Nowadays, iced coffee is more than just an addictive drink, it's a status, a lifestyle. However, it wasn't always like this. Drinking coffee used to be considered a symbol of adulthood.

It was something that college students on your favorite shows would drink when cramming for exams. But now society has introduced coffee to younger audiences on platforms teens know and love. Drinking iced coffee is in trend right now, it's considered the cool thing to show up to school late with a nice Dunkin or Starbucks Iced coffee. Although, most teachers are furious by this action, along with various school administrators.

If we all take a moment to look around, we would probably see that a good majority of individuals hold a coffee cup of some sort in their hand, and the kind that you see the most of is iced coffee. But where did that come from? It seems like, out of nowhere, this unspoken trend just happened.

Even some teachers will not go anywhere without their iced coffee, not that I'd blame them. It's a hot commodity. Some individuals drink it because they need energy or they like the taste, while others drink it for other reasons.

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Flavors and Marketing Schemes

Something contributing to the rise in iced coffee addiction among adolescents is social media. Coffee companies and influencers craft beautiful coffee displays and posts that make iced coffee appealing to younger audiences. When we see our favorite singers, actors, or influencers drinking a certain kind of coffee beverage, we are in awe and feel the need to follow suit.

Flavors like “Pink Drink," “Iced White Chocolate Mocha,” and "Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappe" also contribute to the addiction because these are all flavors that young teens are willing to try. These drinks bring back a touch of childhood to those of us growing up too fast. Iced coffee flavors are ever-changing and extremely diverse, so even those who don't like coffee but want to have the status can enjoy them.

Marketing is a major component in feeding the iced coffee addiction. It provides more fuel to the fire when Starbucks creates a new iced coffee on their secret menu that is to die for. Starbucks is iconic in the coffee industry, and buying from them adds a touch of prestige to the person holding the iced coffee beverage.

The prices may be through the roof, but you are paying for expertly crafted iced coffee and a status that not everyone can afford. Seasonal iced coffee beverages also scream status and tempt Gen Z to try each seasonal flavor. Throughout the seasons, until that flavor comes back, they are desperately searching for a substitution to tide them over. This constant experimenting and coffee store hopping leads to the romantically committed relationship Gen Z has with their iced coffee.

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Health Benefits of Iced Coffee

The fact that iced coffee has some great health benefits also contributes to the appeal of this drink. For example, iced coffee improves digestion, alleviating constipation and other gut issues. Continually, this can aid in weight management, either weight loss or just maintaining a healthy weight.

Additionally, iced coffee boosts your metabolism, which helps you burn more quickly. Iced coffee suppresses your appetite and promotes fat oxidation.

Contrary to popular belief, cold or iced coffee is better for your stomach than hot coffee. Since coffee is very acidic, it can be quite rough on your stomach and can cause indigestion or gastrointestinal issues. But iced coffee makes a cup that is two-thirds less acidic than a hot-brewed cup of coffee, so that's pretty amazing if you look at how that will benefit your health. If we look at coffee in the same light as medical professionals do, we can easily see why Gen Z chooses iced over hot.

Longer Life Expectancy?

Theoretically, iced coffee can also increase your lifespan. You won't live forever, although that may seem quite appealing. Iced coffee benefits your heart health, and it lowers the risk of stroke and heart disease because of its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

It lowers your blood pressure and helps to aid your blood flow. This means that with iced coffee, you might just live longer!

Perfect for the Summer

This coffee is also rejuvenating because of the caffeine and because it's iced. The iced coffee will run through your system and have a surprisingly cooling effect on your body. As temperatures get warmer, people are desperate to find ways to keep cool, and this is just one of the more creative ways.

Summer weather is perfect for showing off your iced coffee and your new summer fits. Maybe you'll end up trending on Instagram because of your aesthetically pleasing post.

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Summing Up Gen Z and Their Addiction

Many things have become crystal clear throughout this article. Gen Z wants to follow trends but remain healthy; they want to be like influencers but remain true to themselves. Following trends makes you seem cooler.

These trends put you on the inside, in the “in” crowd, and who doesn't like to be there? Status plays a huge role in the iced coffee addiction. Being healthy is very important to Gen Z because, without health, you can't participate in trends. There is no set reason why Gen Z is so addicted to this beverage, but instead a whole bunch of components that affect each person differently. It is easy to say that Gen Z and iced coffee are already committed till death do them part.