If you’ve got your perfect coffee bar all set up, then we get to finally start with the fun stuff: experimenting with different flavors! After you spent all that money on getting all your coffee items ready, your wallet can finally take a break. The easiest, most affordable upgrade to your home coffee bar is having a nice rotation of the best coffee syrups for your home bar.
Coffee syrups are the most underrated coffee bar essential. A little bit of syrup can transform your morning coffee into something that you pay for at an expensive coffee shop. In this post, we’re going to give you all of the popular and most favorite coffee syrups for your home coffee bar.
And if you enjoy this post, then you should definitely check out this one, which is all about coffee bar accessories that will make your whole setup feel more put together!
Why Coffee Syrups are a Must-Have for Your Home Coffee Bar
Let’s talk about why syrups are important to a home coffee bar in the first place. Having syrups in your setup will allow you to recreate all your favorite cafe-style drinks on a much lower budget. Typically, a bottle of syrup costs less than two coffee shop lattes and will last you a month. That’s pretty good math in this economy.
Additionally, if you’re feeling tired of your current coffee, instead of buying a new flavor or brand, try to spice it up with a new syrup. Both coffee beans and grounds can be super expensive, so opting to add or change the syrup instead is a great way to save some money and possibly discover a new favorite drink!
The Best Coffee Syrup Flavors for Your Home Bar
What we’ve always found interesting is that most people that drink coffee at home tend to not use coffee syrups. They tend to stick with a milk or milk alternative and sugar or sugar alternative, often remarking that syrups taste too fake or too sweet. But at the same time, if you ask them about their favorite coffee from a cafe, they will more than likely give you an answer that is a coffee with syrup in it.
There are two reasons why people typically feel that way. The first one is that they haven’t bought the right syrup for themselves. There are plenty of different types and flavors, and you are bound to find something you will enjoy.
The second reason is that you need to learn recipes. As much as we all like to think of ourselves as expert baristas, most of us aren’t – and that’s okay! Looking up different recipes, especially on social media, is a great way to experiment and learn.
We’ve created a list of the best syrups below to have in your home bar to start you on this journey. We recommend starting with at least three different ones.
1. Vanilla
If you’re going to start with any one syrup, vanilla is your best bet. It’s the most versatile and loved flavor out there. It works with so many coffee flavors and combinations. It’s not overpowering, which makes it a perfect starter syrup for anyone.
2. Caramel
Caramel is a classic for a good reason. If you need a little more in your coffee than vanilla, caramel is a perfect option. It adds a perfect amount of warmth and sweetness. Our favorite part about it is that it works just as well in hot coffee as it does in cold.
3. Brown Sugar Cinnamon
If you’re farther along in your coffee syrup journey and need a little more than your typical vanilla or caramel syrup, brown sugar cinnamon is a great choice. It’s perfect for those who have a sweet tooth. It’s cozy, warm, and tastes like you just bit into a cinnamon roll.
4. Hazelnut
So maybe you don’t have a sweet tooth and want something a little more savory. Hazelnut is a great option. It has that classic coffee flavor without all the extra sweetness.
5. Lavender
This is either a hit or a miss with people, but it’s incredibly popular as of late. There’s a subtle floral note to lavender that makes it a really unique taste. If that sounds like something up your alley, then you should definitely add this to your list of coffee syrups.
6. White Chocolate
If you’re all in on a rich and indulgent coffee flavor, a white chocolate syrup would be perfect for your cup of coffee. It pairs really well with espresso-based drinks. We like to think of this as almost a dessert coffee, which is absolutely needed some days.
7. Seasonal flavors
Now that you have your base syrups lined up, let’s look at some of the more fun, seasonal syrups. Two of the most popular flavors are pumpkin spice for fall and peppermint for winter.
We’re sure you’ve heard, and probably tasted, both of these flavors at your favorite coffee shop. It’s time to buy them and make your own renditions of your favorite holiday drink!
What is the Best Brand of Coffee Syrup?
1. Torani
Torani is probably the one you’ve heard of the most. We recommend it because it’s widely and easily available and won’t completely break the budget. It also has consistent flavor quality across the syrups. You can usually find it in your local grocery store or online.
2. DaVinci
DaVinci is a great, mid-range option that offers a lot of the flavors we listed above. If you don’t want to spend too much money, but still want quality, we suggest this brand.
3. Monin
If you’re comfortable with spending a little more money on your syrups, then Monin is a great option. It’s a more premium option and it has that cafe quality to it that you would find at your local coffee shop.
4. Homemade
The last option, which is only an option if you have the time, money, and energy to do so, is to create your own syrup. I want to reiterate that this is more time-consuming than buying your own coffee syrup, and it’s not just a two-step process, but it’s so worth it.
Personally, we find all of our homemade recipes on social media, like the Salted Caramel one we found on TikTok at the bottom.
How to Store and Display Coffee Syrups on Your Coffee Bar
1. Use an organizer
Get either a syrup organizer or a small tray to keep your bottles upright and put together. This makes them look more intentional than just having them scattered around your calendar.
2. Keep your favorites easy to access
If you don’t have an organizer, this is the best way to keep your syrup bottles in order. Ensure that you always have your favorite syrups easy to access, so you don’t make a mess looking for them.
3. Group them by season
If you start accumulating a lot of syrup bottles, then you should start grouping them by season. Keep your current rotation front and center, and then put the rest into storage until you’re ready for them.
4. Use matching bottles
If you want the super aesthetic coffee bar look, matching bottles are the perfect option. It’s a small effort that makes a huge difference, and makes your whole setup look really put-together. Just make sure that you label them clearly and write dates on the bottom or top of your bottle. You don’t want to guess just how long you’ve had your syrups based on smell or viscosity alone..speaking from personal experience here.
Your Coffee Bar Just Got a Whole Lot More Exciting
The best thing about coffee syrups is that they’re honestly one of the lowest effort upgrades that you can make to your home coffee bar. But you don’t need to go out and buy multiple flavors today.
Start with one or even two. Experiment with those flavors and go from there. We promise you’re going to find your new, favorite coffee drink that you can make in the comfort of your own home!
Salted Caramel Coffee Syrup Recipe
from shelly’s cozy coffee & carbs (@hellofalife_55)
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2-3 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4-1/2 tsp of salt
Instructions:
Add the white sugar, brown sugar, and water to a saucepan. Heat over medium and stir until the sugar dissolves. Let it simmer for 6-8 minutes until slightly darker and smells caramel-y. Remove from heat and stir in the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and salt. Cool slightly and pour into a bottle. Make sure to refrigerate it and enjoy!
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