Can Coffee Taste Like Summer?

Author: Will Greavner

The summer season is officially upon us. At Butterworth & Son, we love the British weather for all its quirks, so each year we celebrate the changing seasons with a limited-edition coffee release. Our Summer Coffee for 2026 is Lawn Games.

Where the idea began

This coffee began life as an entirely different concept, originally centred around one of Britain’s quintessential summertime traditions: afternoon tea.

Recreating the flavours of jams and cakes in coffee didn’t seem too difficult. However, it wasn’t lost on me that there was a certain irony in creating a coffee inspired by something traditionally enjoyed with a pot of hot tea. I couldn’t look past that glaring issue, so I decided to go back to the drawing board.

A few days and no ideas later, I was beginning to lose steam on the project altogether. Nothing was capturing my imagination quite like my first efforts. That was until I found myself at a barbecue, enjoying the company of my closest friends one hot Saturday afternoon. We were treated to many tasty things and many laughs. It was the very moment my friend offered me a dessert of Eton Mess that the ball started rolling again. 

Putting it all together

Strawberries, cream and meringue are not too difficult to replicate if you know where to start looking. 

Certain origins and processes offer a very convincing strawberry note, and thankfully we have a wonderful Colombia Pink Bourbon that would do just the trick. This coffee is sweet, creamy and berry-like, making it perfect for this brief.

I then wanted to add a touch of “realism” to my fruit flavour. To achieve this, I looked towards more processed coffee like naturals and anaerobics, as they have an increased level of fruit compounds due to fermentation. In this case, I used two Indonesian coffees from our range, a washed and a natural anaerobic coffee from Kerinci. These coffees gave me all of the fruit juice goodness I was looking for to complete my Eton Mess imagery whilst also bringing some tropical fruit facets.

Once I found my three coffees, it was simply a matter of mocking up a few versions with varying component ratios until I’d found the best of the bunch. These ratios are not completely random, but educated guesses guided by years of experience, which speed up this part of the process.

When testing these samples, I assessed the sweetness, acidity and balance, as well as seeing how accurately the sample represents my brief. After I’ve found my favourite, I move on to perfecting the ratio until a synergistic effect has been achieved. This is where the elements are combined to such a degree that it creates something entirely new. This is a common practice in perfume making, and I find it very useful when blending coffee. 

Who Is Lawn Games For?

After the ratios have been established, it comes time to put the coffee through its paces. I  often brew coffee in different ways to see how it performs, then try different recipes for each. I look for the best recipe to represent the coffee, as this helps us create the best experience for our customers. 

After all of that testing, Lawn Games is the finished result. It’s a bright and fruity blend of Colombia Pink Bourbon with both washed and natural anaerobic coffees from the Kerinci Regency of Indonesia. Expect notes of juicy passionfruit, indulgent Eton Mess and refreshing rum daiquiri. Lawn Games is inspired by long summer days in the garden with family and friends, set against the sounds of laughter, applause and celebration from games of boules and badminton.

I’ve found Lawn Games is best enjoyed when brewed as espresso and Japanese-Style iced pour-over. These methods really highlight the bright acidity within the blend.

For those who like a milky coffee experience, I recommend pairing Lawn Games with either steamed coconut or rice milk to add some creaminess to the tropical espresso. 

If you’ve ever wondered whether coffee can taste like summer, this is my answer.