12 Most Popular Coffee Flavors For A Fun Twist

Are you looking for the most popular coffee flavors for your new shop or next get-together? We feature them here.

most popular coffee flavors
Other coffee lovers find the right flavorings to make their coffee taste even better

If you’re looking for the best coffee flavors, mocha coffee is one of the most popular coffee flavors today.

Ever since coffee shop culture swept across the U.S. back in the 1990s, coffee drinks have been everywhere. And while some people might prefer their coffee black, others find that the right flavorings make them even better. Some flavors are perennial favorites, while others only show up at certain times of the year.

1. French Vanilla

Who can go wrong with vanilla and coffee?

It’s a warm, aromatic flavor that goes with everything from ice cream to liquor. The subtlety of vanilla means it’s easy to overwhelm, so it tends to be used as a complement to stronger flavors, such as the bold taste of coffee. It’s also better suited to light or medium roast beans.

French Vanilla has a richer, more caramelized taste because of a difference in production, making it popular in coffee blends. It can be found in everything from instant coffee to creamers to K-cups.

Add a few drops of vanilla extract or a French vanilla-infused creamer to a coffee drink. Or scrape out the contents of a vanilla pod into a bag of gourmet coffee beans and let it sit all night to create flavored coffee beans. They make great coffee the next morning!

2. Hazelnut

The sweet, buttery taste of hazelnut is my personal favorite in coffee which is why it deserves a spot on our list of coffee flavors. I’m not the only one who loves it. Its distinctive, nutty scent can be found wafting out of coffee shops everywhere.

Hazelnut goes well with both chocolate and vanilla, so it’s not unusual to find it layered with them in one drink. Try ordering a hazelnut latte or even adding a splash of Frangelico–hazelnut-flavored liqueur–to your mug in the morning for the best-flavored coffee ever.

3. Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin spice coffee with high-quality coffee sure is irresistible. All right, pumpkin spice has a reputation as a bit of a joke, but it’s a cultural icon which is why it had to feature on our list of coffee flavors.

On the internet, it’s become a humorous reference to the hordes of young college girls found in cities every fall who all wear the same basic outfit of yoga pants, ugg boots, and Northface jackets and are never without a Starbucks cup in their hands.

It’s offered by the ubiquitous coffee chain every fall and has proved immensely popular with all sorts of people, though. They bring it back every year, and fans wait all year to be able to order them.

The warming mix of autumn spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice has been used in desserts for years, but adding it to high-quality coffee makes it irresistible.

4. Butterscotch

A cup of Butterscotch coffee on a wooden table
Butterscotch syrup helps to tone down the acidity of strong coffee

This heady concoction of brown sugar and butter melted together is incredibly addictive. It’s similar to caramel but has more of a molasses-y flavor. Adding it to coffee is a no-brainer for coffee lovers!

The butterscotch syrup tastes amazing in fresh black espresso, but you can also try using it as a new take on a caramel macchiato. It helps to tone down the acidity of strong coffee, so try using it with light-roast coffee beans if you find them too fruity or bitter for your taste buds.

5. Mocha

Mocha is a great introduction to coffee drinks for teenagers or other people who’ve never really gotten into coffee. It’s basically a combination of chocolate, coffee, and milk. It should be sweet and chocolatey and not too strong; you can usually find it topped with whipped cream.

It is named after the city of Mocha in Yemen, an early center of the coffee trade. Mochas are one of the oldest types of coffee drinks to be made by baristas, although they are simple to make at home as well.

Try adding a bit of dark chocolate syrup and milk to a cup of coffee. Or go to a coffee shop and order a mochaccino or an iced caffè mocha if you prefer iced coffee. They’re both popular choices.

6. Amaretto

Amaretto Coffee is best made as a crème. Amaretto was originally the name for an Italian almond-flavored liqueur. It’s since become known as a sweet, toasted almond flavor that finds its way into everything from cocktails to desserts.

Amaretto is best made as a creme you can splash in your coffee in the morning. Combine equal parts of evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and Amaretto liqueur and cook until reduced. Store in the fridge.

The flavor of a good amaretto sweetener should be sweet and toasty with a hint of bitterness.

7. Peppermint

Peppermint is an unusual choice for coffee flavoring–its flavor profile is cool and green, with a menthol smell. But for some reason, it tastes fantastic in hot coffee.

One way to add it is to splash peppermint schnapps into a cup of dark roast black coffee. It sets off the bitter natural flavor of dark beans perfectly.

You can add peppermint syrup to lattes for a new take on a wintertime tradition or add it to cold brew coffee during warm weather for a cooling treat.

You might already be familiar with the Peppermint Mocha in Starbucks. For even more different coffee flavors, check out our guide on the best drinks in Starbucks.

8. Caramel

Coffee and caramel are a classic combination. The sweet caramel flavor takes the edge of a strong espresso shot. Popular caramel coffee drinks include the caramel latte and the caramel macchiato.

Although it’s less popular, there’s no reason you can’t drizzle some caramel over a creamy cappuccino or even use it as a sweetener in black coffee or lighten up an espresso shot.

You can use pure caramel, although it is time-consuming to make. You’ll notice many coffee shops use a caramel syrup that has a thinner texture than standard caramel to ensure it mixes seamlessly into your drink.

9. Chai

A glass of dirty chai latte with chai tea leaves and cinnamon beside
Dirty chai latte is a cozy, spiced beverage with a hint of sweetness

You might be thinking that chai is a tea flavor, and you would be right! Chai tea is a spiced black tea, but you can add this flavor to coffee. The spices typically include cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. The result is a cozy, spiced beverage with a hint of sweetness, while the coffee adds a bitter kick.

Be warned that if you order a chai latte in a café, you will be given a coffee-free latte made with black chai tea. For coffee, you’ll have to ask for a dirty chai latte or simply ask your barista to add an espresso shot to your drink. You might also be interested in learning about vanilla chai tea.

10. Cinnamon

If a dirty chai latte is too much for you, then a cinnamon coffee is a safer bet. Cinnamon will not overpower the coffee taste and adds a sweet, festive kick to your drink.

You can simply add a little cinnamon to black coffee, a latte, or a cappuccino. Again, some coffee shops will use syrup instead of the real deal. This ensures that the cinnamon mixes into the drink perfectly without clumping together, a syrup will also be sweeter.

11. Eggnog

Eggnog is another odd coffee flavor, but these two surprisingly go very well together. Eggnog will add a custard-like element to a cup of Joe, but it has a unique flavor due to the combination of spices.

Over the holidays, you might find yourself substituting eggnog for creamer in a black cup of coffee. Coffee shops like Starbucks will usually offer some variation of an eggnog latte over the festive period, but the syrups they use will rarely – if ever – contain alcohol like the real deal.

12. Pecan

While pecan is not as popular as hazelnut or amaretto in coffee, don’t knock it until you try it. A pecan syrup will add a nutty taste to your coffee. A pecan syrup also adds a buttery element to the coffee, which can soften any brew.

Pecan coffee is especially popular in Texas, where you can find “Texas pecan coffee” flavored coffee beans. Otherwise, you can add some pecan-flavored syrup to black coffee or a latte.

The Final Word On The Most Popular Coffee Flavors

All of these additions are great in coffee; what you prefer depends upon personal choice. They are also available in sugar-free coffee syrup versions if you’re trying to watch your health.

Many of these coffee flavors are available infused into ground coffee as well. So if you’re a home-based coffee drinker and prefer your own coffee maker, buying a flavored blend may be a better choice.

Try to get blends made with Arabica beans, as their delicate flavor compliments the infusions, and they tend to be of higher quality than Robusta. Don’t be afraid to try something new. You might like it!

Most Popular Coffee Flavors FAQs

Can You Put Pure Extracts In Coffee?

Yes, you can flavor coffee with extracts rather than syrups if you prefer. Vanilla and almond extract are widely available in grocery stores. Start with a few drops and add more to taste.

What Are The Most Popular Flavors At Starbucks?

Vanilla Lattes are the most commonly ordered flavored drinks, followed by their seasonal pumpkin spice latte.

Author

  • AE Inman

    A E Inman is a direct response copywriter and humor blogger. When she's not poking fun at her attempts to start a writing business, she can be found in the tea aisle of her local import store, arguing with strangers over the merits of rare tea varietals. She enjoys writing copy while consuming copious amounts of coffee and gunpowder tea.