The best seasonal drinks from Toronto cafes to start your Fall morning off right
As the leaves start to turn beautiful hues of red, yellow, and orange, pumpkins become the number one porch decoration, and suddenly everyone is binge-watching Gilmore Girls… again. It could only mean one thing: Autumn has arrived!
Just because the season repeats itself every year doesn't mean your favourite seasonal drink for your early morning commute has to, too.
Toronto cafes are finding new ways to battle for the title of number one caffeinated Fall beverage, which is good news for coffee drinkers, because more cafes participating means more options, variety, and chances to find your signature drink this season.
Slip on the pair of mitts your nan knitted you four years ago and put your swimsuits in a box at the back of your closet labelled ‘Summer clothes’.
Here's where to find seasonal drinks from local cafes that beat the classic Pumpkin Spiced Latte for the top spot.
Forget Me Not - Spiced Pear Matcha
Forget Me Not is no stranger to bringing Toronto some of its favourite caffeinated beverages. Their Banana Bread Matcha, which drew lines down the street and inspired a string of copycats around the city, is one sign they know how to curate the perfect drink.
This year they've welcomed a Spiced Pear Matcha to their menu. It brings together the sweetness of a juicy pear, fresh ginger, traditional ceremonial matcha, and the subtle spice of cinnamon.
Forget Me Not wanted to "create a cozier, more autumnal sister to our much-loved banana bread matcha," they note via their pinned Instagram post introducing the drink. They also describe it as "just as comforting, but a little brighter and more complex" than their Banana Bread Matcha.
Located at both 102 Ossington Ave and 506 Adelaide St W.
All Is Well - Pumpkin Pie Latte & Witches Brew
Well known for their Dunkaroo Latte that brings a childhood nostalgia along with every sip, All Is Well is known for the creative and tasty drinks they drop every season, and Autumn is no different.
The viral cafe has come up with its own twist on a classic Pumpkin Spiced Latte. Their Pumpkin Pie Latte is made with pumpkin puree and vanilla cold foam, topped with a blanket of cinnamon powder and their in-house pumpkin spice syrup. A drink so unmistakably fall, with a touch of All Is Well's innate commitment to giving its city something special.
Alongside their pumpkin-flavoured drink, the All Is Well team is helping us get in the Halloween spirit with their drink titled Witches Brew.
In this version of a matcha latte, All Is Well adds in some spooky elements to cater to the season it celebrates.
Starting off strong with their classic matcha, elements added to it include blackberry syrup that coats the bottom of the cup, a blackberry-infused cold foam, and on top of a layer of Halloween-themed sprinkles.
When served, the drink resembles a witch's brew you might see in many of your favourite Halloween movie classics, adding a little fright to the season.
Located at 456 Ossington Ave.
Gateau Ghost - Apple Pie Latte & Cinnabun Match Latte
Gateau Ghost offers an array of delicious sweets, good eats, and a cozy atmosphere like no other. Through seasonal drinks and pastries, they've made their mark in the city. This season, they offer up two of their best creations yet - turning fan favourite desserts into drinks.
I know what you're thinking: it's getting frigid outside, which means out with the iced and in with the warm drinks.
Let me be the first to say you are incredibly mistaken; an iced drink in breezy weather is a risk you need to take. And it is a risk you must take with Gateau Ghost's fall menu drinks.
Well known for their matcha, they continue to uphold the beauty of serving ceremonial-grade matcha that makes you wonder what kind of matcha you were drinking before and how you didn't know it was the wrong kind sooner.
Pairing their matcha with brown sugar cinnamon syrup and a cream cheese cold foam, the warmth of a hot drink is replaced by the warmth on your tongue when the syrup's spice and the cold foam's sweetness collide.
If a second option is needed, opt in for their Apple Pie Latte. After understanding that everyone's favourite part of apple crumble was the crumble, Gateau Ghost found a way to make sure their guests got the crumble craving along with their daily caffeine intake.
The latte features a roasted apple syrup, espresso, oat crumble, and a sprinkle of cinnamon to finish it off.
Located at 974 College St.
Jerry's Coffee Roasters - Cherry Pie Matcha or Latte
Jerry's Coffee Roasters offers a fall menu of four come-hither options that could keep you there all day trying each one; their best option is the Cherry Pie beverage.
A coffee cart in Yorkville, serving Brazilian espresso beans, and the option to turn any of their fall drinks into a latte or matcha allows for an endless array of possibilities and switching your choice each day to keep your mornings interesting.
Their most talked-about fall beverage, Cherry Pie. Jerry's has not released an official description of what exactly it takes to make this tastebud-tantalizing drink, but take it from someone who has tried it as a latte (Me! I did!), I could only assume there is a cherry puree at the bottom, paired with a matching cherry cold foam, and topped with spiced graham cracker.
One thing I can promise: it is delicious.
Located at 55 Avenue Rd, inside Oreya House.
