"No matter what the weather's like outside, sometimes you just crave a creamy, fully dressed-up iced coffee. Or, maybe you just want to drink your iced coffee black. Whatever your particular hankering may be for, there's no denying that sometimes iced coffee just hits different - it can tickle a midafternoon craving and scratch a certain itch that hot coffee can't seem to reach. However, not all iced coffees are created equal."
"Obviously, personal preference varies widely in the coffee world, but there's no denying that coffee tastes different when cold than it does when hot. Chilling a coffee can amplify or mute certain tasting notes, often giving the drinker a nuanced impression of the beverage when they enjoy it both ways. I have over a decade of barista experience under my belt, but I couldn't say I've ever taken the time to taste certain roasts side by side at both temperature extremes - until today, that is."
"I grabbed seven of Starbucks' whole-bean coffee blends and tried each hot and cold, to determine which were worth taking the time to ice. I actually found that four of the bunch made great cold coffees. The other three are best enjoyed as a piping hot morning cuppa. For more about how I conducted this taste test, check out the "Methodology" section at the end of this piece. Some recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer."
"Starbucks' Sunsera blend is relatively new as of the writing of this piece, so if you've seen any hype about any of these blends, it's probably this one. I first tried it when sampling products at the company's 2025 Leadership Experience, and I'll admit not being that impressed - at the time, I thought of it as a perfectly fine coffee, but nothing to write home about."
A tasting compared seven Starbucks whole-bean blends brewed hot and cold to identify which blends benefit from chilling. Chilling coffee can amplify or mute specific tasting notes, producing different flavor impressions compared with hot preparation. Four of the tested blends performed well when iced, offering desirable cold flavors, while three blends were stronger when served hot. Sunsera performed particularly well when cold and registered as a light-medium rather than an unmistakable light roast. Initial exposure to Sunsera occurred at Starbucks' 2025 Leadership Experience, and further home brewing confirmed its cold-friendly profile. The evaluation prioritized sensory impressions across temperature extremes to guide serving recommendations.
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