Savoring the Seasons: Brewing Seasonal Coffee Flavors

As the seasons change, so do our coffee cravings. Whether it’s the warm comfort of pumpkin spice in the fall or the tropical taste of coconut in the summer, seasonal coffees of all different flavors have become a beloved staple of coffee novices and enthusiasts everywhere. 

More than just tasting excellent, flavored coffee captures the essence of each season in a cup and contributes to the overall ambiance of the time. Dive into the world of seasonal coffee flavors and discover how they can enhance your coffee ritual year-round. 

What is Seasonal Flavored Coffee?  

Seasonal flavored coffees are specially crafted coffees that are made to capture the atmosphere and tastes of different times of the year. These flavors often include different spices, herbs, fruits, flowers, and other ingredients that are associated with a specific season. As the weather changes and the seasons shift, these different flavors not only enhance your coffee experience but also evoke the sensations and memories tied to each season.

Why is Seasonal Coffee Popular? 

Drinking the right coffee flavor can enhance the overall mood of the season and connect you with the world around you, making your coffee experience that much more enjoyable. Seasonal coffee reflects the flavors of the season and can create excitement and eagerness for your favorite time of the year. 

Many coffee shops put out seasonal, or even monthly, lattes that build up anticipation for different trends and moods and allow baristas’ creativity to shine. Aside from specialty drinks, the seasonal coffee flavors that coffee shops and roasters put out are just as popular, allowing these creations to be perfected at home. 

Different Methods of Using Seasonal Flavoring in Coffees 

Popular seasonal flavorings can be infused into coffee beans or added to a brewed cup of coffee. Flavored coffee beans are typically created by mixing roasted coffee beans with a flavor oil so the taste is prominent yet not sweet. This coffee can be made using natural or synthetic oils or extracts and comes in many different flavors.  

Brewing coffee with a flavored bean will give you an automatically flavored cup, and you can use coffee syrups in your drink to add flavor, too. Flavoring can come in thinner syrups or thick sauces and can even come sugar-free. Pumpkin pie, mocha, lavender, and more can be added to your drink to create some seasonal flair.

Are There Different Brew Methods for Seasonal Beverages? 

While flavored coffee beans can be brewed in any way, certain brewing methods are more popular during certain seasons. In the summer, for example, cold brew is made to beat the summer heat. In the fall, French presses and pour-overs can be used to brew up a perfect cozy cup of cinnamon coffee. However, regardless of the season, how you brew is up to you! 

Seasonal Coffee Flavor Categories 

The categories that seasonal coffee flavors fall into are, of course, based on the four seasons! While tastes may differ by country or hemisphere, general seasonal flavor profiles in the United States are based on: 

• Fall
• Winter
• Spring
• Summer

Fall Seasonal Coffee Flavors 

Perhaps no season has bigger fans than fall. With the image of crisp, cool air and orange leaves in mind, many turn to fall seasonal flavors to offer up a comforting and cozy cup. Fall coffee flavors tend to be warm and spicy, perfect to accompany your stroll through the forest preserve or reading on a rainy day. Some classic fall coffee flavors include: 

• Pumpkin spice
• Maple walnut
• Pecan
• Cinnamon
• French toast 

Enjoy a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Home 

Perhaps no specialty flavored coffee is as iconic as the pumpkin spice latte. While there are many different ways to make a pumpkin spice latte (PSL for short), your local coffee shop is probably adding pumpkin spice syrup to a latte, which is made from espresso and steamed milk.

Don’t have a professional barista setup? No problem: try heating milk in a saucepan with Monin pumpkin spice syrup or pumpkin puree and spice and frothing with a handheld milk frother when the mixture gets hot (but not simmering). Add this frothed milk to the top of a strongly brewed cup of coffee or espresso shots - we recommend trying maple walnut or pumpkin spice coffee beans for even more flavor. 

Top with cinnamon and whipped cream if you’re feeling fancy and voila! Now you have a cozy and delicious fall drink to usher in the autumnal vibes! 

Winter Seasonal Coffee Flavors 

Cold weather brings hot drinks, and this couldn’t be truer than when talking about coffee consumption in the coldest months. Curling up fireside with a hot mug of coffee is an undeniable perk of the winter season. Winter coffee flavors tend to have rich and sweet notes to warm the body and heart. Some popular flavored coffee beans fit for the winter include:

• Butterscotch
• Chocolate
• Peppermint
• Spiced orange liqueur
• Gingerbread
• Irish cream 

DIY Peppermint Mocha Coffee

After a long day trudging through the cold and snow, a hot, decadent drink is in order. Nothing springs to mind quite like a peppermint mocha. Mocha coffee is a popular and delicious drink option, as coffee and chocolate are an unbeatable combination. Adding peppermint to a mocha coffee, however, can take your drink up to the next level.

A peppermint mocha can be achieved in many ways. Similarly to the pumpkin spice latte, a typical peppermint mocha will involve adding chocolate and peppermint syrups to espresso and steamed milk. While a delicious option, you can get a similar flavor at home with a more standard brewing method.

For a delicious peppermint mocha coffee at home, brew a cup of chocolate-flavored coffee beans and add a hint of peppermint syrup. You can also brew a cup of coffee beans flavored with mint (a good excuse to put that herb garden to use!) and add Monin chocolate sauce, topping with milk as you wish. The classic mocha coffee flavor and refreshing mint will make any cup feel like a well-deserved winter treat. 

Spring Seasonal Coffee Flavors 

As the season turns and winter yields to spring, so do our coffee choices. With the new growth and blooming flowers of springtime, many turn to floral, berry, and light, sweet flavors. 

Walk through a garden, stopping to smell the roses while sipping on a hot or cold drink inspired by their unique floral flavor. As the earth starts to thaw, consider looking into these popular spring coffee flavors:   

• Lavender
• Honey
• Pistachio
• Vanilla
• Chocolate raspberry

Craft Your Own Cup of Lavender Vanilla Coffee

Nothing can evoke the feelings of spring like a lavender vanilla coffee. Delicious hot or cold, French vanilla coffee beans are a beautiful base for building a lightly sweet and floral.

Start by brewing a cup of vanilla coffee and adding a touch of lavender syrup. You can buy it premade or make your own lavender syrup! If you want to pay homage to the little insects responsible for beautiful spring blooms, add a touch of responsibly sourced local honey for extra sweetness and flavor. Splash in a bit of cream, and you will have the perfect beverage to drink while appreciating spring’s beauty. 

Summer Seasonal Coffee Flavors

Fun summer activities are made all the better with a delicious cup of ice-cold coffee in hand. Many turn to cold brews and iced lattes as a way to enjoy the summer sun while preventing overheating (although remembering to drink water while soaking up the good weather is crucial)!

Summer coffee flavors are usually bold and fun, oftentimes incorporating crisp fruit notes and tropical flavors. Some popular summer coffee flavors include: 

• Coconut
• Banana
• Blueberry cobbler
• Peach
• Caramel
• Berry 

How to Brew a Refreshing Cup of Coconut Cold Brew

While coffee can be enjoyed hot at all times of the year, cold drinks reign supreme in the summertime. A perfect drink to get you into the summertime swing of things is a coconut cold brew. Cold brew typically packs a punch when it comes to caffeine levels, so you can make a cold brew at the start of your day to maximize your summer activities. 

To make a delicious coconut cold brew, choose quality coconut coffee beans from a good coffee supplier. Grind the coconut-flavored coffee coarse for a cold brew, then use a cold brew coffee maker, the soaking and straining method, or a French press to immerse the grounds in cold water and let it sit overnight. After separating the grounds from the coffee, you should have a delightful and refreshing coconut cold brew. 

When you’re ready to indulge, pour over ice and top off your smooth coconut cold brew with your milk or cream of choice – consider coconut milk to bring out the coconut flavor even further and keep your drink light and refreshing. You can really kick the tropical taste up a notch if you swirl in a dollop of cream of coconut. No matter what summer drink you decide to make, the fun spirit of the season will make any coffee choice a joy! 

How to Choose the Perfect Seasonal Coffee Flavor 

Choosing a coffee to brew at home can be overwhelming when there are so many different flavors, but the decision can make your morning ritual that much better! When selecting your coffee, you’ll first want to consider when and how you will be drinking it. 

Is your steaming mug there to wake you up in the morning? Will it be a special mid-day treat? A post-work wind-down? Once you narrow that down, you’ll be able to more easily decide the roast level you want to help you achieve your vision - maybe a darker roast in the morning or decaf in the evening? Then, move on to your coffee flavor. 

If you want to embrace the season you are in, consult the mentioned classic flavor profiles and gauge what atmosphere you want to embody. Consider the spice, florals, fruits, and sweetness of a flavor, envisioning yourself savoring the cup. Follow your heart, and you can’t go wrong.

Tips for Making Your Own Seasonal Coffee at Home 

Making your own coffee can be half the fun of the coffee experience, which means that taking extra care while making your coffee can make the whole process more enjoyable. When making flavored coffee, it might be best to first brew it through a pour-over method, which is a great way to get the most flavor. 

Experiment with your flavored coffee beans, syrups, and even your everyday seasonings. Combining different coffee beans and syrups can create fun and exciting flavors that may become your new staples. While you don’t need to have a lot of coffee ingredients to make a good cup, using what spices and flavors you have (a dash of cinnamon in your coffee grounds, anyone?) in new ways can shake up your routine and add something new to your experience.

How to Store and Preserve Flavored Coffee  

Coffee beans lose freshness the longer they sit out, so you’ll want to take how much coffee you drink and what bag sizes you need into consideration. If you only drink one cup a day, opt for a smaller batch of beans that won’t take you too long to use once you’ve opened the bag. This will help make sure every sip is fresh. 

To store your flavored coffee, keep it in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry place. Your pantry or cabinet is usually a perfect location to store your coffee. Opt for stainless steel, ceramic, or glass containers to hold flavored coffee, since it won’t react with these materials. Make sure to use a container that is not too large for your coffee because excess air can cause the coffee to become stale more quickly.

Seasonal coffees are more than just a tasty beverage; they are a unique way to connect with the ever-changing atmosphere and holidays as the year goes by. As rich winter flavors make way for light spring flavors, you can take part in the changing seasons with your cup. With so many coffee flavor options to explore, there’s always something new to try. So, embrace the seasons and the flavors that speak to you, and let your coffee be a delicious celebration of the time you are in.