After being a barista for over two years, I've had to spice up the drinks I make myself each day to keep from getting too bored with the same flavors. Try out these 15 awesome drinks! Please note that these drinks aren't available at all coffee shops. You may have to do a bit of investigating to find out where you can find these drinks. Some coffee shops may be able to make a drink without knowing the official name of it, so keep that in mind as well!
1. A lavender latte.
Your typical latte (steamed milk and espresso) with a flavor shot of lavender. This makes the latte taste sweeter and more floral and is typically available hot or iced. This drink is not usually found at chains but instead at local cafes and coffee shops. It's definitely my personal favorite!
2. A mocha with a half shot of mint and a half shot of hazelnut.
A mocha which is made with espresso, steamed milk, chocolate, and topped with whip cream. This mocha consists of your choice of chocolate (white, milk, or dark chocolate) and adds two half shots of flavors you wouldn't think would go together. The flavors somehow combine perfectly together to form a wonderful tasting mocha. Don't knock it until you try it!
3. A miel.
A miel is a latte with honey mixed in it and topped with cinnamon. An amazing drink for those coffee lovers who are looking to spice up their usual latte. It is sweet yet still has that "coffee" taste to it. You can find this at most coffee shops but may just need to describe to them what it is.
4. A nitro cold brew.
A nitro cold brew is your classic cold brew with a kick. It is infused with nitrogen, giving it a much smoother and creamier texture. This drink is so much better than the plain old cold brew. It is not available in all coffee shops so I would recommend calling beforehand to see if they have it.
5. A mocha with a half shot of raspberry and a half shot of vanilla.
This raspberry vanilla mocha is heaven, it's perfect for Valentine's day or any other special occasion! Try switching up the types of chocolate to see which you prefer while keeping in mind that white chocolate is the sweetest. This drink is available in almost all coffee shops.
6. A strawberry banana smoothie with heavy cream.
Settling the strong and potent flavors of the smoothie, the heavy cream makes for a creamier and much more subtle flavor. Any coffee shop that has smoothies can make this drink for you. Adding heavy cream to any flavor of smoothie is a great choice!
7. An iced americano with a shot of white chocolate.
Loaded with caffeine (espresso), this drink consists of espresso poured over ice and mixed with white chocolate. It is definitely your best bet for a large amount of caffeine and is pretty universal.
8. A london fog.
This drink consists of an earl grey tea bag steamed in milk, and often comes with a shot of vanilla. While I am a bit biased, since earl grey is my favorite type of tea, this is one of the hidden gems that few people know about. It is truly hard to describe but I can say this: If you like tea, you will love this drink.
9. A chai-der.
This drink is less universal, so don't be disappointed if you can't try it at a specific coffee shop. However, this drink is it life-changing. It is a hot apple cider mixed with a shot of chai. If your local coffee shop has a chai mix instead of a chai concentrate, try asking them to do half cider and half chai mix. With a mix of flavors that includes apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, this drink is one of the best drinks for fall.
10. A dirty chai with white chocolate.
A dirty chai is just a chai tea latte with a shot of espresso. If you add some white chocolate to it, you have enough sweetness to add another shot of espresso. This drink is my go-to when chai just won't cut it and is pretty universally sold.
11. A mint tea steamer.
Available anywhere that sells mint tea, this drink is perfect for a cold winter day. All it is is a mint tea bag steamed in milk. You can even easily make this one at home!
12. A chai nog tea latte.
Only available around the holiday season, this drink includes a chai tea latte, but instead of using regular milk it is made with eggnog. This is a drink that eggnog lovers will die for. Beware this drink is super sweet, so start with a small size! Nonetheless it is amazing!
13. Mango iced tea with a shot of raspberry.
This drink is amazing during the middle of summer. This one is for those who like their iced teas a bit sweetened. Sold at any coffeeshop that sells mango tea, which are limited. It is cool and refreshing!
14. A mocha with a half shot of marshmallow and a half shot of caramel.
Imagine a drink that tastes like a smore, now add a bit of caramel. You can experiment with the type of chocolate you choose until you find your favorite. This drink can be made at any place that has marshmallow syrup!
15. A caramel white hot chocolate
For those of you who aren't coffee and tea lovers (first off, who even are you), here is a fun way to spice up your typical hot chocolate. By switching to caramel you are going to be making it sweeter, but feel free to scale down on the amounts of each that goes in. This drink is available at most coffee shops.
Happy coffee drinking and enjoy!