{"id":32118,"date":"2022-09-16T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freshcup.com\/?p=32118"},"modified":"2022-12-20T09:51:34","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T15:51:34","slug":"falling-leaves-fall-flavors-signature-beverages-for-the-2022-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freshcup.com\/falling-leaves-fall-flavors-signature-beverages-for-the-2022-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Falling Leaves, Fall Flavors: Signature Beverages for the Autumn 2022 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the leaves start to turn colors and begin their downward drift, we don our sweaters, smell the crispness in the air, and venture out to a cozy caf\u00e9 for a taste of fall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know how fall makes us feel, but which flavors evoke those ineffable scents, sights, and memories? In other words, how can caf\u00e9s capture the essence of autumn in a single cup? We asked three signature beverage specialists how to craft signature beverages that capture the taste of fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Tastes Like Fall?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Up in Vancouver, BC, Stacey Lynden manages the cupping lab for Swiss Water Decaf<\/a>, but before that, she spent many years working in caf\u00e9s and roasteries. \u201cI love making signature drinks,\u201d she says. She\u2019s also a three-time finalist in the Canadian National Coffee in Good Spirits<\/a> beverage competition, which challenges competitors to design unique drinks combining coffee and liquor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To craft warm, comforting fall drinks, she likes to take inspiration from classic fall foods and beverages to evoke autumnal experiences. \u201cDrinks themed around apple pie, mulled wine, maple syrup, and figs are personal favorites for me,\u201d she says. \u201cFlavors of warm spices help us feel cozy and are a perfect fit for fall drinks. I like to think about what makes fall special for me and use that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laura Clark of Kansas City, Missouri, just celebrated her 11th year in coffee and currently manages the caf\u00e9 at Hotel Kansas City<\/a>. She loves making fun and creative coffee- and tea-based drinks, taking inspiration from her favorite \u201ccocktails, pastries, and the tasting notes of the coffees themselves.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo courtesy of Laura Clark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Since Kansas City\u2019s fall weather can be unpredictable, ranging from warm or freezing, she focuses on flavor rather than temperature to evoke the season. \u201cFor fall drinks, I generally go for spice-based flavors rather than focusing on hot drinks,\u201d she says. For the last few years, she\u2019s been into smoked syrups. \u201cRight now, I\u2019m working with our fine dining restaurant, The Town Company, on utilizing their hearth to create a smoked vanilla syrup. I am really excited to include the hearth in one of our syrups.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When thinking about how to approach a fall sig bev, she focuses on three words: comfort, spices, and warmth. \u201cDrinks or food items that come to mind are mulled wine, chocolate orange candies, apple cider, and pumpkin pie.\u201d She recommends making creative changes to classics like the pumpkin spice latte. \u201cDo we want to play with a spice combination, mix it into brown sugar, and serve it in a latte? Or do we want to change the pumpkin with butternut squash, acorn, or sweet potato?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mulled wine is another go-to for her. \u201cStandard recipe is often a red wine, orange liqueur, oranges, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and honey. Red wine often has notes of cherries, and another popular seasonal dessert is a cherry cordial, so what if we made a mulled wine syrup?\u201d Getting creative with classics is a great starting point for any season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also in Kansas City, Kaylee Diane Melendez works at Monarch Coffee<\/a> and is on the advisory committee of Go Fund Bean<\/a>, a nonprofit that supports hourly coffee workers. \u201cMy beverage inspiration goes back to my roots,\u201d she says. \u201cI am Hispanic\/Latinx, so many of my ideas come from my culture.\u201d Growing up in Florida, fall was hot and humid. \u201cBecause of that, I love making some iced sig fall drinks that still incorporate some summer notes. For example, brown sugar, cinnamon, and citrus.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we mentioned earlier, a Kansas City fall can start hot and end in freezing temperatures. Melendez enjoys evoking the coming season with fall-flavor-infused espresso tonics as a seasonal sig bev. Whether drinks are hot or cold, some of her go-to flavors are cocoa powder, cinnamon, and spicy flavors like cayenne, which work well on both hot and cool days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond Flavor: Pro Tips<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beyond flavor alone, these sig bev specialists have tips on how to think about crafting your fall beverages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo courtesy of Laura Clark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThink about what\u2019s locally available in your area,\u201d says Lynden, who likes to employ local produce in her sig bevs. For example, she listed figs as favorites because she likes to buy them locally in the fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For beginners and veterans alike, Clark recommends The Flavor Bible<\/em><\/a> by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg. \u201cIt lists a bunch of ingredients, then under each category is a list of flavors that pair well with those ingredients. It\u2019s great for finding combinations I haven\u2019t thought of before,\u201d she says.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also recommends thinking dynamically about temperature and base options when crafting beverages. \u201cWhen I make a syrup, no matter the season, I try it as a hot latte, iced latte, espresso tonic, with matcha, or with black tea concentrate. I try to offer a drink with tea because not everyone drinks or likes coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to experiment,\u201d says Melendez. \u201cBrainstorm and create with others at work or home. Visit other shops and talk to other baristas. Getting input from others that work in coffee can help create something so tasty!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall-Flavored Inspiration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We asked our interviewees if they had anything special on tap this fall\u2014and they were eager to share some new recipes and seasonal favorites for fall 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lynden shares an all-time favorite, inspired by mulled wine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n