The right syrup added to the right coffee-based drink can take your coffee-drinking experience to a whole new level. If you’re like us, you might love trying out new flavors and combinations.
Of course, being successful in these pursuits is really dependent on the type of syrup you use, and what makes each one unique. It’s important to know what some of the best coffee syrups are.
At a Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Coffee Syrups
Plus, there’s a lot more to coffee syrups and their applications than you might think. That’s why we’ve created this informative and educational guide to help you along!
Quick Summary: The Best Coffee Syrups
Our Top Choice Miss Mary's Sinless Syrups: Classic Collection |
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Torani Variety Pack |
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Monin Gourmet Flavorings Premium Coffee Collection |
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Ghirardelli Squeeze Bottles |
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Jordan's Skinny Syrups |
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The Best Coffee Syrups: A Guide
There are lots of flavored syrup products out there, but they’re not all suitable for use with coffee. Flavored syrups generally contain a simple syrup, i.e., sugar or a sugar substitute mixed with water and heated until all the sugar has dissolved, with added flavorings.
Therefore, the final formulation will dictate whether the product is suitable for use with coffee, in cooking, or in cold drinks only. So, if you decide to go off-piste and source flavored syrups yourself, you’ll need to be sure that you’re buying the right stuff.
Okay | Not Okay | Check the Label |
---|---|---|
Coffee-flavoring syrup | Mixed-drink syrup | Cooking syrup |
Agave syrup | Concentrates | Dessert sauce |
Our Top 5 Best Coffee Syrups
Without further ado, here is a list of some of our favorite coffee syrups on the market! These are sure to be a hit in your daily cup of joe, or even if you want to try something new.
Miss Mary’s Sinless Syrups: Classic Collection 12.7 fl oz.
At the top of our list are Miss Mary’s syrups that aren’t only delicious, but also healthy!
Owners of Miss Mary’s, Ryan and Tristina, started out making healthy cocktail mixes that still tasted good. Their lives had been directly affected by the consumption of artificial ingredients and sweeteners, so they have a direct goal to provide healthy and yummy alternatives to flavoring your favorite drinks.
The classic collection of Miss Mary’s Sinless Syrups comes in the flavors Madagascar vanilla, caramel, and mocha. These sugar-free syrups have no artificial sweeteners, no gluten, no carbs, are keto-friendly, and are plant-based. Can they get any better?
The answer is, yes, because these coffee syrups are also just as delicious, if not more so than your traditional coffee syrups from your favorite coffee shop. Simple, sweet, comforting, and not overbearing. Sounds like a good selection of coffee syrups to us!
Torani Variety Pack 25.4 fl oz
Based in San Francisco, the Torre family started their business in 1925, using old family syrup recipes to create traditional Italian sodas. So, Torani is credited with creating the world’s first flavored latte. Who knew?
Torani is now one of the top-rated makers of flavored syrups for use in coffee, cocktails, sodas, and cooking. Their original range of five popular flavors has been expanded to a wide variety of close to 100, so you’ll never be short of choice.
This variety pack includes four classic flavors: caramel, French vanilla, vanilla, and hazelnut.
Torani syrups pack plenty of flavor without being too sweet. For a barista-quality vanilla latte, just put a shot of syrup into your mug, pour over your favorite brew, and top it off with frothed, warm milk, or cream. It’s the perfect way to start your day.
Also, you might want to invest in a Torani Syrup Pump. A pump will help to eliminate any sticky mess on your countertop.
Monin Gourmet Flavorings Premium Coffee Collection 1.75 fl oz.
Monin is a French company that produces syrups and liqueurs. Their organic flavored syrups are of premium quality, use only all-natural ingredients, and contain no artificial colors.
Monin’s flavor range is comprehensive and contains some unusual ones that you might fancy trying for something a little more avant-garde than the run-of-the-mill flavors that you find in your local coffee shop. For example, check out their lavender syrup; although the color is slightly alarming, the taste is fantastic!
This kit of four, 1.75 fl oz bottles includes caramel syrup, amaretto syrup, toasted hazelnut syrup, Irish cream syrup, and vanilla syrup.
For something a little more festive, the Holiday Cheer selection is well worth trying, too. This collection of five 1.75 fl oz bottles includes the holiday flavors of peppermint, salted caramel, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and gingerbread – yum!
A recipe card is included with the kit to get you started until your creative vibe gets going. Monin syrups are suitable for vegans, GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, and kosher. They also have sugar-free options that taste just as good!
Ghirardelli Squeeze Bottles 16-17 oz.
The high-end Ghirardelli Company began with a young Italian chocolatier in the early 1800s and is now a widely recognized brand that’s associated with fine, rich chocolate flavors.
Today, Ghirardelli is America’s oldest continuously operating chocolate maker. Ghirardelli also has its own chocolate and ice cream shops across the country.
This variety pack of convenient squeeze bottles contains one 16 oz bottle of chocolate sauce, one 17 oz bottle of caramel sauce, and one 17 oz bottle of white chocolate sauce.
These sauces are specifically formulated for use in espresso-based drinks. They’re also delicious in hot chocolate or on top of your desserts, which is why you’ll probably recognize them from your local ice cream shop.
Jordan’s Skinny Syrups, 25.4 oz
Another completely sugar-free option comes from Jordan’s Skinny Syrups. While many of the other top brands we’ve already mentioned include sugar-free options that taste just as good as the “full-fat” version, this company is solely focused on sugar-free syrups, much like Miss Mary’s.
The flavors from Jordan’s Skinny Syrups are to die for, and you don’t get that cloying, saccharin after-burn that some people hate. All the syrups included in the range don’t contain artificial ingredients and are gluten-free and kosher.
Despite tasting delicious, the syrups have no sugar, carbs, or calories to ruin your diet. It’s also worth noting that Jordan’s 750ml bottles are compatible with most syrup pumps.
Types Of Coffee-Flavoring Syrups
When it comes to coffee-flavoring syrups, these are formulated specifically for use in coffee-based drinks. They contain just the right amount of sugar or sweetener to give your coffee a sweet taste without overpowering the flavor of the syrup or the coffee.
Agave Syrup or Agave Nectar
Agave syrup and agave nectar are renowned for their delicate sweetness and subtle hints of caramel flavor. You can use agave syrup in coffee-based beverages, and it will enhance the flavor of the coffee with a little bit of sweetness, without being overpowering.
Mixed-Drink Syrups
Meanwhile, mixed-drink syrups are typically fruit-flavored syrups that are designed for use mainly in cocktails and other cold drinks.
Concentrates
Concentrates are essentially flavorings that already contain caffeine and therefore are not suitable for mixing with coffee (think serious jitters and massive coffee flavor hits).
Cooking Syrups
If you look at the labels on bottles of syrup and they have the label “cooking syrup,” that means that they’re intended for use in marinades and sauces as a sweetening and flavoring agent.
Dessert Sauces
Another label, dessert sauces are hit or miss. The Ghirardelli selection we’ve featured in our product review guide above works well when used to flavor coffee-based drinks.
Side Note: Sweetening syrups should not be confused with flavoring syrups. These products are purely liquid sweeteners, which are usually used in desserts and some cold drinks. However, you could use them to sweeten coffee in the absence of regular sugar, but they won’t add much depth to the flavor.
Can Flavored Coffee Be Healthy?
If you’re a health nut or if you just want to enjoy the sweet taste of coffee syrup without the calorific content, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can!
You can recreate all your favorite coffee house drinks using sugar-free coffee syrups. Most of the big-flavored syrup names include a range of no-sugar products in their catalog. Look out for the words, “Sugar-Free” on the label and a blue-colored bottle label or cap.
Our top choice in coffee syrup brands, Miss Mary’s Sinless Syrups, is actually a company that has entirely sugar-free, gluten-free, keto-friendly, and plant-based syrups. And the organic coffee syrups taste just as good as those filled with regular sugar!
What Drinks Can You Make?
Now that we’ve established what flavored syrups are, you’ll need to know what drinks you can make with them.
Well, coffee lovers, the fun thing about coffee, and having syrups to customize it, is that you can create something new every time. Whether you want a simple vanilla latte one day or a fancy pumpkin cold brew the next, the crafting of coffee is ever-changing and evolving.
But, if you need help getting started on your coffee recipe journey, we’ve provided a couple here for you. As always, you can tweak them to your liking and even create something else based on them.
Mudslide Latte
This recipe covers the basic method for making any syrup-flavored latte. Just substitute the flavored syrups for one (or indeed a few) of your choice, and omit the whipped cream in favor of foamed milk if you prefer.
Ingredients:
- ¼ oz expresso flavored syrup
- ¾ oz dark chocolate sauce
- Half-ounce Irish cream syrup
- 2 shots espresso
- Whipped cream to garnish (optional)
- 10 fl oz milk
- 14 oz serving glass
Method:
- Combine all the ingredients (except the milk) together in the serving glass
- Then, using your espresso machine, steam the milk in a pitcher
- Pour the steamed milk over the mixture in the serving glass, stirring gently to combine everything thoroughly
- Add whipped cream to garnish
Sugar-Free Iced Vanilla Hazelnut Latte
On a hot summer’s day, there’s nothing quite as welcome as a delicious, iced latte. It’s really simple to step up your drink by adding your favorite flavored syrup. And keep your coffee-craving guilt-free by using a sugar-free version. Enjoy.
Ingredients:
- ¾ oz sugar-free hazelnut syrup
- 4 oz half/half milk and water
- 2 oz espresso
- ¼ oz sugar-free vanilla syrup
- Ice
- Sugar-free whipped cream to garnish (optional)
- 14 oz serving glass
- Mixing beaker (a cocktail shaker will do fine for this)
Method:
- Fill your glass with ice
- Pour the ingredients into the mixing beaker in the order listed above.
- Add some ice from the serving glass
- Cap the beaker, shake well, and pour the mixture back into the serving glass
- Add the garnish if desired and serve
Wrapping it All Up
So, there you have it, everything you need to know about coffee syrups, the best ones on the market, and how to put them to use.
Of the syrups we reviewed, Miss Mary’s Sinless Syrups gets our vote. Not only are they delicious coffee syrups, but they’re entirely guilt-free. Of course, we also have to mention our love for Torani coffee syrups, as they have a really impressive range of flavors.
Whatever you choose, remember that the world is your oyster and with a good collection of syrups, you can create the coffee of your dreams!
Happy (syrup-flavored) caffeinating!