Coffees that Keep me Going in 2022

A series of my unsolicited rankings and opinions on the drink that most of us can't live without........Coffee!

4. Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte

Honorable mention for the drink that kept me going through the holidays, but rest in peace until the time when it (hopefully) makes its grand return next year as the sugar cookie flavoring is SEASONAL. Controversial though this flavor and drink grew to be, I liked it just as it came. Served best as a hot drink in my opinion, the sugar cookie flavoring is sweet but carries a slight nuttiness to it to balance out a unique flavor. This also made it a semi-neutral flavor for what I would think would be a crowd pleaser, despite it's controversy on whether it is actually 'good' or not. Between the heartwarmingly rich taste of the espresso, decadent sugar cookie flavoring, and light, nutty foamed almondmilk, this drink transported me into the coziest moments of the holidays sitting by the fireplace, carols softly playing in the background, with a hot drink in hand.

3. Vanilla Oatmilk Latte

Third place just has to be a creme de la creme classic in my books: A vanilla oatmilk latte. I love this drink for both it's predictability and ability to fit any sort of coffee mood that I may find myself in. Sweet, bold, hot, cold, a vanilla oatmilk latte seems to take the form of whichever way you want it to. Now let me explain the variations that I have picked up amongst my journies trying vanilla oatmilk lattes...everywhere. First off you have the iced Dunkin' vanilla oatmilk latte. This is where my coffee journey pretty much began a mere couple of years ago. It's simple, it's sweet, and you can adjust the french vanilla flavor swirls (which adds both sweetness and flavor) or the vanilla flavor shots (which adds flavor not sweetness) to your liking. I typically prefer it hot over iced at Dunkin', but that's just a preference thing I suppose.

Then you have the Starbucks vanilla oatmilk latte. I find when I order the latte hot, the unmatched Starbucks vanilla syrup blends in perfectly with the bold coffee, espresso and frothed milk trio from the very first sip. But again, the cold vanilla oatmilk latte doesn't disappoint either and that's the beauty in the versatility of a vanilla oatmilk latte. Finally, you have well, everywhere else! Located just down the road from my school for example in Poughkeepsie, NY, Ready coffee has easily made it's way to the top of my list for best iced oatmilk lattes that I've ever tried. The Ready coffee espresso flavor maintains a uniquely bold flavor profile, providing a nice change from Starbucks or Dunkin' and pairs wonderfully with an indulgent, classic vanilla syrup. When I'm in Boston, Caffe Nero is another one of my favorite places for an oatmilk latte where its bold coffee hits the spot both with and without vanilla!

2. Dunkin' Iced Mocha Cappucino

I hope you got a drumroll going before scrolling down to the RUNNER-UP of coffee drinks that keep me going!!! As the award goes to such a satisfyingly sweet flavor combination of rich chocolaty goodness and bold espresso, balanced out with a lightly frothed milk of choice. Dunkin' cappucinos are something that I never thought to try out until recently a couple weeks ago. But ever since my first sip, I've been hooked. A Dunkin' cappucino is made by combining espresso with cold milk, poured over ice and topped with a light and airy layer of milk foam..and it's PERFECT. The Iced Mocha Cappucino as I generally order it will consist of oatmilk and a lone pump of mocha for a medium, as I am not a fan of super sweet drinks and the mocha is bold with sweetness. But for those who enjoy their coffees on the sweeter end I wouldn't call you crazy for asking for two, three, or even more pumps of mocha because the Dunkin' mocha flavor truly is a safe bet for a coffee drinker not afraid of flavor!

1. Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

And here we are at the grand reveal of THE top tier coffee drink of 2022 thus far (in my humble opinion of a totally non-serious coffee ranking). Anybody who knows me shouldn't be surprised that the classic IBSOSE, long-abbreviation of a coffee drink made it to the top of my list for favorite coffees at the moment. You will be able to find me sneaking into a starbucks for an IBSOSE at least a couple times a week with (when they make it right) a satisfied smile on my face because I love it ohhh so much. This smooth drink blends together a decadent hint of brown sugar and bold taste of espresso to create the slightly adventurous, yet loyal iced coffee drinker's dream of a drink. Not too sweet, not too bitter. The notes of brown sugar add a perfectly subtle sweetness to such a simple iced shaken espresso while the creamy, slightly nutty in flavor oatmilk couldn't be a better choice in milk. That said, the price currently runs at a steep $5.95 not including tax for a grande, and even more for a Venti. Which, if you are like me you might find yourself going for the venti size more and more to make this dreamy experience of a drink last just a little bit longer!