As an avid latte lover and drinker, I was looking for a way to spice up my go-to order at Holy Grounds, Villanova’s version of a Dunkin or Starbucks. While a lot of the flavors on their list sounded disgusting, I figured I had to go all in. I tried each and every one of them to really find out what the best latte flavor is and my new go-to drink order.
1. Vanilla Latte
Going into this taste testing, I expected the vanilla latte to be my “flavored-latte winner,” as it has always been my go-to order. The vanilla latte has the perfect ratio of vanilla flavor to coffee. You honestly can’t go wrong when ordering this one, it’s a classic.
2. Caramel Latte
The caramel latte does not disappoint either. With a strong, creamy caramel essence and a light coffee flavor, this was definitely like drinking a liquid caramel candy. If you are looking for something sweet and decadent I definitely recommend this latte flavor.
3. Gingerbread Latte
The gingerbread latte definitely surprised me. The barista got it right when she handed it to me and said “Christmas in a cup.” The nutty gingerbread flavor is distinct, but still pairs well with the espresso. This flavor latte is sure to warm you up during the holiday season.
If you’re feeling super ambitious, you can even try to make your own gingerbread latte at home.
4. Chocolate Latte
Unlike some of the other flavors, the chocolate latte is not as sweet but still very satisfying. Probably similar to your traditional mocha flavor, this flavor combo is rich and chocolatey. I mean it’s hard to go wrong with coffee and chocolate, even in pancakes.
5. Salted Caramel Latte
I was pleasantly surprised when I tried this latte. While the salted caramel taste is very subtle, you still get a slightly sweeter and richer latte than you would with your typical caramel one. I would definitely order this latte again when I’m craving a caramel-y treat.
And if you’re a true salted caramel fanatic, pair your latte with one of these other decadent salted caramel treats.
6. Irish Cream Latte
While I’m still not quite sure what Irish cream is, this latte tastes similar to a vanilla latte, just a bit sweeter. I would get this latte again, but maybe try it iced to help subdue the sweet syrup flavor.
7. Pumpkin Spice Latte
As a true PSL fan myself, I now understand why Holy Ground’s pumpkin spice latte does not get the same hype as Starbucks’ popular fall beverage. Although it tasted alright, the flavor was lacking and did not provide the warm, fuzzy fall feeling that a real PSL should.
8. Raspberry Latte
This flavor latte was surprisingly not awful. You can definitely smell the raspberry before you even take a sip. At first you just get a taste of the coffee flavor, however there is a strong raspberry after taste. As an unconventional latte flavor, my best comparison is to a dark chocolate and raspberry chocolate truffle. Call me crazy, but I somehow found my self going back for more.
9. Blackberry Latte
The iced blackberry latte was probably the most surprising of them all. Somehow the sweet blackberry syrup paired pretty well with the coffee. I wouldn’t be surprised if I started seeing blackberry lattes on more menus.
10. Cinnamon Latte
Or more like cinna-none. Although I was excited to try this flavor, the inability to taste any cinnamon flavoring left me with a very bitter taste in my mouth. Instead of ordering a latte with cinnamon syrup, I would suggest just sprinkling actual cinnamon on top. You’ll get a much better cinnamon latte that way.
11. Apple Latte
There is no missing the apple flavor in the apple latte. This latte had mostly an artificial apple flavor with a little bit of coffee. While not awful tasting, I probably wouldn’t order it again. It was basically like drinking straight from the syrup bottle.
12. Orange Latte
The orange latte was just average. It was hard to really taste the orange essence and the bitter coffee was pretty overbearing. I would rank this towards the bottom of the fruit flavored lattes.
13. Green Mint Latte
I guess mint and lattes just don’t go well together. The green mint latte had a more subtle mint flavor than the peppermint flavor listed next, but I still did not like the taste. I could only take one or two sips of this latte before tossing it in the trash.
14. Peppermint Latte
My experience with the peppermint latte was similar to the green mint latte fiasco. This latte further confirms why mint-flavored latte’s have never been a thing. You can barely taste the coffee flavor because the peppermint is so overpowering. I would not order this one again, as it was like drinking straight peppermint extract. I think I’ll stick with peppermint mocha, but nice try Holy Grounds.
15. Pomegranate Latte
As predicted this was definitely the worst latte of them all. Somehow the pomegranate syrup seemed to react in a weird way with the warm coffee, creating a jelly-like coating on top. After you push past the top things still don’t get better. You are instantly hit by a very tart fruit flavor with a hint of coffee. I do not recommend this latte to anyone. It almost turned me off of lattes all together.
After a long two weeks of latte drinking, I can safely say I probably won’t order another latte for a very long time and that I’m officially on a first name basis with some of the Holy Grounds baristas.
If I do decide to order a latte and stray away from vanilla, I now have some new go-to’s like caramel, gingerbread, chocolate, and even blackberry. If you’re ever feeling adventurous and want to change up your order, or even if you’re just curious, I definitely suggest venturing beyond your typical order. Who knows, you might find a new latte flavor to love.