National Coffee Milkshake Day – Jul. 26, 2026

National Coffee Milkshake Day
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BeverageDessertSweet Food
Where:
United States
Date change rule:
Every July 26
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☕🥤

National Coffee Milkshake Day arrives every July 26, inviting you to indulge in the perfect blend of coffee and ice cream. It’s the ideal way to cool down and get a delicious boost during the summer heat. Blend your own at home, visit a local shop, or try a new recipe to celebrate this delightful day!

Want to sponsor National Coffee Milkshake Day? Learn how

Expected National Coffee Milkshake Day Deals

While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that major chains and local cafes often roll out special offers for National Coffee Milkshake Day. Expect deals from places like Starbucks, which might feature discounts on their Frappuccinos, or Dunkin’ with promotions on frozen coffee beverages. Fast-food giants such as McDonald’s and Dairy Queen could offer limited-time coffee-flavored shakes or BOGO deals. Specialty ice cream shops like Cold Stone Creamery or Shake Shack are also likely to have unique coffee milkshake creations. Keep an eye out for local cafes promoting their signature blends. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 26 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Coffee Milkshake Day

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #CoffeeMilkshakeDay. Film yourself making a unique coffee milkshake recipe or reviewing different brands.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #CoffeeMilkshakeDay. Share aesthetic photos of your favorite coffee milkshake, highlighting its creamy texture and toppings.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #CoffeeMilkshakeDay. Post a poll asking friends if they prefer classic coffee shakes or adventurous new flavors.

Social Media Tips for National Coffee Milkshake Day

Individuals

Experiment with different coffee types and ice cream flavors at home to craft your ultimate coffee milkshake. Don't forget toppings like whipped cream, chocolate syrup, or coffee beans.

Creators

Create a 'Coffee Milkshake Crawl' video, reviewing the best coffee milkshakes from various local establishments. Share your ratings and highlight unique ingredients or presentations.

Brands

Run a 'Blend Your Own Shake' contest, inviting customers to submit their most creative coffee milkshake recipes for a chance to win prizes or have their creation featured on your menu.

Top Brands for National Coffee Milkshake Day

  1. Starbucks

    Founded in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks is the world's largest coffeehouse chain. Known for popularizing espresso-based drinks and creating the Frappuccino, they offer numerous coffee-infused blended beverages perfect for a coffee milkshake celebration.

  2. McDonald's

    The global fast-food giant, founded in 1940 in California, is famous for its burgers and iconic milkshakes. Their McCafé line also makes them a key player in the coffee market, offering a convenient spot for a coffee milkshake fix.

  3. Dairy Queen

    Originating in Illinois in 1940, Dairy Queen is celebrated for its soft-serve ice cream and Blizzards. They offer a variety of blended treats, making them a natural destination for those seeking a rich and creamy coffee milkshake experience.

  4. Dunkin'

    Founded in 1950 in Massachusetts, Dunkin' is a leading coffee and baked goods chain. Beyond their classic hot and iced coffees, they offer a range of frozen coffee drinks and shakes that align perfectly with Coffee Milkshake Day.

  5. Breyers

    Established in Philadelphia in 1866, Breyers is one of America's oldest ice cream brands. Their wide range of ice cream flavors, including coffee and vanilla, provides the perfect base for homemade coffee milkshakes.

  6. Jamba

    Founded in California in 1990, Jamba (formerly Jamba Juice) specializes in smoothies, juices, and bowls. While primarily fruit-focused, they also offer coffee-infused options and blended drinks that can easily be customized for this holiday.

  7. Keurig

    Keurig Green Mountain, founded in 1992 in Massachusetts, revolutionized home coffee brewing with its single-serve K-Cup system. Their extensive selection of coffee pods makes it easy to brew the perfect coffee base for a homemade milkshake.

National Coffee Milkshake Day Hero

William Horlick

William Horlick (1846–1936) was a British-born American businessman who, along with his brother James, invented malted milk in 1887. Malted milk became a key ingredient in early milkshakes, adding a distinctive flavor and creaminess. His innovation laid foundational groundwork for the evolution of the milkshake into the beloved dessert it is today, including its coffee-infused variations.

National Coffee Milkshake Day timeline

850 AD
Coffee plant discovered in Ethiopia

An Abyssinian goatherd named Kaldi discovers goats eating coffee berries and brings them to local monks, who cultivate the plant and start chewing the berries for energy.

Mid 1400s
Coffee tree appears in Yemen

Coffee beans are finally exported from Ethiopia and cultivated in Yemeni Sufi monasteries.

1773
Coffee comes to America

The Boston Tea Party protest prompts colonial American citizens to make the switch from tea to coffee as part of their patriotic duty.

Early 1900s
American milkshakes appear

They're described as "wholesome drinks made with chocolate, strawberry or vanilla syrups" with ice cream added, of course.

1930s
Rhode Island premieres the coffee milkshake

The pharmacy, Delekta's, adds ice cream to coffee and milk to create coffee milkshakes.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Coffee Milkshake Day

Local coffee shops and ice cream parlors can celebrate National Coffee Milkshake Day by offering limited-edition coffee milkshake flavors or special discounts. Restaurants might introduce a ‘Coffee Milkshake of the Day’ with unique ingredients like espresso shots, chocolate shavings, or caramel drizzle. Consider partnering with a local bakery to offer a coffee milkshake and pastry combo. Promote your specials on social media using #CoffeeMilkshakeDay and encourage customers to share their creations.

National Coffee Milkshake Day FAQs

When is National Coffee Milkshake Day?

National Coffee Milkshake Day 2026 falls on Sunday, July 26, offering a perfect weekend opportunity to blend up or buy this delightful treat.

How popular are coffee milkshakes?

Coffee milkshakes are a beloved summer staple, particularly in regions with strong coffee and dairy cultures. While specific figures for coffee milkshakes are hard to isolate, the broader milkshake market in the U.S. is valued in the billions, with coffee flavors consistently ranking among the top choices.

What is the history of the milkshake?

The term ‘milkshake’ first appeared in print in 1885, originally referring to an alcoholic whiskey drink. By the early 1900s, it evolved into a wholesome, often malted, milk-based beverage. The invention of the electric blender in 1922 by Stephen Poplawski truly popularized the frothy, creamy milkshakes we know today.

What's the difference between a coffee milkshake and an iced coffee?

A coffee milkshake is primarily a dessert beverage, blending coffee (or coffee syrup) with ice cream and milk to create a thick, creamy, and often sweet treat. It’s characterized by its rich texture and indulgent profile.

National Coffee Milkshake Day Activities

  1. Make up your own mouth-watering concoctions

    This is an easy one. Just find the recipe that works for you. Are you looking for recipes wih milk and coffee-flavored ice cream or for something entirely different, like instant hot coffee blended with chocolate? Do you consider yourself a connoisseur who insists on using cold-brewed coffee, top-shelf vanilla ice cream and homemade chocolate syrup? Take your pick — but make it thick!

  2. Taste-test your recipe with friends

    Taste tests are the best. Uncover the nuances of what seems like an ordinary beverage recipe — coffee milkshakes. Get some cooking buddies together along with a few neutral tester-friends and blend up your individual coffee shake masterpieces. Find out which version wins the title of World's Tastiest Coffee Milkshake.

  3. Indulge in a classic "coffee cabinet" at Delekta's

    Delekta's is an old-school soda fountain and pharmacy in Warren, Rhode Island. Delekta's developed its version of a coffee milkshake sometime before World War II. Italian immigrants boosted coffee syrup production until it matched the state's output of dairy production. Delekta's eventually added ice cream to the coffee beverage. The folks at Delekta's believe that the "coffee cabinet" hearkens back to the days when the drink's inventor kept his blender and coffee syrup in an actual cabinet.

5 Global Coffee Milkshake Variations

  1. Italian Espresso

    Blend with home-brewed espresso and a drop of lemon extract.

  2. Vietnamese Coffee

    Blend coconut ice cream, sweetened with condensed milk and dark coffee ice cubes.

  3. Mexican Café de Olla

    Use dark-roasted coffee, cinnamon and orange extract.

  4. Moroccan Coffee

    Use coffee with cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg.

  5. Tennessee Coffee

    Add an ounce each of Irish Cream, coffee liqueur and whiskey to your shake.

Why We Love National Coffee Milkshake Day

  1. They're delicious

    Coffee, ice cream, milk and flavored syrup — simple ingredients with a high "wow" factor on National Coffee Milkshake Day. When the days are unbearably hot, a coffee milkshake rocks. But this is also one of the special times when knocking back a coffee milkshake makes a body feel good on warm, summer nights, too.

  2. You can spice it up

    Think about it. You can flavor your coffee milkshake with any of the gourmet variations you like in your regular coffee. Try it with mocha or Turkish. Experiment with adding cinnamon, cardamom, honey or garam masala. And of course, the adults in the room can add their alcoholic beverage of choice to pack their coffee milkshake with a punch.

  3. Frappucinos taste good but coffee milkshakes taste even better

    Starbucks' Frappucinos are delicious, light, lovely milk-based things that can give you a boost during your lunch break. But — oh, that ice cream! If July 26 falls on an off day when you can use a cup of coffee but you don't need to be on-your-toes alert; nothing complements coffee like a sweet scoop of vanilla ice cream. A perfect coffee milkshake blows every other beverage off the map.

National Coffee Milkshake Day dates

Year Date Day
2026 July 26 Sunday
2027 July 26 Monday
2028 July 26 Wednesday
2029 July 26 Thursday
2030 July 26 Friday