcha in town—their Signature Matcha—so I was excited to see this on the specials menu. My favorite Auburn coffee shop, Side Track, has a similar orange matcha soda that I love, so I had high expectations for Gold Sprint’s take.

This was sooooo tasty. The citrusy notes of the syrup complimented the green tea and made for a well-rounded, refreshing summer drink. It was creamy yet fizzy and crisp, and the cute name makes it even better. A matcha soda may sound intimidating, but you have to try this drink.

• Location: 2515 9th Ave SW, Huntsville, AL 35805
• Hours: Monday-Saturday 7AM-7PM, Sunday 9AM-5PM
• Website | Facebook | Instagram

2. “Sweet Dixie”| Piper & Leaf

• tea blend of hibiscus, rosehip, apple, coconut, peach, blueberry, pineapple, chamomile and mint

While any Piper & Leaf tea is refreshing on a summer day, their Sweet Dixie seasonal summer tea is a must-try. I ordered mine iced and with a little bit of added sweetness (at Piper & Leaf, you get to choose what level of sweetness you want). This summer tea is a well-balanced fruity tea and beautiful for the summer. As a southerner, you can’t beat a classic iced tea in the summertime.

• Location: Lowe Mill: 2211 Seminole Dr SW Studio 151, Huntsville, AL 35805 | Constitution Park: 109 Gates Ave SE, Huntsville, AL 35801
• Hours: Lowe Mill: Monday-Saturday 9AM-7PM | Constitution Park: Wednesday-Saturday 10AM-7PM
• Website | Facebook | Instagram

3. Matcha Affogato | Offbeat Coffee Studio

This is my new favorite drink…ever. (Elizabeth Hobbs / Hville Blast)

• hot matcha poured over a scoop of pistachio ice cream

Offbeat never misses with their creative, outside-the-box drink creations. I knew I would love this drink before I tried it, and it was still better than I expected. A twist on a traditional affogato (a shot of espresso over vanilla ice cream), this matcha affogato is probably the best variety of a matcha drink I’ve ever had.

I’ve never tried pistachio ice cream before this, but it paired beautifully with the matcha. They serve the hot matcha in a small pitcher so you can pour it over the ice cream for a fun experience. The ice cream makes for a perfect creamy, cool, rich matcha drink. The pistachio ice cream gives it a nice nutty note and sweetness. Since there’s no ice involved, the matcha stays perfectly creamy without getting watered down. I will be coming back for this drink ASAP.

• Location: 2620 Clinton Ave W #1d, Huntsville, AL 35805
• Hours: Sunday-Thursday 7AM-3PM
• Website | Facebook | Instagram

4. “Fireworks” | Olde Towne Coffee

• strawberry and vanilla lemonade with red hot sprinkles

Just in time for the 4th of July, this fresh “Fireworks” lemonade was delightful and refreshing. I thought the red hot sprinkles would just make the drink look pretty, but I was pleasantly surprised that as I drank it, I started tasting the spicy sprinkles. The sprinkles gave it a nice kick that paired well with the fruitiness of the strawberry, making for a tasty, fun and festive summer drink.

• Location: 511 Pratt Ave NE, Huntsville, AL 35801
• Hours: Every day 7AM-7PM
• Website | Facebook | Instagram

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