Autumn is here, and seasonal drinks are back in Starkville’s coffee shops. No matter what you like, there is a fall drink for you.
In Starkville, finding fall drinks is not an issue as the area has several different coffee shops ready to brew on command.
Starkville is home to Strange Brew Coffeehouse and Nine-Twentynine Coffee Bar. International coffee chain Starbucks can also be found in two locations, with one on Hwy. 12 and the other on Mississippi State University’s campus.
Milo King, a coffee manager at Nine-Twentynine Coffee Bar, has worked as a barista for a year and a half. His favorite fall drink from Nine-Twentynine is The Cold Fashioned.
“It’s really interesting because it’s different,” King said. “We made a hickory brown sugar syrup to go in it, and it’s kinda like an ice cappuccino style drink.”
King said fall drinks, such as The Cold Fashioned, were curated by management before being released to the public.
“It’s got the expresso, the hickory syrup, it’s got milk, it’s served over a little bit of ice and some hot foam on top,” King said. “So, you’re getting a little bit of that cold, little bit of that warm and it’s perfect for the fall.”
The drink is also spritzed with orange bitters and garnished with a spiced cherry.
This drink would be good for someone who enjoys a pure coffee taste with a natural, fruity kick to it. It would also be good for someone who cannot decide between a hot and cold beverage because the drink is both hot and cold.
Hannah Ellis, a junior psychology major, has worked as a barista at Strange Brew for more than two years. Her favorite fall drink from Strange Brew is the Maple Harvest.
“I really like maple syrup in anything, so having that and caramel is also my favorite,” Ellis said. “It’s just a really good combination.”
Ellis said she likes Strange Brew’s three flavor drinks because it gives them a little bit more flavor.
The Maple Harvest contains espresso, steamed milk, caramel, maple and brown sugar cinnamon. Adding ice to the drink is optional.
This drink is perfect for someone who likes the simple flavor of maple syrup transfused into a warm beverage. It is also good for fans of cinnamon.
Izaac Johnson is a resident of Starkville who has frequented Starbucks for three years now. He has been a customer since he was a student at MSU, and he goes now as a working adult.
While Johnson is not one to stray away from his usual order of a vanilla latte, he said he likes the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew that his wife gets.
“I’ve tried hers and it’s pretty good,” Johnson said. “It’s just different, it’s good to switch it up when it’s seasonal.”
The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is made with iced coffee, vanilla syrup, topped with pumpkin cream cold foam and dusted with pumpkin spice topping.
This is a drink for someone who may have always gone for the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte. It is not exactly a Pumpkin Spice Latte, but it contains similar components. It is a perfect twist to a classic.
These autumn drinks are seasonal, so Starkville residents should seize the opportunity to enjoy them before they are gone until next year.