If you are looking for an excuse treat yourself to a latte and a scone, here it is! The Tour de Coffee is a self-guided cafe crawl that was originally created by Erin aka @girlmeetsnewyorkcity on Instagram. To participate, you have to visit three cafes and order a drink/snack at each stop. The catch? No bathroom breaks are allowed.

I thought this sounded like a fun challenge to try out with my friend Ashley. We each had about 20 bucks and Apple Maps, so we were ready to go.

To take you along for the ride, I documented our journey vlog-style. I hope you enjoy our caffeinated adventure; maybe it’ll even inspire you to plan your own tour.

Where would you go on your Tour de Coffee? Dunkin’ or Starbucks? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram. Let’s chat!

A new year means new drinks to try on the Starbucks menu. Recently, they announced the addition of three dairy alternative sips. What is really unique is they all include blonde espresso rather than the traditional blend. This helps to create a smoother and sweeter caffeine fix.

As a self-endorsed coffee connoisseur and former barista, I thought I needed to offer my review. Maybe this was also an excuse for me to order three lattes at once, but I’ll let you judge that while I get my palate ready.

First Up, The Almondmilk Honey Flat White

This drink is *technically* not new, but it is now an official menu item. Before this was branded as such, you would’ve been able to order a regular flat white with the addition of honey and substitution of blonde espresso with almond milk. But, background aside, the “new” release does encourage the average consumer to try a dairy alternative (which I am very down for).

After I took a sip… I was very impressed. I enjoyed the foam which is characteristic of flat whites. The drink had a very, full bodied flavor. It was a fun, “nutty” drink.

Next, The Coconutmilk Latte

This drink has also existed before, except for the added cascara sugar in the new recipe. The blonde espresso and sugar streak do add something special that makes it a treat.

The only issue I could see this new menu item creating is because of it’s name; usually a coconutmilk latte would just mean a simple latte with a milk substitute and no additions. But hey, I still had to taste test it to make sure…

I enjoyed one sip…and then another…and then another. The drink was extremely smooth. It also had the perfect sweetness added in.

And Finally, The Oatmilk Honey Latte

Okay, fine, this one is actually pretty new for Starbucks. It’s the same deal as the first drink, but it has a different “milk” and foam ratio (in the future, we can talk more about the tedious details of flat whites vs lattes).

Oatmilk has not before been supplied to as many Starbucks locations as it is now. In my area, the local coffee shops were where I’d have to go if I wanted oatmilk. However, now I can get almost everything I want at Starbucks…Anyone else feel this way? Could this be the drink that helps corporate coffee take over? Only time will tell.

TBH this one didn’t initially impress me. Oatmilk has a thinner consistency which makes me appreciate it more iced. But, I will say after another try, I enjoyed the smooth flavor of honey with the blonde espresso. Being that I had a passenger seat full of Starbucks, I delivered this drink to another taste tester…she absolutely loved it.

So, Which One Should You Cash a Star Reward in For?

The drink that has my heart and payment from my Starbucks app is the Almondmilk Honey Flat White. The flavors in it and craft of the beverage really got me. Out of the three, it is the one I finished first, and I enjoyed every sip. In the meantime, it’s officially my favorite menu item, but I am excited to see what they come out with next.

Before ending up at my current jobs, I pulled espresso shots, steamed milk, and misspelled many peoples names. Being a Starbucks Barista entails way more than that of course, but in short that’s what I did. I loved it and enjoyed the unlimited drink perks. You see, if you work at Starbucks you can drink all the coffee you want on your breaks. This allowed me to get very creative with drink combos. I have compiled some of my favorite and most exotic caffeine fixes for you to try yourself.

Here’s the Order, Say it with Me…

“Can I get a Doppio Espresso Con Panna with one pump White Mocha?”.

Translation: “Espresso Con Panna” is simply an espresso shot with whip cream on top. “Doppio” is really just a fancy way of saying you want two shots. “White Mocha” is a white chocolate syrup; it is very thick and sweet, so just one pump is the perfect complement for the two shots of espresso. I enjoy this drink when I want 1) a quick caffeine boost and 2) something sweet.

“Can I get a Grande Starbucks Doubleshot on Ice, with half pumps, substitute Vanilla Syrup, and Coconut Milk?”

Translation: The “Starbucks Doubleshot on Ice” is a menu item that, depending on size, has way more than just two espresso shots. I won’t go into exacts, but just know you will be caffeinated.

The espresso shots, syrup, and ice are all shaken up together like a cocktail and then topped milk. Half pumps of syrup I suggest so it’s not too sweet. I substitute vanilla syrup in for a smoother taste. I tend to opt for the coconut milk because of the flavor profile it helps create, but other milks work well in this drink too.

“Can I get a [any size] Passion Tango Tea Lemonade, with half pumps, substitute Raspberry Syrup?”

Translation: The “Passion Tango Tea Lemonade” is pretty much a herbal tea version of an Arnold Palmer tea. Adding raspberry creates a fruity flavor profile. Half pumps of syrup ensure the flavor isn’t too much. It’s a very refreshing drink. This is a more summer go-to for me personally, but it can be enjoyed every season.

“Can I get a [any size] Iced Americano, with Raspberry Syrup, and Coconut Milk?”

Translation: An “Americano” is a drink made up of espresso shots and water. The raspberry syrup and coconut milk are nice additions for some flavor. This is a very classic order of mine.

(Also, my Starbucks had stickers on this day…how adorable!)

“Can I get a Grande Latte, with three packs of Honey, Cinnamon Powder on top, and Coconut Milk?”

Translation: The best way to explain this one is by calling it a “Honey Latte”. “Honey Lattes” are on some other coffee shop menus, but they can be created at Starbucks with the recipe above. I always suggest coconut milk, but you can do any type of milk you like in this one. It’s a creamy and more “naturally” sweet latte. If you order smaller or larger, you can alter the number of honey packs accordingly.

“Can I get a [any size] Espresso Frappuccino with Coconut Milk?”

Translation: “Espresso Frappuccinos” are pretty much just a blended latte. I add coconut milk for some natural sweetness, but this drink can definitely be spiced up more. Add some syrups if you’d like. Add some caramel drizzle. There is a lot of room for customization.

Tip your Baristas & Sip On

I hope you can enjoy some of my favorite combos and get creative with your own! Comment or @ me on Instagram if you enjoy the drinks or have new hacks to share.

Cheers!