Sip into spring!
As a part-time barista and full-time coffee drinker, one of the best parts of every changing season is exploring what every coffee shop’s seasonal flavors have to offer. From the biggest chains to the local cafés, it seems like each shop has its own take on what makes the season. Spring is an especially interesting time for seasonal flavors. Between the warming weather and the outdoor-related holidays, it can be hard to tell which of the spring seasonal flavors are the best choices. Well, look no further! I’ve developed the perfect ranking of the best spring coffee or tea latte flavors on the market. No matter which of these you pick on your next coffee run, I can guarantee these flavors will be as delicious as they are popular.
- Ube – This flavor has become popular recently, with chains like Starbucks releasing drinks such as their Iced Ube Coconut Macchiato. For those who’ve never had it, think of it like a purple yam: it’s sweet and nutty, but very subtle. Due to its subtlety, it pairs well with other flavors, such as coconut or matcha, but is underwhelming when paired with coffee on its own, due to how strong and bitter espresso tends to be. As long as you pair it with a complimentary flavor, Ube makes for a delicious-tasting drink…just don’t call it “oob” when you go to order it (it’s pronounced oo-BEH or oo-BAY).
- Irish Cream/Mint – While these two are often considered more “winter” flavors, Irish Cream and Mint become especially popular around March due to St. Patrick’s Day (if the name of the drink has “shamrock” somewhere in it, it usually has one of those two flavors, if not both). The main difference between the two is that, while Mint is stronger and sharper, Irish Cream contains flavor notes of cream, whiskey, and cocoa along with the refreshing bite of mint. Mint goes well with quite a variety of herbal teas, and combining both flavors in a latte makes for a powerful, minty drink that tastes good hot or iced.
- Strawberry – This is, by far, one of the more popular flavors around springtime, and the reason can be described in two words: strawberry matcha. But this flavor isn’t just delicious in a matcha: throw it in a latte with some white mocha, and the drink turns into sweet, creamy berry bliss. If you’re a little wild, pairing strawberry and rose flavors together in a matcha can be a delectable combination, if you don’t go too hard on the floral elements. Overall, it’s a delicious flavor choice that even the most inexperienced latte drinkers will find delicious.
- Pistachio – This flavor is one of the more underrated ones, especially since it doesn’t get much love outside of springtime. But despite this, many coffee shops hop on the pistachio trend due to its delicious flavor and excellent pairing ability, especially with vanilla or other nut flavors. For example, a local coffee shop in North Kansas City had a Baklava latte on its spring menu, containing pistachio, walnut and honey. Due to its versatility and taste, I guarantee that any latte with this flavor will be well-balanced, nutty and delicious.
- Lavender – Now, I’ll admit, when I first saw this flavor get popular, I was a skeptic. But I’ve turned into a full-on lavender supporter over the last year, and I now put this flavor into my own lattes I make at home. This flavor is the right amount of both sweet and floral, without being perfume-y, and goes perfectly with both coffee and tea. For tea lovers, an herbal mint tea with a pump or two of lavender is the perfect calming drink, or pair it with matcha for a subtly sweet and floral blend. For the coffee drinkers, try one of my favorites: add a pump and a half of both lavender and blackberry syrup, with a pump of white mocha to a grande-sized latte. Even if it looks daunting, don’t shy away from this flavor: it’s easily one of the best-tasting flavors of springtime.
