We’re showcasing our favorite flavors of the season, with specialty drinks featuring cinnamon, pumpkin, miso, and more.
BY EMILY JOY MENESES
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured illustration by Irina Alex
October is finally here (cue the song “We Fell in Love in October” by Girl in Red), and the drop in temperatures calls for a shift in ingredients. To celebrate the change in seasons, we’ve gathered our favorite autumn-inspired drinks from coffee shops across the United States.
Join us as we put aside the bright, citrusy flavors of summer and embrace the warming notes of fall. You can’t help but feel cozy with one of these seasonal beverages in hand, infused with cinnamon, pumpkin, caramel, miso, and more.
Miso Caramel Banana Latte at Cafe Demitasse
Miso adds a deep, umami-rich flavor to anything it touches, and Los Angeles-based Cafe Demitasse, which has been operating in L.A.’s Little Tokyo neighborhood since 2011, makes great use of it in their autumn drink. While the caramel and banana in this beverage bring a luxurious, almost childlike sweetness, the miso balances everything out with its savory, slightly salty flavor. Think of it as L.A.’s take on salted caramel.
Pear Tree Crunch at Café Cà Phê
It’s no secret that we’re fans of Café Cà Phê, and our fascination with this Kansas City, Mo.-based coffee shop extends to their seasonal menu. The café recently released a series of creative holiday drinks, including the Caramel Apple infused with almond syrup, apple syrup, and caramel sauce, and our favorite, the Pear Tree Crunch: Vietnamese espresso with oat milk, pear syrup, raw sugar, and cinnamon. The tartness of pear alongside other sweet and warming ingredients makes for a drink that’s both refreshing and comforting, akin to a bite of a freshly baked pear tart.
In addition to serving up unique holiday drinks, the shop is also well-known for being Kansas City’s first ever Vietnamese coffee shop, even inspiring a second Vietnamese café, Origin Coffee, to open up. “There was no Vietnamese coffee in Kansas City when I got there. To introduce Vietnamese coffee in the Midwest was unheard of,” shares the shop’s founder, Jackie Nguyen. “I believe Café Cà Phê has opened up diversity in the coffee scene in K.C.”
Allspice + Pumpkin Oat Milk Latte at Star Village Coffee
Star Village Coffee, an indigenous-run café located in Reno, Nevada, offers their unique take on pumpkin spice with their Allspice & Pumpkin Oat Milk Latte. Allspice is made from the dried, unripe berries of the Pimenta dioica tree, and its flavor resembles a combination of spices like cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and pepper. Available hot or iced, the allspice + pumpkin latte is the perfect way to celebrate the season—and supporting Star Village Coffee is also a great chance to support the indigenous peoples of the Great Basin.
Apple Pie Latte at 2D Cafe
Known for its whimsical “2D” interiors designed by artist Chad Mize, 2D Cafe (previously featured on our guide to queer-owned cafes in the U.S.) is an art space and coffeehouse located in St. Petersburg, Fla. The shop recently released its list of autumn-inspired beverages, including a Spiced Cookie Mocha, Apple Pie Latte, and Salted Caramel Foam Cold Brew. Stop by the shop to get cozy with these luxurious drinks while enjoying a unique, immersive art experience.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emily Joy Meneses (she/they) is a writer and musician based in Los Angeles. Her hobbies include foraging, cortados, vintage synths, and connecting with her Filipino roots through music, art, food, and beverage.
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