Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. With so many varying taste preferences and so many consumers – myself included! – the different coffee products are endless. From creamers to syrups to sweeteners, there are plenty of available options to make a perfect cup of coffee fitted to your taste buds.
If you prefer a syrup over a creamer for an extra flavor boost in your coffee, two brands that tend to stand out from the rest are Monin and Torani. Both companies provide multiple flavor selections and sweetened or unsweetened options to help you make that perfect taste and sweetness.
What Exactly Is Coffee Syrup?
Coffee syrup is used in coffee shops everywhere to create the specialized coffee drinks we have all heard of or may even enjoy consuming from time to time. While coffee syrup is known for adding sweetness and a punch of flavor to your coffee, it has become common for syrup companies to offer unsweetened options for those wanting to cut back on the sugar.
Today’s coffee syrup market offers a wide variety of flavors to choose from, some traditional and some not so much so. Whether you prefer a sweet French Vanilla flavoring, an unsweetened hazelnut, or maybe even a fruity twist, there are endless flavors to choose from to make the perfect cup of joe.
So, let’s explore two main brands that offer delicious coffee syrups for us coffee lovers.
Monin
Monin was founded in 1912 by Frenchman Georges Monin in Bourges, France. As an avid cook with a high appreciation for overall taste and flavor, Monin would frequently find himself in the kitchen whipping up a new flavor combination simply because he felt like it.
Monin’s quest for the perfect coffee syrup has a bit of an untraditional beginning. After discovering the cordial in his cabinet lacked flavor and needing an after-dinner drink to serve his guests, Monin decided it was time to take matters into his own hands and put his culinary skills to the test.
Through much trial and error, Monin finally created a flavor he believed was worth sharing. It combined vibrant fruits that brought endless amounts of flavor and color to the liquid.
By 1930, Monin started exporting products into Europe and the Caribbean. However, it wasn’t until 1945 that Paul Monin, Georges’ son, shifted production from cordials to syrups.
Flavors
Monin provides a wide variety of syrups to satisfy any desired taste, from organic to zero-calorie to full-flavored. Some trending full-flavored options include lavender, french vanilla, desert pear, sea salt caramel toffee, vanilla spice syrup, cold brew coffee concentrate, and spiced pumpkin puree.
The organic and zero-calorie options are more limited than the full-flavor alternatives but still offer caramel, hazelnut, raspberry, vanilla, and chocolate flavors. Monin is known to use simple, natural ingredients, making it a popular choice among health-conscious consumers.
Price Range
The full-flavored syrups range anywhere from $10 – 12 for varying-sized bottles. Like any other product that wears the organic label, Monin’s organic syrups come with a higher price tag as the cost of production increases with this particular product. The organic syrups range anywhere from $11.50 – 17 for varying-sized bottles. The zero-calorie options range from $11 – 13 and generally come in a smaller bottle.
Overall, Monin boasts a broad offering of flavors with varying sweetness and nutritional values. You can find Monin Coffee Syrups at retail grocery stores or purchase them online.
Torani
Torani’s syrup history began in 1925 when Rinaldo and Ezilda Torre created several hand-crafted syrups from recipes that originated in Lucca, Italy. The very first flavors made were Anisette, Grenadine, Lemon, Orgeat, and Tamarindo. The founders then exported the syrups to San Francisco, California, where they gained further recognition.
However, it wasn’t until 1982 that Torani’s focus switched to coffee syrups when vanilla-flavored syrup gained momentum with the first flavored latte. In 1994, Torani expanded into cafes and bars worldwide as the brand’s momentum continued to build.
Flavors
Like Monin, Torani offers a wide variety of syrup flavors and also provides sugar-free and pure-made options. Torani’s best sellers include peach, salted caramel, black cherry, french vanilla, vanilla, and sugar-free caramel.
Sugar-free and pure-made syrups come in various flavors, with the more traditional flavors being almond, hazelnut, caramel, Irish cream, and vanilla. The fruit-flavored syrups are also available in sugar-free options for those that prefer a fruit flavor to hazelnut or vanilla but still wish to cut back on the sugar. The more popular fruit flavors include orange, peach, mango, and pineapple.
Overall, Torani offers an impressive 150 flavor options for their coffee syrups and continues to push the limits to come up with the next big flavor.
Price Range
Regular and sugar-free syrups start at $8.79, and pure-made syrups start at $9.59 if ordered directly from the Torani website. All syrups typically come in 750ml glass bottles. One unique option Torani provides their customers is a pump for their syrup bottle for an additional $4.99.
Torani offers a competitive price point for their syrups and an endless flavor selection. However, the ingredients used to make the product may not be quite as appealing to health-conscious consumers, as corn syrup is a leading ingredient.
Final Thoughts
Both Monin and Torani have continued to flourish since their humble beginnings, and people worldwide love their syrups.
While both brands offer their unique flavors, Monin thinks outside the box regarding flavor options made from natural ingredients. You might want to go with Monin if you’re looking for an extraordinary flavor.
Torani has a better price point as their average cost per bottle is significantly less than Monin. Plus, most of their syrups come in glass bottles which is hard to pass up.
Whether you decide to go with Monin or Torani, you will not be disappointed as both brands offer a wide variety of flavors. You’re sure to find the product you need to take your coffee to the next level.
Happy (flavored) Caffeinating!
