Once a seasonal drink, iced coffee is now a year-round go-to, shaping trends, routines, and more. And just like that daily “little treat,” it’s become something people turn to for comfort and control, not just caffeine. In fact, nearly 80% of iced coffee drinkers say it’s a treat for when life feels overwhelming.
To some a coffee order is just that, but according to DoorDash data, these everyday choices reveal how people are coping, not just how they’re spending. That’s the inspiration behind the Iced Coffee Index (ICI), DoorDash’s new measure of consumer stress tracked through one of the most consistent discretionary purchases: iced coffee.
With National Coffee Month officially here, this first edition explores how iced coffee has evolved from a basic energy boost to a literal and metaphorical pick-me-up.
Key Takeaways:
87% drink iced coffee even when they don’t need caffeine
Iced coffee orders spiked on 2025’s most stressful days—including Blue Monday, Tax Day, and the April 2nd tariff announcement.
More than half of iced coffee orders now include a flavor add-on
Orders including lavender flavoring jumped 170%
How the Iced Coffee Index Works
Much like the Lipstick Index showed how people turn to small indulgences during economic shifts, the ICI uncovers how people seek a little treat during periods of emotional stress and uncertainty. The ICI is scored out of 100, using a mix of DoorDash order data and consumer sentiment insights from an iced coffee survey. Behaviors that suggest people are turning to iced coffee for emotional support drive the score higher. A higher score = higher cultural reliance on iced coffee as a stress relief tool.
Stress is Brewing: Iced Coffee Index Lands at 85/100
The quarter’s ICI score of 85 suggests iced coffee is doing serious emotional labor. People aren’t just drinking iced coffee, they’re relying on it to cope.
DoorDash saw spikes in iced coffee orders on some of 2025’s most stressful days so far, such as Blue Monday (dubbed the most depressing day of the year), Tax Day, and even during the recent tariff announcement on April 2, proving that when external pressure builds, people reach for something cold and comforting ASAP.
“Iced coffee may seem simple, but it’s one of the most revealing behaviors we can track,” said Cristen Milliner, Consumer Trends Expert at DoorDash. “It reflects mood, energy, and how people are coping with what’s happening around them. The shift in iced coffee behavior this quarter shows that consumers turn to it as an anchor, especially during times of heightened stress like we saw in Q2, when seasonal transitions and nonstop, heavy news cycles left many looking for small, reliable rituals."
More Than Half of Iced Coffee Orders are Customized and Flavor is the New Comfort
It doesn’t stop at order volume. During high-stress moments, we also see clear shifts in how people customize and time their coffee, making everyday orders feel more like emotional resets*.
Customizing is climbing: More than half of iced coffee orders now include a flavor add-on, and it’s steadily climbing quarter over quarter. The rise in customization shows iced coffee is more than a caffeine fix – it’s a “little treat” staple.
Mood-based drinks are trending: Orders including lavender flavoring jumped 170%, reflecting demand for calming flavors and emotional self-regulation.
Afternoon coffee runs are rising: With a 7% uptick in 2 - 5 p.m. orders, the afternoon slump is fast becoming iced coffee’s emotional peak hour.
The Emotions Behind Every Sip
Survey data shows just how deeply people connect with iced coffee, even across generations. From Gen Z to Boomers, iced coffee drinkers are turning to their daily cup as a steady way to find comfort amidst the chaos**.
87% drink it even when they don’t need caffeine
86% say it boosts their mood
79% see it as a treat when life feels overwhelming
77% say it helps them feel grounded
77% say they feel more like themselves with a cup of iced coffee in hand
As one respondent put it regarding their iced coffee consumption: “I was going through a lot in my life and couldn't make it through the day without it.”
“Flavor is one of the quickest ways to find comfort, and with over half of iced coffee orders now including a flavor add-on, we’re seeing people using customization to emotionally reset,” Milliner added.
The Iced Coffee Index shows that iced coffee is more than a habit, it's also a tool for emotional balance. People are using it to manage stress, reset during chaotic days, and more. This is the first in a broader series of consumer trends spotlights from DoorDash that look at how daily choices like coffee orders and breakfast habits reflect the way we live and feel.
*According to DoorDash order data from Q2 2025
**According to a DoorDash-commissioned survey of 2,000 iced coffee drinkers 18-73
Index Methodology: The Iced Coffee Index is scored out of 100, combining consumer sentiment (50 points) and behavioral data from DoorDash orders (50 points). Each data point is evaluated based on how strongly it reflects emotional reliance on iced coffee, then weighted for its relevance to stress and coping behavior. For example, a 170% spike in lavender flavoring, a calming, mood-driven customization, earned 18 out of 20 points in the behavioral category. Similarly, 86% of survey respondents said iced coffee boosts their mood, earning 9 out of 10 points in the sentiment category. Combined, these signals contributed to a Q2 score of 85, reflecting high cultural dependence on iced coffee as a stress-management tool.
