Iced coffee purchased surged 137% during May 2026 bank holiday
Iced Latte was the most purchased during the holiday weekend.
Iced coffee purchases during the bank holiday weekend in the UK increased 137% compared to the weekend before, according to payments platform Square.
Iced coffee purchases rose 123% compared to the same period last year.
The top five purchases during the May bank holiday were iced latte, iced coffee, iced Americano, iced Matcha latte, and iced white chocolate matcha.
A separate consumer study from Square found that nearly half (47%) of people switch to an iced drink when it's hot. Gen Z is leading the charge, with 81% changing from hot to iced coffee, followed by 74% of Millennials.
Globally, coffee chains are experimenting with new flavours, with ube-flavoured beverages as the top favourite, according to a report by GlobalData.
Ube, a Southeast Asian purple yam known for its vibrant colour and subtly sweet flavour, has surged in popularity online, with analysts describing it as a potential successor to the matcha craze.
The report said that more than 60% of Gen Z and millennials use social media to discover new flavours, whilst many also share their food and drink experiences online.
The growing popularity of ube is also being fueled by consumer curiosity. About 64% of Gen Z consumers and 65% of millennials said curiosity motivates them to try new flavours.
Brands are responding by introducing ube through familiar menu items. Costa Coffee, for instance, added Sweet Ube Hot Chocolate and Sweet Ube Frappe offerings to its UK spring menu to make the flavour more accessible to mainstream consumers.
