The temperature has dropped, coats and gloves are out of storage and it’s definitively fireplace season in pubs – but Londoners are still clinging to their cold drinks. It might seem incongruous but, just as we don’t swerve hot coffees in balmy weather, we’re not avoiding cooler drinks as the weather turns. The ideal vessel for a cold drink in cold weather? KeepCup’s Helix Cold Cup, which keeps the liquid inside chilled thanks to double-walled vacuum insulation, while the exterior stays comfortable to hold. These functional-yet-stylish cups are designed in Australia and built for daily use.
London’s cold-drink obsession has been gaining pace over the past few years, fuelled by social media trends, cultural shifts around what we’re drinking (and not drinking) and, frankly, the manifold drinking options that cold drinks open to us.
Social media has bolstered the rise of cool drinks like iced matcha and coffee – and the many ways they can be customised, whether via flavourings or toppings like foam, only adds to the appeal. Maybe you’ve spotted an east Londoner by the lake in Victoria Park, clutching a telltale bright green iced matcha latte as a post-running club treat; the proof of matcha’s popularity is in the data, with global matcha production tripling between 2010 and 2023 and global supplies struggling to meet demand. Tiktok hashtags like #matchatok have hit tens of millions of views – the tea’s vivid colour and the visual effect of adding different flavourings like blueberry make it perfect social media fodder – and queues outside of matcha purveyors like Blank Street Coffee, How Matcha and Jenki are on-the-ground proof of the drink’s year-round popularity.
Meanwhile, younger drinkers are turning towards iced coffee; a recent study in the US found that 49 per cent of Gen Zs prefer a cold drink to hot, and anecdotal evidence in the UK suggests a similar drive towards the icy in younger generations. And as Gen Z moves away from drinking alcohol, iced drinks prove an ideal alternative.
There are other good reasons for cold drinks’ year-round popularity, too. A cold drink can be consumed immediately, making it the perfect on-the-run sip – particularly with the Helix Cold Cup and its secure screw fit lid and spillproof valves suited to commuting. Plus, just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you’re cold all the time. A chilled drink is a great antidote for steamy Tube rides, if you’re a little hot post-workout, or if your office’s heating is turned up too high.
Another point in favour of drinking cooler drinks in the winter? They can be super easy to prepare at home – while many hot drinks require extra equipment and several steps, many cold drinks call only for a few ice cubes or a chilled liquid from the fridge, and a stir. The Helix Cold Cup can be filled with ease, then popped in the dishwasher to be cleaned, ready for use the next day. With interchangeable lids – including compatibility with KeepCup’s Commuter Lid – it works just as well for hot drinks on the days you inevitably drift back to the warm side. Build it into your ritual and before long, it’ll naturally become part of what KeepCup likes to call your daily Sip Check. (Think of it as fit check but for your coffee)
Whether your cool drink of choice is an iced matcha, an espresso-based sip or even something fruitier, it’s time to add chilled beverages to your winter rotation, whatever the weather.
Produced in partnership with KeepCup.