The Cold Brew Arnold Palmer: A Summer Classic, Reimagined
Opening Pour
Some drinks are classics for a reason. The Arnold Palmer has been a summertime favorite for decades because it combines two things that already work beautifully together: iced tea and lemonade.
A few years ago, I started wondering what would happen if coffee took the place of the tea. Not espresso, not a latte — but a bright, refreshing cold brew that could stand alongside fresh lemonade instead of overpowering it. That experiment eventually became one of my favorite signature drinks at Crown Brew. The trick isn't just adding coffee to lemonade. The trick is choosing the right coffee and building the drink the right way.
Rule #1: Use Cold Brew Black
This is the most important part of the recipe. Skip the concentrate — use cold brew black, meaning your concentrate has already been diluted with an equal part of water.
The reason comes down to balance. Tea is light, refreshing, and easy to drink, and that's exactly what makes an Arnold Palmer work. If you use concentrate, the coffee becomes too dominant and overpowers the lemonade entirely. Cold brew black keeps everything in proportion and lets the coffee and lemonade share the spotlight the way they should.
Rule #2: Choose the Right Coffee
Not every coffee belongs in this drink. Since lemonade already brings citrus and sweetness, you want a coffee that naturally shares those characteristics — something bright and fruit-forward like Ethiopia, Kenya, or a lighter blend like our Supernova. These coffees carry natural notes of berries, citrus, florals, and honey that blend beautifully with lemonade. A darker coffee with notes of tobacco, leather, or heavy baking spice will fight the lemonade instead of complementing it. When the coffee and lemonade already speak the same language, the drink feels effortless.
Rule #3: Bridge the Flavors
This is where the drink goes from good to memorable. A simple syrup bridges the coffee and lemonade together without dominating either one — it just connects the two halves of the drink into something unified. Berry syrups work beautifully here. Lavender is incredible. Honey can be fantastic. The goal is a single cohesive drink, not coffee first and lemonade second.
The Hey Arnold
Our signature version is called the Hey Arnold, and it's still one of my favorite summer drinks we've ever created.
- 180g Ethiopian cold brew black
- 180g lavender lemonade
- 30g blackberry syrup
The Ethiopia brings berry, honey, and floral notes. The lavender lemonade adds brightness and sweetness. The blackberry syrup ties everything together into one incredibly refreshing drink — it's one of those combinations that surprises people every single time.
Another version we've been loving lately builds on the cherry syrup from last issue. Start with 180g of cold brew black and 180g of your favorite lemonade, then finish with 30g of house-made cherry syrup. The cherry rounds out the lemonade beautifully and creates something bright, refreshing, and just a little nostalgic. It's a good reminder that once you have a few house-made syrups in the refrigerator, you can keep reinventing the same foundational drinks all summer long.
The Recipe
Start with 90g cold brew concentrate and 90g cold filtered water, or simply use 180g cold brew black. Then add:
- 180g lemonade
- 30g simple syrup
Build over ice and stir gently. From there, experiment — different lemonades, different syrups, different coffees. Tiny changes create completely different drinks.
Tips from a Barista
Don't underestimate the garnish. Fresh citrus, dried orange wheels, blackberries, herbs like mint or rosemary, even a sprig of lavender — these aren't just decoration. They add aromatics that your brain is already processing before the drink ever reaches your tongue.
That burst of citrus or lavender prepares your palate for what's coming and genuinely changes the way you perceive flavor. If you're hosting friends or family, it's one of the easiest ways to make a simple drink feel truly memorable.
Quick Recipe Recap
Cold Brew Arnold Palmer — 180g cold brew black, 180g lemonade, 30g simple syrup. Build over ice and stir gently.
Hey Arnold — 180g Ethiopian cold brew black, 180g lavender lemonade, 30g blackberry syrup.
Cherry Arnold Palmer — 180g cold brew black, 180g lemonade, 30g house-made cherry syrup.
To build cold brew black: 90g cold brew concentrate + 90g cold filtered water.
Serve over ice, stir gently, and garnish with fresh citrus, berries, or herbs.
Closing Thought
One of my favorite parts about coffee is discovering that it belongs in places most people never think to put it. The Cold Brew Arnold Palmer borrows a classic summer drink, respects what made it great, and gives it an entirely new personality through coffee. Once you understand the principles behind pairing flavors, you'll start seeing opportunities to build your own signature drinks everywhere.
Brew it better,
Josh
Founder, Brew It Better