2020 is shaping up to be the year of soft, soothing, sweet comfort when it comes to coffee. We are talking about lavender (lots of lavender), berries, and honey. This triad is dominating the nation’s trendiest coffee menus — and with good reason. Hot or chilled, these spring favorites are worth a try!
Flower power
Lavender, rose, and hibiscus lattes dominate 2020’s ‘best of spring’ lists — once we tried these recipes, we understood why! Many of the word’s finest coffees contain lovely floral notes and while you may not think of mixing lavender essence with your coffee, we guarantee that the pair can be phenomenal. Elegant, soft, and beautifully aromatic, floral coffee drinks tend to be light and soothing with a gentle sweetness and calming fragrance. Below are some of our favorites.
Lavender Honey Iced Latte: Mixing a bright, light cold brew coffee with a homemade lavender-honey infusion, this refreshingly sweet coffee is perfect on a warm day. We recommend making this coffee with a moderately acidic Central American coffee, such as an El Salvadoran. If you are looking for a hot lavender latte, check out Cindy’s Luscious lavender latte recipe.
Hibiscus Latte: Made from real hibiscus flower mixed with lemon, ginger, coffee, and some sugar (this recipe uses white sugar but we recommend giving it a go with honey), this delightfully light, slightly tart, silky latte is invigorating and packed with make-your-skin glow antioxidants.
Rose Coffee: Elegant, light, smooth, and fragrant, rose coffee is the absolute perfect compliment to a sunny day. Made with coffee, rose water, and a pinch of cardamom, this easy rose coffee recipe is as delicious as it is relaxing.
The berry blast
Ready to transform your plain ol’ morning joe into a health-boosting, antioxidant-packed, feel-good power drink? We thought so! This spring, add berries to your coffee and transform your cup from a thing of comfort to a naturally sweet cup of body-boosting deliciousness.
Iced Blackberry Latte: Tart, invigorating, and scrumptious, this iced blackberry latte is made with fresh blackberries, raw sugar, milk, and espresso (you can substitute in strong brewed, dark coffee). Given the berries’ natural acidity and powerful flavor, we recommend using a strong coffee with this recipe, such as a French Roast or dark, non-spicy blend (no Sumatra!).
Fresh Blueberry Cold Brew Latte: This cold brew masterpiece will leave you wondering … is this coffee or my new favorite dessert? Made with frozen blueberries, a touch of blueberry syrup, and cold brew coffee, this latte only takes minutes to whip up and is sure to rival any latte you could purchase in a café. We recommend using a Central or South American coffee with this recipe.
Blueberry Coffeecake Latte: This delicious, easy recipe tastes like a breakfast treat in a cup! Made with your favorite coffee, biscuits, blueberry jam, and a touch of sugar, this tasty latte is as fun to make as it is to drink.
Iced Raspberry Latte: Sweet, vibrant, and refreshing on a warm day, this sparkling latte is made with espresso (or any strongly brewed dark roast), a homemade raspberry syrup, and milk. If you enjoy morning smoothies, add a scoop of vanilla protein powder to this beauty, pop it in a blender, and voila … a protein-packed, naturally sweet raspberry coffee smoothie.
Sweet as honey
Anyone who follows our blog knows we LOVE adding a drop of honey to our coffee. Not only is honey a gentle natural sweetener, it is also rich in antioxidants, can help lower blood pressure, fights inflammation, and creates a very creamy cup. Below are our favorites takes on the honey coffee original, café con miel.
Café Con Miel: This classic Spanish cup is the original honey coffee. Made with coffee, honey, some milk, and pinches of nutmeg and cinnamon, this soothing, delicious coffee is the epitome comfort in a cup!
Iced Salted Honey Latte: Made with espresso (or strong brewed dark coffee), milk, honey, a dash of sugar, and a pinch of salt, this iced salted honey latte is delectable. Easy to make and easier to drink, this latte is sure to become your new iced latte obsession! While this recipe is for iced coffee, we tried it with hot coffee and assure you it is as equally delicious. If you are looking for something heavier with a dash of booze, check out our Salted Carmel Kiss recipe.
Honey Ginger Cinnamon Latte: Ginger, cinnamon, honey, and coffee…I’m not sure it could get any better! This flavor-packed, creamy cup is made from fresh ginger infused in spicy milk, and fresh espresso (or strongly brewed dark coffee). This recipe takes about 5 minutes to make — and is well worth it.
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