It is officially fall, which means seasonal menus at coffee shops are here too. While the season brings menu items that stand the test of time, local coffee shops are adding new inspiration to the list. Here are five fall flavors, both classics and trends, to add to your fall coffee drink list.
- Pumpkin Spice
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Pumpkin spice is one of the most common fall flavors on the menu, but there are so many ways to make it your own. The pumpkin spice latte pairs well with nutty flavors like maple syrup or almond milk. Paperback Coffee, a mobile specialty coffee pop-up shop in Orlando, added maple cold foam to the pumpkin spice latte on its fall menu.
Making a pumpkin spice coffee stand out can also mean keeping it simple. Sometimes a plain cold brew with a pumpkin topping can make the drink’s flavor shine, especially for strong coffee fans. There’s no wrong way to do pumpkin spice, and its versatility makes it a fall staple choice.
- Carrot Cake
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While carrot cake is a less favored dessert type, a carrot cake latte can innovate a fall flight beyond the basic flavors expected in a fall coffee drink list. Those Guys Cafe, a traveling cafe in Orlando, is bringing the carrot cake latte to life this year by combining espresso, milk, crushed pecans, and carrot cake syrup. Fans of this drink can find more like it through Those Guys Cafe’s menu and pop-up schedule on their Instagram.
@thoseguyscafe via Instagram - Pecan
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Pecan is a less-acknowledged flavor that can dress up a simple coffee into a fall indulgence. The nutty flavor notes will make it pop without adding anything else to the coffee or even needing to change the milk. Vespr Coffee Bar in Orlando, however, is mixing this one up with a pecan pancake latte on its new fall menu. The drink base is a pecan latte, but the baristas top it with salted maple cold foam and candied pecans. Given the same attention as pumpkin, the pecan and coffee combo could easily become a go-to fall drink choice.
- Banana
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While banana doubles as an increasingly popular coffee flavor year-round, it also deserves a spot on the fall flight flavor list because it can be dressed up as a fall drink. Coffee shops are getting on board, with cafes like Vespr Coffee Bar, Foxtail Coffee, and Craft & Common incorporating it into their fall menus. Just as a warm, nutty banana bread feels like fall, a banana bread coffee can too. In brown sugar, almond milk, or even hazelnut can turn this trendy flavor into a fun fall staple.
@foxtailcoffeeco via Instagram - Apple
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Last but not least, apple is another classic fall flavor that doesn’t get the same attention as pumpkin spice. Apple pairs well with diverse flavors and has the versatility for a spot on the fall flight list. Apple-based coffees can be elevated by adding cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and oat milk. Even if it does not feel like fall outside, apple guarantees the feeling of fall in a cup.
Overall, personal flavor preferences vary, but between these flavors and their customizability, there is always an opportunity to elevate your fall pick-me-up in a new way this year.