From Mango Matcha to Coffees: Here Are the Drink Trends Defining the Summer Season
From glazed doughnuts to ube matcha, we reveal the drinks you're about to see everywhere this summer.
In partnership with 
The days are getting longer, after-work swims are back, frangipanis scent the air, and we've officially completed the switch to iced drinks only. That can only mean one thing: summer has arrived.
Like clockwork, MILKLAB's Summer Sensations program is back for another year to help us kick our coffee ruts aside with a season-defining new drop of drinks. Each year, the number one plant-based barista milk brand officiates the start of summer with a curated lineup of summer-approved drinks.
Each drink has been developed with specialty coffee roasters Golden Brown Coffee to be equal parts delicious and aesthetic. If 2024 was the year of strawberry matcha and adding sparkling water to espressos, yuzu, and cold brew, what's in store for summer 2025?
We asked MILKLAB for a sneaky first look at this summer's trending drinks, from matcha to coffee and beyond.
Glazed Doughnut Iced Latte
Hailey Bieber may have made us temporarily think of skincare when we think of glazed doughnuts, but this summer, that's about to change. Why? Because we're set to see the Glazed Doughnut Latte pop up on cafe menus everywhere and become your new summer sweet treat. Think espresso, white chocolate, and caramel shaken over ice until frothy and served alongside MILKLAB Macadamia on a hot summer's commute. If you've ever wanted to turn a doughnut into a drink, this is absolutely for you.
Mango Matcha
If matcha has become a part of your daily routine — and your entire personality — you will be thrilled to see the Mango Matcha popping up everywhere this year. Yes, it's time to bid farewell to the 2025 zeitgeist's favourite drink, the humble strawberry matcha. Just like your beloved iced matcha, this one comes with a hefty dose of everyone's favourite summer fruit, mango. Perfectly whisked matcha poured over ice, the right balance of MILKLAB Oat, vanilla, and a punchy layer of mango purée make this drink the perfect way to welcome summer. Who knows, you might even like it better than the strawberry version.
Ube Matcha
Ube has taken the drinks world by storm in Asia, and now it's Australia's turn. If you haven't seen it on menus yet here, prepare for its total takeover of cafes this year. The bright purple drinks are made with ube, a technicolour sweet potato native to the Philippines that has a nutty, earthy vanilla-like flavour. The ugly-on-the-outside and purple-on-the-inside vegetable is boiled down and turned into a delicious syrup, perfect for drinks. Think of it like one of nature's prettiest and tastiest sweeteners. This summer, find it adding a purple punch to your regular matcha — perfect if you're not a fan of overly sweet drinks.
Almond Iced Pistachio Latte
Pistachios have had one of the biggest years on record, soaring in popularity and becoming an ingredient in just about everything. Now that summer has arrived, you can expect to see it added to coffees. Different from the in-your-face flavour profile of Dubai chocolate, here you'll find the pistachio (and white chocolate syrup) whisked vigorously and dissolved into your espresso shot, meaning each sip tastes of the delicious ingredient we all can't get enough of. Then, it's topped with MILKLAB Almond and garnished with crushed pistachios and pistachio spread.
Coconut Mango Frappe
Just because you don't drink coffee doesn't mean you should miss out on having an ice-cold drink at a cafe this summer. Frappes are back in a big way this year, so prepare to see them on cafe menus across the country, and even bars for the sober-curious among us. Think of the Coconut Mango Frappe as the piña colada's daytime equivalent, but with mango. Mango, MILKLAB Coconut, coconut cream, ice and sugar syrup are blended up and served topped with shredded coconut and a lime wedge. Best enjoyed from a glass dripping with condensation when the mercury rises.
Find your new summer obsession in store at your favourite cafe now, or head to MILKLAB's website for more inspiration.
- CP Picks: The Best Gifts for Arts Lovers — From Gallery Prints to Music Gigs
- CP Picks: The Best Gifts for People Who Are Never Home — According to Travel Writers
- CP Picks: From Hot Sauce to Handblown Glasses — Small-Batch Gifts for Big Foodies
- The Best Restaurants in Sydney to Take Your Dad This Father's Day (or Any Day)
- Twenty-Five Exceptional Films by Indigenous Australian Filmmakers That You Can Stream Right Now
- Where to Find the Best Steak in Sydney