With the summer heat setting in, our “need for caffeine” is stronger than ever. What’s better than a delicious iced coffee pick-me-up to combat the heat waves? There are many places to cool off and get caffeinated in Kelowna, but here are a few of our favourites with their unique spin on the classic iced coffee!

Oh Natural Foods

 Photo Credit: Keddy Pavlik

The team at Oh Natural are actually known for their awesome infused lemonades, but their Infused Iced Coffee deserves an equal amount of fame for its stand-out flavour. They make the coffee with Saltspring Island Organic Coffee, which is then infused with vanilla and cardamom. It’s cold, creamy, subtly sweet and spiced, and the perfect sipper while you walk around the market. Extra bonus: it’s fast! Since they make it in batches, it’s ready-to-serve. One less line to wait in at the market!

Canoe Coffee Roasters

Not only does Canoe lovingly roast their own coffee beans and pull an epic espresso shot, but they are the creators of the one-of-a-kind iced Espresso Tonic. While the combination might seem unusual to you, the pairing of slightly sweet tonic with a shot of strong espresso actually makes perfect sense. The flavours balance each other out into an ultra-refreshing and carbonated caffeine hit – it’s the perfect beverage for an afternoon pick me up! Grab one at the Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, or at their Roastery location on 1176 High Road.

350 Bakehouse and Café

350 has really re-invented the wheel with their interpretation of the iced coffee, and it doesn’t really look like coffee at all! It’s called a Tropic Refresher, and it’s made from water that has been steeped with green coffee beans and then infused with fruit. They make combinations like Citrus Mint and Strawberry Acai, and they claim to have a serious caffeine hit to them – apparently more than coffee! This is definitely a new and refreshing way to get hydrated and get your caffeine fix this summer.

YLW Food Truck

These guys are known for their larger-than-life burritos, but they’re also making epic Vietnamese Iced Coffees out of their food truck parked next to One Boardshop. If you’ve never tasted a Vietnamese Iced Coffee before, you’re in for a real treat. They’re made with uber-strong coffee slow brewed directly over ice and sweetened condensed milk, and so they’re sweet, strong and guaranteed to perk you up in just a couple sips. Tacos and Vietnamese Coffees might not be a traditional pairing, but the quirky combination is surprisingly perfect. Definitely give this one a try.

Good Karma Pops

This brand new popsicle stand is giving out good vibes and a new meaning to iced coffee with their Moroccan Spiced Coffee Popsicle! Inspired from a trip to North Africa and made with organic ingredients, this iced treat will satisfy your coffee needs, and last in the summer heat. It’s made with Cherry Hill Coffee, and spices like ginger, nutmeg, black pepper and cardamom. The creaminess comes from coconut milk (so it’s dairy free), and it’s sweetened with just a little organic cane sugar. YUM! Follow @goodkarmapops to see where they’re “popping” up this summer.

Pulp Fiction

Pulp Fiction Coffeehouse downtown takes their iced coffees to the next level! Not only do they make their signature Espresso Milkshake made with 49th Parallel Coffee Beans, but they have also just released a new creation to their iced coffee collection: The Nitro Cold Brew Float! Nitro cold brew coffee packs even more caffeine than traditional coffee, and the “nitro” element provides the coffee with a velvety smooth texture. All this with a scoop of ice cream? Sign me up!

Il Tavolino

This family-run bistro makes a mean coffee – the Italian way. They have the most delicious Iced White Mocha, but their most decadent version of an iced coffee has to be their Affogato. “Affogato” actually means “drowned” in Italian, but in this case it refers to house-made gelato “drowned” with fresh espresso. The coffee and gelato melt into each other to create a cool, creamy treat that combines the lush decadence of gelato and the characteristic kick of espresso. It’s the perfect balance.

What’s your favourite way to get caffeinated this summer? There are so many ways to #TreatYoSelf to an iced cold coffee treat this season!

Kelowna born and raised, Keddy Pavlik of TheTreatLife has been passionate about the local food scene basically since birth. If she's not in the kitchen, you can probably find her at the farmer's market or taking pictures of food. Photo Credit: Jordana Dickson.