Sixteen coffees. Thirty-one days. Three ways to win.
Tasting card for wannabe judges!
It may be crazy hot outside, but it’s ice cold in our coffee cups!
To celebrate summer, and to have some fun, we’ve once again got sixteen specialty iced coffees for you to try throughout the month of July. To make it extra fun, we’ve also got a friendly competition going on.
There are three ways for contestants to win: Overall Bracket Winner, Most Tagged Coffee, and Judges’ Choice.
Readers can win too! Tag photos of your iced coffees on Instagram throughout the month using both @ediblememphis and coffee shop tag and get entered into a drawing for a $100 gift cardxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx to the participating coffee shop of your choice. (Each tag = one entry!) Tag all sixteen and you can cast a vote as an official judge at the end of the month.
Use this Iced Coffee ChampionSip Guide to learn about our sixteen contestants. Watch our Instagram stories for the bracket matchups beginning July 17. (Sippin’ on Sixteen: July 17-24; Icy Eight: July 25-28; Pour of Four: July 29-30; and ChampionSipper: July 31)
Photos by Jonathan Amado.
Orange Blossom and Vanilla Iced Latte
Overton Square’s 17 Berkshire specializes in exquisite patisserie. They also have a wide variety of coffee and tea options to accompany their sweet treats. Serving Stumptown coffee as well as Sloane tea, they offer drink options ranging from pour-overs to iced lattes to tea lattes.
All of 17 Berkshire’s syrups are made in-house, but they’re best known for their orange blossom syrup. Owner Nuha Abuduhair says, “It’s a nod to a classic Middle Eastern pastry syrup, but for the Orange Blossom and Vanilla Iced Latte, we add a pump of vanilla simple syrup for a warm, mellow undertone.” Don’t let the “orange” in orange blossom sway you. Orange blossom has a honey nectar taste and doesn’t lean citrus.
2094 Trimble Place
Tuesday – Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 12 to 5 p.m., Closed Monday
Gold Brew
Maurice Henderson believes that coffee can be a force for good. In 2019, under the name Cxffeeblack, he partnered with Ethnos Coffee to create a signature blend, Guji Mane. A movement was born. In 2020, the Anti Gentrification Cxffee Club opened its doors in The Heights and his wife, Renata, took over as head roaster.
You can now taste the motherland in a can with the snapchilled Guji Mane coffee sourced from an all-Black supply chain. The Gold Brew combines the chilled Guji with a splash of their secret sauce. “It’s the brew so fye your favorite rapper needs it before every show.”
761 National Street
Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
No Lifeguard on Duty
Part coffee shop, part pottery studio, Belltower Coffeehouse & Studio serves a variety of locally roasted coffees from Dr. Bean’s, Vice & Virtue, and J. Brooks as well as breakfast and lunch offerings like scones, muffins, breakfast burritos, salads, and sandwiches.
Cool down this summer with their espresso tonic float. This drink is creamy, bubbly, and oh-so-cold with a large scoop of classic vanilla ice cream, a double shot of espresso from Bandit Coffee Co., and a splash of Mountain Valley sparkling water. This drink will make you wish you were riding down a lazy river or digging your toes into the hot Florida sand. Wherever you enjoy it, remember to be careful—there’s No Lifeguard on Duty!
525 & 529 South Highland Street
Monday – Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cherry Styles Spro Cone
Located inside The Commonwealth building, Boycott Coffee is a fourth wave coffee shop specializing in house-roasted beans and thought-provoking conversation. However, co-owner Zan Roach says it’s too hot to be serious with coffee right now. Shave the stress off of life with tasty ice in a cone. Boycott is doing something new with the Cherry Styles Spro Cone—so just be prepared for some deliciously refreshing goof-ups.
The cone features coffee syrup and syrup made from lychee, a florally acidic tropical fruit with spikes (they removed those first—don’t worry!). Zan says, “We made the most intimidating of all coffee drinks—the pour-over—with our natural Honduras. In the spirit of ‘coffee should be made how you like,’ we went against the rule and poured a whole heap of sugar into it because—screw it—you should have your summer snow and eat it too. No judgment.” All topped with a cherry. It’s divine in its destruction.
240 Madison Avenue
Monday – Tuesday 6:30 to 11 a.m., Wednesday – Friday 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Saturday – Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lemon Thyme Tonic
City & State helped introduce Memphis to third wave coffee and continues to be at the forefront of coffee trends. This multi-roaster café releases a new specialty drink menu each season and pairs them with seasonal in-house pastries.
The current staff favorite is the Lemon Thyme Tonic, which is perfect for keeping you cool and caffeinated! It’s made with real lemon juice, thyme, and sparkling water and topped with City & State’s classic espresso.
2625 Broad Avenue
Monday – Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Pineapple Habanero Cold Brew
Inside South Main’s Stock & Belle retail shop, Dr. Bean’s features a pour-over bar, cold brew on draft, beans for purchase, and more. Dr. Bean’s staff is meticulous about their beans all the way from soil to cup, even visiting farms firsthand.
For the Pineapple Habanero Cold Brew, Dr. Bean’s has paired their signature cold brew with a smoked pineapple reduction complete with a subtle habanero spice. This full-bodied drink has an acidic kick that will keep you cool in the Tennessee heat.
387 South Main Street
Monday – Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fancy Nancy
Edge Alley isn’t a coffee shop; it’s a restaurant with an excellent coffee program. Owner Tim Barker roasts his own beans, and the specialty drink menu changes with the seasons. You don’t have to order food to enjoy the coffee, but we highly recommend it.
The Fancy Nancy is made with espresso, orange juice, orange flower water, lemon, lavender, cane sugar, and mineral water. It’s a light, refreshing citrus drink with a hint of soothing lavender—the perfect fizzy iced coffee to sip in hot weather.
600 Monroe Avenue
Thursday – Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m., Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Grit & Grind” Honey Bourbon Spiced Pecan Milk Latte
Inspire Community Cafe is a cafe and coffee shop tucked in the shopping center at Tillman and Sam Cooper. They’re on a mission to nourish community change by providing living-wage jobs, life-giving food, and a gathering place that inspires and connects people for a more just and compassionate Memphis.
Support local with Inspire’s “Grit & Grind” Honey Bourbon Spiced Pecan Milk Latte! This decadent, Memphis-themed iced coffee drink starts with a hand-crafted honey bourbon spiced syrup made from locally distilled Old Dominick Huling Station bourbon, Thistle & Bee honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and a pinch of cayenne. Next comes chilled, locally roasted French Truck espresso and house-made pecan milk. And it’s topped off with a fresh-baked grizzly-bear claw stuffed with brown sugar, espresso, cinnamon, pecans, and local Naked shortbread cookie crumbles, along with a drizzle of more Thistle & Bee honey.
510 Tillman Street
Tuesday – Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Closed Sunday & Monday
Bougie Ain’t It
Muggin Coffee House is Whitehaven’s first independently owned and Black-owned coffee shop. Owners Ken and Mary Olds opened the shop as a place to foster community by providing a space for people to chill, catch up, and recharge. The coffee is created by the owners and roasted by J. Brooks.
The Bougie Ain’t It is iced coffee, accented with orange peel and graced with sweetened cold foam and a light dusting of ginger.
1139 Brownlee Road
Monday – Friday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Closed Sunday
Park + Cherry
Memphizz
Inside the Dixon Gallery, Chef Phillip DeWayne offers seasonal dishes as well as fresh coffee and tea at his Park + Cherry cafe.
The Memphizz uses the Brute roast from Nashville’s Frothy Monkey roasters and is spicy, bright, and energetic. It consists of a ginger beer, a squeeze of lime, and a fresh double shot of espresso to top it off.
Admission to the Dixon is free. You’ll find the cafe to the left of the welcome desk inside the main building. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.
4339 Park Avenue (Inside the Dixon Gallery)
Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 1 to 5 p.m., Closed Monday
Raspberry Dream
Retro Coffee & Donuts is “parked” inside an oh-so-cute Citroën H Van. They serve specialty roasted coffee from J. Brooks and craft mini donuts made to order. What’s not to love?
The Raspberry Dream is a summer cold brew combined with white chocolate and a cold foam of house-made raspberry syrup. Pair it with the mini donuts for a perfect sweet treat.
Check Instagram to see the weekly schedule and locations.
Samoa Cold Brew
Located inside the Latting Speed Shop, Team Car Cafe connects the bike shop to El Mero Taco next door. Pop in for a cup of Ethnos coffee and grab a breakfast taco to-go at the coffee shop and patisserie. During lunch hours, order from El Mero’s menu and have it delivered to the coffee shop side thanks to the magic of QR codes and online ordering.
The Samoa Cold Brew is made with Team Car Cafe’s signature Ethnos Coffee Brazil cold brew and topped with a coconut, chocolate, and salted caramel cold foam.
8100 Macon Station Drive, Suite 101
Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed Sunday
Café con Leche
Ugly Mug locally roasts fair trade and organic-blend coffees and has a drive-through window that opens at 6 a.m. during the workweek. The inside is decorated with multitudes of fun coffee mugs. If you find one that you want to use, they’ll wash it out and make your drink in it.
The Café con Leche was inspired by a traditional Colombian coffee drink that head taster “Ramblin Joe” experienced during his travels. First they slow roast a special blend of Colombian and Mexican Chiapas beans to accentuate the beans’ caramel notes. Then they brew the coffee extra strong and chill it to 38 degrees. Next they make a simple syrup with panela (traditional Colombian raw sugar). Lastly, they create a cold dense foam milk topping called “seda fria” (cold silk). To build the drink they add equal parts coffee and panela, and complete with whole milk. Then they top it with seda fria and sprinkle with a blend of light cinnamon and natural sugar.
4610 Poplar Avenue
Monday – Friday 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 7a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Golden Girl
Vice & Virtue is a micro-batch roaster of “mega-good” coffee. Their cafe is located inside downtown’s Arrive hotel. They sell coffee drinks and whole beans alongside baked goods by Hustle & Dough.
The Golden Girl is a single-origin espresso tonic with Vice & Virtue’s golden washed anaerobic Colombian coffee and house-made vanilla syrup.
477 South Main Street
Monday -Thursday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday – Sunday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Iced Bonboncita
Located in a small strip mall in Bartlett, Voodoo Cafe is perhaps best known for their beignets and iced Vietnamese coffee. In addition to traditional beignets, they have voodoo doll-shaped beignets that can be covered with all sorts of toppings. Other drink offerings include Guji Mane, various espressos, Thai tea, and Thai coffee. Look for their original food truck, parked outside their brick-and-mortar store.
For the Iced Bonboncita Voodoo Cafe combines a Cuban espresso, dulce de leche cold foam, and whipped espresso for a tasty treat.
2780 Bartlett Boulevard
Tuesday – Thursday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Closed Monday
Banana Colada Iced Coffee
Wiseacre Brewing Company is best known for their beer, but they’ve been canning coffee for several years and it is time to show it off!
Made from Metropolis beans out of Chicago, their cold brew is blended with frozen bananas and pina colada soft serve to create the Banana Colada Iced Coffee of your dreams.
Available downtown only.
398 South B.B. King Boulevard
Monday – Wednesday 1 to 9 p.m., Thursday 1 to 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 1 to 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.