8 Specialty Coffee Drinks Recipes You Can Make At Home

Specialty coffee drinks take your daily cup to the next level! These delicious drinks, made with a mix of high-quality coffee, milk, and flavorful ingredients, are found at coffee shops everywhere—but they’re also easy to make at home! Whether you’re craving a classic cappuccino or a spiced latte read on for our favorite coffee drink recipes and learn about where they originated too!

What Are Specialty Coffee Drinks?

Specialty coffee drinks go beyond the average cup of joe, making your morning (or evening) coffee a real treat! Specialty coffee drinks are coffee-based drinks that are mixed with milk, cream, sugar, and other tasty ingredients to make a unique beverage. These are the kinds of drinks you can find at coffee shops and they’re absolutely possible to make at home!

We always recommend using the highest quality ingredients and brewing techniques to have the ultimate specialty coffee drink to start your day. Starting with high-quality coffee means that no matter what you’re adding to your coffee drink, you’ll have a great-tasting drink. 

How to Prepare Coffee for These Recipes

In all of the specialty coffee drink recipes that follow, you’ll need to start with great coffee of course! Here are our favorite ways to brew coffee at home. If you’re lucky enough to have an espresso machine at home, here’s our technique for pulling the perfect espresso shot. 

How to Make an Espresso

We recommend a strong double-shot pulled ristretto. Ristretto, an Italian word, directly translates to “restricted”, meaning, there is less liquid in the cup than a standard shot of espresso.

This recipe requires 17-18 grams of espresso grind coffee beans, and filtered water. Place the coffee into the portafilter. Distribute the coffee grounds evenly, then use a tamper to press the coffee down firmly. Insert the portafilter into the machine and lock it in securely. Pour your shot per your machine’s instructions and get ready to make your favorite coffee drink!

A milk frother is a must-have tool for home coffee enthusiasts who don’t have an espresso machine. We love this version because the hand top allows for easy storage and keeps the frother clean when not in use 

Specialty Coffee Drinks Recipes

Below, we’ve categorized some of the best specialty coffee drink recipes to match the season. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing iced coffee for the summer heat, or a cozy latte to enjoy during winter, these recipes are sure to satisfy.

Classic Hot Coffee Drink Recipes

Classic Cappuccino

This beloved coffee drink originated in Italy and got its name because the color of the drink is similar to the robes of the famed Capuchin monks. 

Ingredients:

• Double shot of espresso
• 2 oz steamed milk
• 2 oz milk foam
• Cocoa powder or cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Brew a double shot of espresso.
2. Steam the milk and create a thick foam.
3. Pour the steamed milk over the espresso, topping with foam.
4. Sprinkle it with cinnamon or cocoa powder. 

New Orleans Cafe Au Lait

Cafe au lait is a New Orleans classic! Translated from French, it means “coffee with milk” but in New Orleans, a cafe au lait uses coffee with chicory as its base. 

Ingredients:

• 4 oz drip coffee & chicory (such as Creole Coffee & Chicory)
• 4 oz steamed milk

Instructions:

1. Brew drip coffee.
2. Steam milk and pour it into your preferred cup.
3. Pour hot coffee over the steamed milk.
4. Stir and enjoy.

Summer Coffee Drink Recipes

Iced Vanilla Latte

Iced coffee is a must-have in New Orleans’ hot climate but did you know that this specialty coffee drink originated in the late 1900th century in Algeria? French soldiers without access to milk began adding water to their coffee and drinking it cold. They returned home and brought the drink with them and it became a regular menu item in cafes. 

Ingredients:

• Double shot of espresso (such as Espresso Crema)
• 8 oz cold milk (dairy or plant-based)
• 1-2 tbsp vanilla syrup
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Brew a double shot of espresso and let it cool slightly.
2. Fill a glass with ice, pour in the cold milk, and add the vanilla syrup.
3. Add the espresso on top, stir, and enjoy.

Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brew may seem like the newest specialty coffee drink fad, but it originated more than 400 years ago in Japan. The slow process helps extract more flavor from the beans. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coarsely ground Cold Brew Blend coffee
• 4 cups cold filtered water

Instructions:

1. Combine coffee grounds and water in a jar.
2. Steep in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
3. Strain using a fine mesh strainer and coffee filter.
4. Serve over ice and add milk to taste.

Iced Mocha

Mocha coffee beans originated in Yemen and were known for their intense chocolate taste. In modern times, coffee shops add chocolate to these yummy treats, but we recommend starting with our original Mocha Java French Roast. It’s as naturally chocolatey as it gets.

Ingredients:

• Double shot of espresso 
• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup (or 2 tbsp hot cocoa powder mixed with a little cold water)
• 8 oz cold milk
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Mix chocolate syrup with the freshly brewed espresso.
2. Pour the milk over ice in a glass.
3. Add espresso mixture and stir.

Iced Americano

Did you know that the Americano was invented during WWII? American soldiers in Italy were served espresso but missed their slightly weaker coffee from home so requested that their drinks be topped up with water. 

Ingredients:

• Double shot of espresso
• 6 oz cold water
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Brew a double shot of espresso.
2. Fill a glass with ice and cold water.
3. Pour the espresso over the water and stir.

Fall Coffee Drink Recipes

Spiced Latte

Despite popular opinion, the pumpkin spiced latte doesn’t contain any pumpkin at all. Its name is derived from a warming spice mixture often found in pumpkin pie. This Fall favorite celebrated its 20th birthday in 2023!

Ingredients:

• Double shot of espresso
• 8 oz steamed milk
• 2 tbsp pumpkin pie syrup
• Spice mix of grated ginger, nutmeg, clove and cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Brew the espresso and add pumpkin spice syrup.
2. Steam milk in your preferred coffee mug. 
3. Pour the espresso mixture over the milk and add a sprinkle of spice. 

Winter Coffee Drink Recipes

Peppermint Mocha

Nothing says “Holidays” like peppermint and this warming drink is perfect for cozying up by the fire during those long winter nights 

Ingredients:

• Double shot of espresso
• 8 oz steamed milk
• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup
• 1 tbsp peppermint syrup

Instructions:

1. Brew the espresso and mix it with chocolate and peppermint syrups.
2. Add steamed milk and stir.
3. Top with whipped cream and a candy cane if desired.

Why Coffee Bean Quality Matters

The key to great coffee-based drinks lies in the quality of the beans. Specialty coffee beans are carefully grown, harvested, processed, and roasted to bring out their best flavors. This attention to detail results in a coffee that’s rich in flavor, fragrant, and smooth. Using high-quality beans ensures that you’re starting with the best possible coffee. Specialty coffee drink recipes shouldn’t aim to disguise the taste of bad coffee, but enhance the taste of great coffee! 

As a specialty coffee roaster, we know just how important it is to start with high-quality beans. We source coffee beans from around the world and roast them daily so our customers can rely on our freshly roasted coffee. We call upon decades of experience to combine different varieties for the consistent coffee blends you love and source single-origin beans for a truly unique experience. 

Try Coffee Blends

Our Signature Coffee Blends are the perfect way to start your specialty coffee drinks. Each blend starts with high-quality beans, carefully selected from coffee farmers around the world. By combining different coffee beans, we create blends that bring out the best of each coffee. This creates a balanced flavor experience for your morning cup.

Try Single Origin Coffee Beans

For coffee superfans, you may want to try Single Origin Coffee for these specialty coffee drinks. Single-origin coffee offers a distinct taste experience by highlighting the unique flavors of beans from a specific region. Unlike blends, these coffees allow you to experience how factors like soil, climate, and altitude have on the flavor of the coffee. 

Try Decaffeinated Coffee Drinks

Caffeine isn’t for all of us! Whether you’re specialty coffee drinks at night or prefer to avoid caffeine, every one of our recipes below can be made with decaf. We pride ourselves on creating decaffeinated coffee that tastes just like regular coffee. We use the Swiss Water Process™, and quality arabica coffee beans to make our decaf coffee. 

Enjoy making these specialty coffee drink recipes year-round! Whether you’re in the mood for a summer cold brew or a cozy winter latte, there’s a recipe here for every coffee lover. By starting with high-quality beans and using our favorite recipes, you can enjoy cafe-style beverages from the comfort of your home. 

At Orleans Coffee, we’re dedicated to providing you with the best coffee beans to ensure that every cup you make is nothing short of exceptional. For those days when you prefer to skip the brewing and let someone else handle the details, visit us at our espresso bar or explore one of these excellent cafes in New Orleans!