Pumpkin spice season has arrived, but if you’re looking for fall flavors that don’t involve pumpkin, Lancaster County’s locally owned coffee shops have plenty of options.
Coffee shops and cafes across the county are giving autumn a much broader flavor profile this year, with drinks inspired by maple syrup, baked goods, apple cider, caramel, banana, chamomile and even toffee.
So, if you’re ready to put down the pumpkin spice latte for something a little different, here are 10 seasonal drinks to try around Lancaster County.
1. Today’s Grind — Apple Crisp Latte
Location: 87 Doe Run Road, Manheim
The Apple Crisp Latte from Today’s Grind offers another way to get your fall fix. It combines caramel apple butter, espresso and milk, then gets topped with brown sugar and cinnamon cold foam and fall spices.
“This is supposed to be an apple crisp in coffee form,” Cait Sutjak, owner of Today’s Grind, said. “It was created by our talented barista Rayne Nevins.”
The Apple Crisp Latte from Today’s Grind in Manheim is a great alternative to pumpkin drinks for fall.
ANGEL ALBRING | General Assignment Reporter
This drink is sweet, spiced and creamy, with enough espresso to keep it firmly in latte territory. You can order it hot or cold and it will be on the menu until the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Cost: $5.50 for a small; $6.50 for a large
2. Aura Little Cafe — Banana Bread Latte
Location: 44 N. Queen St., Lancaster
This may not scream “fall” for everyone, but if you like warm banana bread and hot coffee on a crisp fall morning, this drink delivers those vibes in a single cup.
The latte is made with house-made banana bread syrup, cinnamon and espresso, with your choice of milk. It’s a little unexpected, but that’s part of the fun.
Cost: $5.50 small; $8.50 large
3. Scratch Bakes Café — Salted Caramel Apple Spritzer
Locations: 3 W. Main St., Ephrata
11 W. Chestnut St., Lancaster
4250 Oregon Pike, Brownstown
Not every fall drink needs espresso and steamed milk.
Scratch Bakes’ Salted Caramel Apple Spritzer tastes like autumn in a lighter, more refreshing package. Made with fresh-squeezed apple cider, house-made salted caramel syrup and sparkling water, the drink is crisp, bubbly and apple-forward, with just enough caramel to make it feel indulgent.
The Salted Caramel Apple Spritzer is bright and full of fall flavor without any of the coffee or pumpkin flavoring.
ANGEL ALBRING | General Assignment Reporter
This drink can be customized with more or less syrup and even topped with a cold foam, according to a barista. It will be on the menu until “around Thanksgiving.”
Cost: $4 for a 20-ounce drink
4. Linden Coffee — Caramelized Date Matcha
Location: 2916 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand
Linden Coffee’s Caramelized Date Matcha takes a less obvious route to fall flavor. The drink combines matcha with housemade caramelized date syrup for a rich, naturally sweet flavor.
Linden suggests adding a flavored cold foam, such as vanilla, cherry, cheesecake and even pumpkin, for even more layers of flavor. But you can skip the add-ons and let the caramelized date do the heavy lifting.
The drink is available hot or cold and will be on the menu until late November.
Cost: $5.50 for 12 ounces; $6.50 for 16 ounces
5. Copper Cup — Blackberry Lavender Teafresher
Locations: 922 Columbia Ave., Lancaster
7 W. 28th Division Highway, Brickerville
You might think blackberry is only good for spring or summer, but Copper Cup’s Blackberry Lavender Teafresher is an earthy drink that leans more end of summer and early fall. It blends blackberry and housemade lavender syrup with English breakfast tea and lemonade for a lightly fruity, slightly floral drink with a little caffeine from the tea and a lot of depth. It’s a lighter alternative to the syrup-heavy lattes that tend to dominate fall menus.
The Blackberry Lavender Teafresher at Copper Cup is a surprisingly earthy and fruity fall drink.
ANGEL ALBRING | General Assignment Reporter
This is not a drink that can be customized, according to Cora Hurst, the manager of the Brickerville location, because it is a house blend that is made specifically to get the earthy flavor that makes this drink so fall-forward. It can, however, be served hot or cold.
“It’s more of a heavier fruit, so it kind of bridges the gap in our menu for people still craving a summer drink, but those looking forward to a fall menu,” Hurst said.
This drink will be on the menu until the end of November.
Cost: $4.25 for a 12-ounce drink, $5 for a 16-ounce; $5.75 for a 20-ounce drink
6. Prince Street Cafe — Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte
Location: 15 N. Prince St., Lancaster
This drink features rich espresso, local raw honey simple syrup, cinnamon and milk served over ice, then topped with vanilla cold foam and an extra sprinkle of cinnamon.
It’s basically the PSL’s warmer, less pumpkin-obsessed cousin. Honey and cinnamon give the drink a cozy autumnal flavor without turning it into dessert, while the iced coffee and cold foam keep it refreshing for those days that are a little warmer than fall should be.
Cost: $6.65 small; $7.35 large
7. Restless Coffee Co. — Apple Chamomile Fog
Location: 2495 Lincoln Hwy E, Lancaster
If you’re looking for a fall drink with some warmth and just a bit of caffeine, Restless Coffee Co. has an option that leans into some of autumn’s softer flavors.
The Apple Chamomile Fog combines apple chamomile tea, vanilla and steamed milk together for a drink that makes you feel like a hayride is in your near future. The apple is subtle and with the vanilla it brings the familiar warmth of fall, while chamomile gives the drink a softer floral note, making it perfect for cooler mornings.
Restless Coffee Co.’s Apple Chamomile Fog is a great option for people wanting a lighter fall drink.
ANGEL ALBRING | General Assignment Reporter
You can order this hot or cold until the end of November.
Cost: $4.50 for a 12-ounce; $5.50 for a 16-ounce; $6.50 for a 20-ounce
8. Lynn & Gray Coffee Co. — Salted Maple Cream
Location: Inside Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster
This sweet-and-salty fall drink features maple flavor and a creamy salted topping.
Maple is practically autumn in liquid form, and the salty-sweet combination makes this one feel more like a fall treat than just another flavored coffee. It’s cozy, indulgent and distinctly seasonal without bringing pumpkin spice into the equation.
Cost: $7.50 and up
9. Slate — Maple Toffee Nut Latte
Location: 43 E. Main St., Lititz
Maple and toffee are a pretty convincing argument for putting down the pumpkin spice.
This Maple Toffee Nut Latte at Slate in Lititz gives people a fall drink without the pumpkin.
ANGEL ALBRING | General Assignment Reporter
Slate’s Maple Toffee Nut Latte combines Maple Spice syrup with Toffee Nut syrup for a drink that leans rich, nutty and sweet. The maple gives it that unmistakable fall flavor, while the toffee adds a deeper, almost candy-like richness.
You can customize this drink with different syrups, foams and milks, and you can have it hot or cold. It will be on the menu until the end of November.
Cost: $5.85 for a small; $6.90 for a large
10. Central Culture Coffee — Pistachio Matcha
Location: 841 Route 41, Gap
Central Culture Coffee is a new location in Gap, but it is already leaning into fall with a Pistachio Matcha, one of the shop’s seasonal drinks. The earthy flavor of matcha pairs with sweet, nutty pistachio for a drink that’s creamy and slightly indulgent without being overly sweet. It’s a nice option for matcha fans who want something with a touch of autumn but a little different from the usual maple, apple and cinnamon flavors dominating fall menus.
Cost: $7.99
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