Iced coffee: Frosty fresh java spots in Ottawa

Summer in the city calls for cold patio brews on long muggy nights, but what about those sunshiny mornings? Canada’s capital is brimming with barista-boasting gems just waiting to serve you up your morning roast, on ice. Here are a few of the best iced coffees in Ottawa, whether you are on your way to the office, or the beach.

Red Door Provisions

1
117 Beechwood Ave, Ottawa, ON K1M 1L6

A new addition to Ottawa’s Beechwood Village, Red Door Provisions is a preservation kitchen and café with a lot of spunk. Owner Lauren Power brings her culinary prowess and passion for local food and preserves to the table in this family-friendly community destination. Her variation on summertime coffee? The classic Italian affogato. For the sweet tooth on the hunt for a satisfying blast of rocket fuel, add one scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream, pour a foamy espresso shot over it, and you’ll be humming happily for the rest of the day.

Bridgehead Coffeehouse

2
109 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5N5

For the coffee connoisseur who cares, your best bet for a chilled serving of organic, fair-trade coffee is Bridgehead. Beyond its blended and iced coffee, Bridgehead has become an innovator of cold-coffee culture. It now offers its signature cold brew, an 18-hour steeped coffee that is slightly carbonated and sweetened, sold in ice-cold six-packs. If you can’t decide whether to go for coffee or beer, you can get both, in one. Bridgehead has teamed up with local brewery Beau’s to create a coffee-infused bevvy that satisfies this dual desire.

Wild Oats Bakery Cafe And Catering

3
817 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3V7

A long-time favourite of Ottawa’s vegan and vegetarian crowd, the Wild Oat Bakery and Whole Foods is a small café that packs a delicious and healthy punch. For anyone travelling to or through the Glebe looking for a cool pick-me-up on a stifling summer day, the Wild Oat offers delicious iced coffees on the fly — and it’s worth adding one of their homemade muffins to go with it!

Morala Specialty Coffee

4
734 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3V4

Stepping into this tiny café and bakery feels like being transported to the streets of Portugal, where perfect macchiato and lemon tarts reign supreme. Morala’s charm lies in its cozy atmosphere and subdued European esthetic. There’s no Wi-Fi, no table service and no television, just quality coffee and conversation. For an authentic European coffee experience, take yours at the bar with two sugars, and add a modern twist: put it on ice.

Blumen Studio

5
1395 Wellington St W, Up, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2X1

Iced coffee and flowers anyone? Blumenstudio is a must-visit café with a unique twist — veteran florist Kat Kosk has expanded her range of scented delights and is now tantalizing tastebuds as well as noses with her immaculate cortados. Patrons can luxuriate in their chilled coffee and tasty pastry treats surrounded by fresh-cut seasonal flowers: one might be inspired to fill their vases as well as their mugs.

Ministry of Coffee

6
279 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1M1

The Ministry of Coffee is an innovative institution when it comes to caffeinated brews in Ottawa. Its latest nitrogen-fuelled decree is “Check out our cold-brewed coffee.” Cold-steeped for 24-hours, this brew is then carefully cold-filtered into a keg, which is then infused with nitrogen. When ordered, this creamy, creative coffee concoction is poured from a draft spout over ice for an iced-coffee experience unlike any other. For out-of-the-box joe, the Ministry of Coffee reigns supreme.

Raw Sugar Cafe

7
692 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 6P4

Who doesn’t like a little art with their iced coffee? Raw Sugar Cafe is one of Ottawa’s busiest artist hubs, hosting live performances, fundraisers and eclectic combinations such as its Tuesday night Beats & Board Games, an evening of competitive fun kickstarted by local DJs. The café is perfect for a leisurely coffee break or full afternoon of soaking up the local art scene. The fresh homemade food and extensive coffee and tea list are available in chilled-out forms: come for the culture and stay for the coffee.

Morning Owl Coffee House

Ottawa, ON

The baristas of Morning Owl Coffee are wise to the coffee game. They proudly serve organic, direct-trade coffee roasted at a local Almonte roasterie Equator Coffee. Morning Owl employs a dedicated team that develops unique espresso blends that change with the seasons. Expertly crafted high-octane joe is served cool for the summer months, whether you are craving an iced signature latte, frappe latte or a classic iced Americano. Morning Owl Coffee is ranked one of the best in town because, when it comes to the java, this joint really gives a hoot.

Grounded Kitchen

8
100 Gloucester St, Ottawa, ON K2P 0A4

For downtown early risers looking for a summer-morning jolt on the rocks, Grounded Kitchen & Coffeehouse is an ideal destination. Open at the crack of dawn, (7 am, Monday to Friday) this earthy and relaxed café is decorated entirely with reclaimed and repurposed materials and furniture — built from the ground up, so to speak. The same goes for its food and drinks: all meals are made from scratch, and owner Amir Rahim handpicks his tea selection when travelling abroad. The iced-coffees and coffee lattes are the perfect summer accompaniment to a patio date, with a book or best friend.

I Deal Coffee

9
176 Dalhousie St, Ottawa, ON K1N 7C6

Ideal Coffee has long held the monopoly on innovative, tongue-numbingly hot and delicious coffee. In the realm of iced coffee, the café is also a cup above the rest. Its secret? Coffee ice cubes. Yes, chilled-coffee lovers need not suffer the sad fate of the watery iced Americano. Ideal Coffee pours signature espresso blends over frozen coffee cubes so summer drinkers can delight in even more coffee for their bucks — and that makes Ideal a star in the Ottawa coffee world.

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