Five Drinks at Your Local Cafe To Drink In Honor of Independence Day

In honor of our nation's birthday this past weekend, I figured we should go for an American-themed blogpost today. American coffee culture is a big deal! And I think these 5 drinks best encapsulate the buzz behind it!

1. Caramel Macchiato

Nothing screams American coffee culture than the drink coined by Starbucks: The Caramel Macchiato. I think what's beautiful about this drink is that it isn't technically a macchiato, we just stole that name and rolled with it!

A true "traditional" macchiato is usually 1 - 2 shots of a espresso and a little bit of foam on top. Macchiato literally translates to "stained"; the idea is that the espresso is stained by the milk. What Starbucks gave us with the Caramel Macchiato (which is recognized as it's own unique drink in many local cafes at this point, thanks to the big green giant) is an upside-down latte with vanilla syrup in it and caramel drizzle on top of it. What makes it an upside-down latte instead of a regular latte is that the milk goes in the cup first, and then the espresso is poured on top.

• Why try it? It's a very sweet, popular drink that goes down easily! And you can usually get them iced, so it will be perfect for a July afternoon pick-me-up!

  
  

2. Doppio Espresso

When you order a doppio at a cafe, all you will receive is two shots of espresso. That's it! I find this to be a very "American" drink because it's so quick and easy, and it serves a purpose. When I order a doppio, it's because I just need a caffeine boost and nothing else. And this drink really does the job!

• Why try it? It is a super low calorie drink that wakes you up fast! And it's usually on the cheaper side (since it doesn't come with milk)!

  
  

3. Mocha Latte

I like to believe a little in the stereotype that Americans like sugar. If that's true for you too, look no further than the Mocha Latte!

A latte is just espresso with steamed milk over it (or espresso with cold milk and ice if you get it iced). Once you add mocha sauce or syrup to it, then you've got yourself a Mocha Latte! Most places like to top this drink with whipped cream, which adds that extra little pizzaz to your day!

Despite its name, the New York Egg Cream contains neither egg nor cream. This nostalgic drink originated in Brooklyn and features a mix of milk, seltzer water, and chocolate syrup. It’s fizzy, chocolatey, and light, making it a fun alternative to traditional sodas or milkshakes.

• Why try it? It's sweet and perfect. I can't lie, I love Mocha Lattes! If you get it hot or iced, it works as the absolute perfect sweet treat to get you through your day!

4. Pumpkin Spice Latte

This may be harder to find in July, but the PSL (that's shorthand for the Pumpkin Spice Latte) is not only a culturual phenomenon that Starbucks created, but it's also a pretty good drink!

I don't think you can separate the craze of the PSL and American coffee culture anymore. And that's okay! A PSL is built up like a normal latte (espresso and milk) but with pumpkin sauce mixed-in, whipped cream on top, and usually a spice like nutmeg or pumpkin spice sauce on top.

• Why try it? It's honestly a classic at this point! It's extra good if you add a little white mocha sauce to it! (Thank me later!)

  
  

5. Cold Brew

I think the Cold Brew faze really amped up when people started caring about their bodies again. This drink usually packs a punch of caffeine, but is real low on calories! It's also super customizable, so you can really make this drink your own!

Cold Brew is just coffee that has been steeped with cold water, over hot water. It is usually less bitter than hot coffee and, like I said, holds a lot of caffeine.

• Why try it? It's refreshing and energizing. It does the job that you want your coffee to do!

  
  

Conclusion

America is good and bad at a lot of things, but I would consider mainstreaming some new cafe staples as a good thing! Ultimately, whatever you decide to drink today will be amazing. I hope that you stay both caffeinated and hydrated this Independence Day!

Cheers to you!