Starbucks is signaling the start of warmer weather by rolling out its summer menu, and investors can expect sales to heat up as customers clamor for its chilled drinks.

Even in the chilly winter months, cold beverages have helped Starbucks' sales grow. So the company's strategy has focused its innovation on cold options, like cold foam. Another chilled beverage innovation, Nitro Cold Brew, is available in about half of its U.S. stores as Starbucks targets nationwide availability by the end of year.

In its second quarter, the company reported that sales at stores open at least 12 months rose 3%, beating Wall Street's estimates of 2.9%. Starbucks attributed the growth to a 3% increase in average customer ticket. Nearly half of the ticket growth came from customers trading up to pricier drinks like the Cloud Macchiato.

Additionally, cold drinks are helping attract customers into stores during all parts of the day, way past the busy morning rush. Afternoon performance during the latest quarter was the best it's been in three years.

"We have seen when we introduce more of our cold beverage innovation, it's improving afternoons and our nonmembers [of Starbucks Rewards] tend to shop with us in the afternoons," COO Roz Brewer said on the quarterly conference call with analysts Thursday.

But, one cold option has been getting less love. Starbucks has been moving away from limited-time Frappuccinos. The last one to make a noticeable impact on sales was the Unicorn Frappuccino, which was introduced in April 2017. Since then the Seattle-based company has largely failed to replicate its success with another version of the blended drink. This year, its summer menu is bringing back three popular versions of the blended drink without introducing any new Frappuccino options.

"We're learning that it's an 'and' and not an 'or," Brewer said in an interview, adding that Frappuccinos will always stay on its menu.

The coffee chain is also introducing a Crispy Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Baja Black Bean Veggie Wrap and Frosted Doughnut Cake Pop for the summer.

Here's its summer drink lineup announced Tuesday: