Around Baton Rouge, coffee shops and cafes are introducing special summer menus that offer creative and delicious ways to get your caffeine fix. From lattes to ice creams to teas, there's a drink (or caffeinated dessert?) for everyone to fall in love with this summer. Here are just a few of the seasonal drinks that stand out:
Coffee
Banana Sundae Latte | Lighthouse Coffee
You’re bound to go bananas after trying this decadent summer latte from lighthouse coffee with house made banana syrup, banana cold foam, chocolate syrup, rainbow sprinkles and of course a cherry on top. The subtle notes of banana and the creamy coffee texture will transport you somewhere tropical. The summer drinks at Lighthouse are created, sampled and voted on by their team of baristas, so they are sure to be crowd pleasers.
Lasso Cold Brew | Magpie Cafe
If a caffeine kick is what you're after, this rich cold brew beverage is the perfect balance of strong coffee and nutty flavor. The lasso cold brew combines peanut butter, oat milk and Magpie Cafe’s signature cold brew. Creamy from the oat milk, but not too sweet, you would be nuts not to taste this drink!
Ellie’s Matcha | The Vintage
Consider this iced matcha, chai and espresso drink a triple threat. Maybe even a quadruple threat because this drink is also meant to resemble a zombie from the video game “The Last of Us” as part of the Vintage’s summer promotion School’s Out, Game’s On. Like Ellie’s matcha, their other summer drinks are inspired by popular games like “Fortnite" or “Mario Kart.”
Southern Wedding Cake and Butter Pecan Flavors | PJ’s Coffee
PJ’s Coffee is letting its customers pick their preferred summer coffee beverage while offering two seasonal flavors that can be added to any style of coffee. The southern wedding cake is made with almond and vanilla syrup, and the butter pecan has a creamy pecan syrup. An almond or pecan cold foam can be added to iced lattes or cold brews in these classic southern flavors.
Affogato | Gail’s Fine Ice Cream
The Louisiana heat is a perfectly acceptable excuse to enjoy this Italian ice cream and espresso dessert at any time of the day this summer. Gail’s Fine Ice Cream makes their affogato with ice cream flavor of your choice topped with a warm shot of espresso. Vanilla ice cream and toffee topping might be the classic selection, but don’t be afraid to experiment with one of their many other delicious flavors.
Granita | Highland Coffees
Ditch those Starbucks frappuccinos this summer and try Highland Coffee’s granita! It’s not part of a summer menu, but this Italian classic is a sweet, cold and highly caffeinated treat, and it is worth venturing back to campus for. Highland barista Ronnie Vincent says the drink’s perfect frozen texture is what makes it special.
“The granita is kinda like our house drink,” Vincent says. “I always describe it to people as a coffee slushie.”
Blended with sugar, strong coffee and milk, this drink can also be customized by adding extra flavors or syrups.
Summer Buzz | French Truck Coffee
Not a big fan of iced coffee? You’re in luck because French Truck Coffee has a seasonal blend of coffee beans that taste like summer no matter how they’re brewed. Their Summer Buzz Blend has creamy notes of toffee and berry and can be purchased in store or online here.
Tea
Very Berry Sarah | Brew Ha Ha
At local coffee shop Brew Ha-Ha, each barista created their own special drink for the summer. From lemonade to coffee to tea, they have it all. One drink that really shines is the Very Berry Sarah, made by barista Sarah Jewell. An unsweetened iced passion tea blended with ice, strawberry flavor, blackberry flavor and ice cream milk, this drink is bursting with fresh and fruity summer notes.
“It’s kinda fruity and floral,” Jewell says. “Normally I’m more of a coffee person, but I just thought those would be fitting for summer.”
If you're feeling spontaneous, pop in to Brew Ha Ha and ask your barista what their specialty drink is and give it a try! Or check out all their summer drinks ahead of time on their Instagram linked here.
Strawberry Matcha-Gato | City Roots Coffee
In their fruity take on an affogato, City Roots offers the strawberry matcha-gato, a white mocha drink made with a scoop of creamy strawberry ice cream and a shot of sweetened matcha. Ok maybe it’s not at all like an affogato, but it is a perfect summer evening treat. City Roots’ manager Bekka Nichols, who came up with the cafe’s summer menu, encourages those wary of matcha to give this colorful dessert a try.
“It doesn’t have those bitter, grassy notes because we add the white mocha in there,” Nichols says. “It’s a sweeter, creamier matcha flavor.”
City Roots has two other drinks on their summer menu, and more information can be found on their social media pages.
Berry Matcha | Magpie Cafe
Magpie Cafe is keeping customers on their toes with their berry matcha drink that features a seasonal house made lemonade and a shot of matcha. The beauty of this drink lies in the rotating flavors of lemonade the cafe offers. One week it could be made with strawberry basil, the next blackberry mint. Guess you’ll have to keep going back to try it! Ellen Herndon, a barista at Magpie, points out another benefit of this, and all other matcha drinks.
“I’d say the berry matcha is tart, bright and energizing,” Herndon says. “Matcha is an extended release of caffeine rather than coffee, so if you want to avoid the coffee crash I’d go with the matcha.”
Decaf
Butterfly Mojito Refresher | Rêve Coffee Lab
Although it doesn’t contain coffee or tea, this non-alcoholic mojito will capture your attention with its color changing properties and sweet summer flavors. A ginger beer drink with mojito mint syrup, this drink also contains butterfly pea extract which causes the drink to change color.
