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Who’s ready for the hot and humid summer? We’re approaching the second half of spring here in Japan, so that means it’s almost time to get out those Cool Biz clothes and your sweat towels, because this summer is bound to be as uncomfortably muggy as always.

Starbucks has your back this year though. Later this month they’ll be releasing the “Starbucks Frozen Drink Maker” – a reusable mug that doubles as a super simple frozen coffee mixer. It’s easy, it’s cold and it’s delicious. Let’s take a look!

Starbucks Coffee Japan (sorry, residents of every other country in the world), will be releasing their “Starbucks Frozen Drink Maker” on May 13 in outlets across the country, so you’ll have plenty of time to practice before the blistering summer really hits full force.

Not that you’ll need a lot of practice though, as the cup makes it incredibly easy to make frozen coffee, which is good, because you might be making it before you’ve had your morning joe, obviously.

The cup is an original design by Starbucks’ kitchenware division and is quite a design indeed. It consists of an inner core and an outer shell. Your frozen drink takes a bit of foresight though, as you have to stick the inner core in the freezer overnight (or at least for a significant length of time) before you can use it.

After the core has been successfully chilled, however, all you have to do is pop it into the glass outer sleeve, pour in a packet of Starbucks VIA flavored instant coffee and 180 millilitres (6 US fluid ounces) of milk, then wait two minutes. Once there is a frozen crust, break it with the special spoon and gently stir it up for seven more minutes. The seven minutes of stirring may tire you out a bit, but it will be well worth it for the delightfully refreshing frozen coffee drink you will create.

▼ It will be so easy to make any flavor you want by using the instant coffee sticks.

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The only problem we foresee with this system is that if you want to make more than one drink a day, you’ll either have to wait a long time between drinks, in order to allow the inner core to freeze again, or you’ll just need to have multiple cores chilling in the freezer at any given time. Good thing it comes in the three different “refreshing summer colors” of yellow, white, and light blue. You might as well get one of each. At 3,000 yen (US$25) a pop, however, perhaps it would be best just to stick to one frozen drink a day.

▼ No need for these guys anymore, you can make your own Starbucks drink at home! Just kidding, guys, we still need you.

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A daily dose of frozen coffee may not make you immune to the stickiness of summer, but it will at least give you an occasional refreshing respite and now you don’t even have to leave the comfortable air-conditioning of your home to get it. Thank you, Starbucks; summer suddenly seems a little less daunting.

Source: Starbucks Coffee Japan
Images: Starbucks Coffee Japan, Starbucks Store