Ranking Syracuse’s fall coffee specials

As soon as the air turns crisp and the leaves start to change, it’s officially the season of fall coffee specials. Syracuse fall coffee specials are everywhere with some standing out more than others. 

I spent the last few weeks taste-testing seasonal drinks from five local favorites: Café Kubal, Salt City Coffee, Collegetown Bagels, Kelsey Coffee and Friends and The Society. I asked baristas at each café what their favorites were on their menu and then ranked each fall coffee special on three key components: taste, is it worth your money and how “fall” they really feel.

Fifth place: Collegetown Bagels’ Apple Pie Latte

This Apple Pie Latte sounds like the ultimate fall treat but doesn’t quite live up to its potential. The idea sounds simple and classic: spiced apple syrup, espresso and milk. On paper, this latte has all the components of a cozy classic. Unfortunately, the flavors don’t blend as smoothly as expected.

The sweetness of the apple syrup overpowers the coffee, leaving the drink tasting more like apple candy than a cozy fall drink. While this latte smells like fall, the taste lacks that comforting balance of spice and espresso that makes a seasonal latte satisfying. 

However, as the cheapest drink option, it’s not the worst deal, but this overly sweet fall special doesn’t provide that cozy fall feeling in a cup.

Fourth place: Café Kubal’s Candy Apple Latte

Priced at $7.51, Café Kubal nearly overtook Collegetown Bagels’ spot in last place. One sip tastes like caramel apples, the next like plain milk and espresso.

One of the baristas at Café Kubal said, “the Candy Apple Latte reminds me of when I’d go to the fair as a kid. It makes me feel like I’m actually eating a candy apple.”

While this latte has a great espresso flavor, the apple jam and caramel that is put in does not taste like eating a candy apple. 

While this drink wouldn’t be my first choice when deciding on a fall coffee, the latte tastes good overall. The flavors aren’t overly sweet and the espresso isn’t overbearing. Café Kubal’s Candy Apple Latte doesn’t feel like fall or taste like the described candy apple, but is still a great drink.

Third place: Kelsey Coffee and Friends’ Apple Spice Latte

Kelsey Coffee and Friends’ Apple Spice Latte is a coffee special that has marked its spot as an absolute staple on their menu for the past few years. The Apple Spice Latte is warm, sweet and spiced just enough to make you want to throw on a sweater.

The aroma alone could convince anyone it’s officially autumn. While the drink is undeniably festive, the flavor can go unnoticed unless you are searching for that specific apple taste. This latte can be enjoyed most as the occasional and seasonal treat rather than a daily go-to.

Second place: Salt City Coffee’s The Ranger

The Ranger is meant to capture fall through the approach of combining marshmallow and campfire tastes and smells. 

While camping reminds me more of the summertime, this seasonal latte blends espresso, maple syrup, smoked cinnamon and marshmallow flavoring to create a cozy and slightly smoky flavor that perfectly captures the outdoorsy side of fall.

The first sip of The Ranger is warm and comforting. The subtle smokiness of this latte rounds out the sweetness in a way that makes it perfectly nostalgic. It’s not another sugary seasonal latte, instead the drink is layered and has the scent of toasted marshmallows, crackling firewood and crisp night air. To top it off, the latte art was an exceptional perk of enjoying this fall treat.

First place: The Society’s Pumpkin Spice Latte with a pumpkin puree cloud top

The Society Café is arguably the most aesthetic coffee shop in the city, and their fall drinks fit the vibe perfectly. 

This latte is fall in a cup. The first sip is the smooth pumpkin cold foam made with their special pumpkin puree and spices. The quad espresso shots are balanced with the pumpkin flavor.

One barista from The Society said the fall special, “tastes like a pumpkin pie in a coffee.”

Typically, I tend to stray away from the typical pumpkin spice flavor, as I’ve never been a huge fan of the pumpkin flavor. However, The Society absolutely nails the rich but not overpowering flavor that feels homemade. 

The drink isn’t cheap. It is the most expensive of all the drinks at $8.64, but its quality is easily noticed as soon as the first sip. Between the presentation and the flavor, this is the ultimate fall drink special. 

Final Takeaways

Syracuse’s coffee scene proves that fall drinks can be so much more than just pumpkin spice lattes, with apple flavors making a storm through the city. 

Whether you’re chasing that classic pumpkin spice latte that The Society graciously excels at or finding comfort in places like Collegetown Bagels and Kelsey Coffee and Friends, or on the hunt for something new at Salt City Coffee and Café Kubal, there’s a fall drink for everyone.