From Iced Tiramisu to Salted Mascarpone: Nine Specialty Drinks Hitting Australian Menus Now

Fancy a cocktail-style cold brew? A s’mores hot choc? A two-tone matcha? How about a black forest coffee with cacao and berries, topped with cranberry foam? While the flat white remains a staple on Aussie cafe menus, signature drinks have entered the chat – and they’re only getting bolder, funkier and more complex. As the popularity of Insta-worthy drinks continues to soar, even the biggest brands are bringing some more accessible options to the movement – like McCafé, which has launched 10 new cold drinks nationwide as part of its biggest menu change in 30 years.

Here are nine inventive signature drinks to try at cafes around the country. Disclaimer: you’ll want to take a photo.

Hojicha shiratama float at Nana’s Green Tea, Melbourne & Sydney

Nana’s Green Tea earned the nickname “Japanese Starbucks” with its 90-plus stores around the world, and this year the Tokyo chain finally landed in Sydney’s Chinatown after opening in Melbourne in 2024. There’s no shortage of ingenious drinks on the menu – try the matcha chocolate crunch frappe, azuki caramel latte or the standout hojicha shiratama float, with hojicha ice-cream and chewy mochi balls.

Brown sugar shaken espresso at McCafé, Australia-wide

McCafé is an unsung spot for a quick, convenient and fun drink that’s easy on the wallet. On its new menu, you’ll find an Iced Golden Caramel Latte, an Iced Velvet Mocha with cold foam, and a Choc Coconut Frappe. Our pick? The smooth, creamy Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso, shaken over ice and finished with oat milk. It’s a nod to Aussie cafe culture, and generous on brown sugar.

Iced tiramisu at Alby’s, Brisbane

Alby’s, from the team behind neighbourhood faves Sister and Butter, arrived in Wavell Heights last year, and it’s a sunny, family-friendly spot with a crowd-pleasing menu. Don’t pass up its iced tiramisu made with a chocolate espresso base and cold vanilla foam, or one of its rotating drink specials. Think pistachio cold foam, Biscoff cold foam and iced hojicha with Japanese burnt sugar.

Salted mascarpone coffee at Banh Mi Stand, Melbourne

This hole-in-the-wall Flinders Lane eatery has gained a reputation for its iced Vietnamese coffee with Phin filter coffee, condensed milk and salted mascarpone. It’s one of the trendiest drinks in Vietnam at the moment, inspired by the local ca phe muoi, or salt coffee. We recommend pairing it with Banh Mi Stand’s excellent namesake, with pork belly rubbed in spices and dried for two days before it’s cooked.

Earl Grey matcha at Seven Grounds, Adelaide

Yes, Seven Grounds serves a photogenic Mont Blanc, but the cafe’s real drawcards are its signature drinks. It’s recently added a slew of matcha mixes to the menu, including iced Earl Grey matcha, lychee matcha, strawberry matcha, and a matcha “cloud” with coconut water. There’s a coconut Vietnamese iced coffee topped with a purple layer of ube whipped cream, too.

Berry blast and Sprite at McCafé, Australia-wide

Not a coffee person? Luckily, McCafé’s new drinks menu includes a range of refreshing drinks, with or without caffeine. There’s the Berry Blast and Sprite – vibrant in colour, blue raspberry in flavour and topped with cold foam, bringing to mind a nostalgic ice-cream spider. Otherwise, try the Red Bull Dragonberry Energiser, topped with freeze-dried dragon fruit, or the Popping Mango Refresher, with strawberry popping pearls.

Black sesame cloud at Kahii, Sydney

Kahii is a moody Japanese venue in a heritage building in Sydney’s CBD, best known for its iced black sesame latte. A short glass is near-filled with cold milk, and a sweet, aerated mix of black sesame paste, condensed milk, vanilla syrup and brown sugar is poured over the top. Then a double ristretto is poured in, and it’s showered in house black sesame crumb to finish. Chef’s kiss.

Ube iced matcha at Kith, Perth

Kith is a neighbourhood eatery run by a husband-and-wife duo, dishing up comforting family recipes. Its specialty drinks are some of the best in Perth. Try the ube iced matcha, made with Maison Maizen matcha, lavender-coloured ube foam and your choice of milk. The iced strawberry matcha is a close runner-up.

Banoffee matcha affogato at Osoi, Melbourne

This inventive matcha-affogato combo uses banoffee gelato from Luther’s Scoops, and it’s served in a mini silver goblet with hot matcha on the side. The caramelised banana and toffee flavours pair well with bitter matcha, and there’s also a vegan-friendly almond option with chewy almond bits. Otherwise, try Osoi’s dirty matcha with espresso, or coconut matcha with pandan foam.

This article was produced by Broadsheet in partnership with McCafé.