Coffee Shop

Winter Menu Ideas

Is there anything more appealing than the aroma of good, real coffee wafting out from a cafe on a cold day? Whether you've been for a long crisp weekend walk or are speeding through your daily commute, the smell of freshly roasted coffee beans always raises a smile.

And it makes sense, even that moment of cradling a perfectly made hot coffee in your hands is enough to boost your energy, give you a precious moment of 'me-time' and even potentially benefit your health.

So if you're running a coffee shop or cafe, autumn and winter is the ideal time to create delicious coffee ideas to entice customers through the door for a welcome, affordable treat. This is the perfect season to enjoy those wonderful flavours, spices, sweet additions and toppings that transform a cup of regular coffee into something pretty magical.

Here are some of our favourite recipes to give you a little inspiration this season!

Browse The Full Coffee Range Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Why We Love It

Pumpkin spice latte is perhaps the drink that first comes to mind when we think of autumn. Crunchy leaves, sparkling lanterns, decorative pumpkins and crisp, fresh days that merge into the Christmas run-up... some people are so passionate about this seasonal favourite that social media abounds with pumpkin spice latte memes as soon as the summer holidays are over!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

To make your pumpkin spice latte:

Add a shot of espresso and a dash of pumpkin spice syrup or a tablespoon of pumpkin spice powder to a small pan or jug, along with 250 ml of milk (dairy or plant-based). Add in a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of maple syrup to taste.

Heat or steam it up until the milk froths, and pour it into a tall mug. This classic drink is lovely finished with a squirt of whipped cream, a little cinnamon sugar and perhaps even a drizzle of caramel sauce.

White Hot Chocolate

Why We Love It

This is a beautiful twist on classic hot chocolate and it's often a real favourite with kids. The white chocolate brings an extra touch of luxury, and it can be topped in a number of ways for a great looking and great tasting drink.

White Hot Chocolate

To make your white hot chocolate:

Warm up a heatproof glass or mug, and heat 200ml of milk in a pan until it's steaming. Put 100g of chopped white chocolate, or a scoop of white chocolate powder into the mug, and a little vanilla syrup.

Pour over the milk and stir until the chocolate has dissolved. To serve, add toppings that appeal - perhaps a few colourful marshmallows or sugar sprinkles for younger customers, or those who plan to share this pretty creation on Insta!

Gingerbread Latte

Why We Love It

This creamy, sweet and spicy drink can be served with espresso, or made without for a caffeine-free option. It's like gingerbread in a mug - and absolutely calls out for one or two little mini gingerbread biscuits on the side!

Gingerbread Latte

To make your gingerbread latte:

Mix together half a teaspoon each of cinnamon and ground nutmeg along with a generous drizzle of gingerbread syrup. Heat 200 ml of whole or half milk with the spices and a couple of tablespoons of soft brown sugar.

Whisk in a dash of vanilla extract to taste and a shot or two of hot espresso. Top with whipped cream and your spice blend of choice.

Peppermint Mocha

Why We Love It

This drink is particularly popular in the States and it's a real Christmas favourite. It combines the rich and creamy goodness of a mocha, with a seasonal peppermint twist. Again, a great one for families as you can serve it with or without coffee.

Peppermint Mocha

To make your peppermint mocha:

Start by creating a rich syrup by combining 3 tablespoons of chocolate powder with a splash of hot water. Pour into a tall mug or glass, and add a shot of espresso if needed, and a dash of peppermint syrup to taste.

Add 200ml of steamed milk and top with whipped cream and red and green sugar stars - before serving with a colourful red candy cane on the side. Voila, Christmas in a cup!

Eggnog Latte

Why We Love It

All of the flavour and seasonal feels, with a kick! This flavoursome drink is really easy to make, and it's a cheeky 'hard' drink to enjoy on a cold day when you need to warm up.

Eggnog Latte

To make your eggnog latte:

Pour an espresso shot into a large glass with 100ml of milk, and top with 100ml of steamed, frothed milk. If you’re not using an espresso machine to steam your milk, you can heat in a pan and whisk.

Next add 150 ml of advocaat and a dash of eggnog syrup, and stir gently. If you want to serve a non-alcoholic version, you can forgo the advocaat and add a little more syrup. To finish, sprinkle it with cinnamon and nutmeg. Delicious!

Chestnut Praline Mocha

Why We Love It

This might be a more unusual seasonal addition to your menu, but customers will love the different combinations in this wonderful coffee treat. It tastes like dessert, has all of the indulgences you want in your winter coffee, and is surprisingly easy to make.

Chestnut Praline Mocha

To make your chestnut praline mocha:

Start by steaming 200ml of milk and froth it to create lots of bubbles. Make two shots of espresso and pour them into a latte glass over a tablespoon of chocolate powder, mixing into a paste.

Next add the steamed milk and pour in 2 tablespoons of chestnut praline syrup. Top with a few pecans toasted gently in a pan with brown sugar and butter. Absolutely moreish!

Winter Spice Cappuccino

Why We Love It

There are a few different ways to make this chai-inspired cappuccino, which brings steamed milk and warming spices to your traditional coffee.

Winter Spice Cappuccino

To make your winter spice cappuccino:

If you want to make your own chai mixture, combine 2 cinnamon sticks, 5 crushed cardamom pods and 2 star anise in a pan with 2 litres of water. Simmer them very gently until the liquid reduces by half, before straining the mix and discarding solid spices. Alternatively, there are some great chai mixes available which are packed with flavour and are incredibly convenient to use.

Place a shot of espresso into your cappuccino cup and add some of your spice mix or a tablespoon of your choice of chai powder and mix together. Fill the cup two thirds of the way with steamed milk, then top with milk foam. You can then finish with a sprinkle of chocolate or cinnamon powder, using a festive themed stencil for an extra seasonal touch.

Salted Caramel Iced Coffee

Why We Love It

This dessert-in-a-mug goes frosty! It also uses the power of salt to bring out the sweetness of the caramel. Add it to your menu for a twist on the traditional hot drink and you'll entice a whole new group of customers.

Salted Caramel Iced Coffee

To make your salted caramel iced coffee:

Take a blender jug and add half a cup of ice. Next, make two shots of espresso and pour into your blender, along with 200 ml of cold milk, a pinch of salt, and a generous drizzle of salted caramel syrup. Blend everything together and pour into a tall glass or drinking jar. Add whipped cream to the top, then drizzle with caramel syrup or caramel sauce.

If you want to be a bit extra and make your own caramel sauce for the topping in-house, combine 75ml water and 250g of sugar in a heavy-bottomed pan. Heat it until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to boil. Let it then boil on medium-low heat for up to ten minutes until you have a deep amber caramel. When the dark amber colour appears, take your caramel off the heat immediately as it can easily burn. Stir in a knob of butter, a pinch of salt, and 150ml of cream. Then decant to a squeezy bottle and store in the fridge, ready to top your coffee and other drinks.

Irish Coffee

Why We Love It

This decadent drink is a traditional finish to a meal, but it's also a worthy treat on your menu, for anyone who fancies a kick after 3 pm. After all, if you've just taken on Christmas shopping on the high street, you deserve something restorative! It's also very easy to make and only requires a few ingredients.

Irish Coffee

To make your Irish coffee:

Pour 150ml of freshly brewed black coffee into a heatproof glass or mug, and add 50 ml of Irish whiskey plus a teaspoon of brown sugar to taste.

Stir the hot drink until the sugar dissolves and then float a couple of tablespoons of double cream on the top, before adding a little sprinkle of grated nutmeg. Serve immediately.

Spiced Cinnamon Latte

This is one of those wonderfully simple recipes that creates a deceptively rich and complex finish. It's basically a twist on a classic latte, so use the best beans and barista techniques to perfect your finish.

Spiced Cinnamon Latte

To make your cinnamon latte:

Start by making a shot or two of espresso in a tall latte glass. Add some cinnamon syrup to a jug of milk and steam until hot and velvety. Once heated, pour the cinnamon infused milk into the glass and spoon out some froth on the top. Finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon and serve immediately. A shortbread biscuit on the side is a delicious addition to this drink.

As a variation on this recipe, you can add a cinnamon stick, green cardamom pods and some cloves to half a litre of milk in a pan. Heat until the milk comes to the boil and then set it aside for a couple of minutes for the spices to infuse before straining them out and pouring the spiced milk over your coffee. You can experiment with flavourings that allow you to create your own custom seasonal latte blends!

Creating Your Own In-House Special

With a little experimentation, you can make your own unique and delicious coffee drinks that will give you a reputation for innovation. Why not ask your customers to give you ideas for flavours and infusions they would like to experience?

You could take ideas from how coffee is prepared around the world too, and run a Christmas social media campaign where you experiment with new recipes and share the results. For example:

In Korea, coffee is served layered and whipped. Also called Korean Dalgona coffee, it only uses four ingredients - and a lot of aeration! Weirdly, this one only works with instant - you'll need 3 tbsps of instant coffee, the same amounts of sugar and hot water, plus 150ml of milk and a touch of pure vanilla. Warm the milk and pour it into glasses and then whip the coffee, sugar and hot water with an immersion blender for 5 minutes until it's frothy. Pour over the milk for an ombre effect and serve immediately.

Moroccan coffee is highly spiced and involves grinding coffee beans with cloves, cardamom pods, freshly grated nutmeg, black pepper and ginger. You then make the coffee as usual, and add hot milk and sweetener to taste.

Italian Affogato is the easiest dessert ever and a wonderful way of enjoying coffee in the afternoon or evening, especially after food. The trick to success is to chill a tall glass before adding a scoop of top-quality vanilla ice cream. Pour over a shot of espresso or a measure of strong brewed/pressed coffee, and sprinkle the dessert with chocolate flakes. You won't believe how incredible this simple combination is, and it's an absolute winner in a busy cafe where time is of the essence!

Tips For Serving Up Memorable Holiday Coffees

Remember the details

Get your festive coffees right and your cafe will be all over social media with enticing images! Focus on the details, such as high-quality drinking glasses or hand-thrown china mugs. A pretty display of serving dishes with mini marshmallows, cinnamon sugar and bright silver spoons looks wonderful in-store, and helps get customers in the mood to try your winter menu.

Add extra touches

Customers love thoughtful touches so add little extras such as a pretty napkin, handmade chocolate truffle or a mini Christmas gingerbread man. A sweet treat on the side such as a small cookie or freshly baked shortbread can really enhance the experience.

Get creative with toppings

Toppings are your friend when you want to create delicious drinks that will blow your customers away. From drizzles and sauces to marshmallows, sprinkles, biscuits and more, get creative with your toppings for show stopping festive treats.

Reward your customers

Why not also introduce a loyalty card so that your regular customers can enjoy free drinks, which is a great way to help them experience your seasonal menu. With the enticing options on offer, and busy high streets, you’ll probably attract some new customers over the season, so give them a reason to keep coming back in the new year.

Offer tasty add-ons

Remember to invest in lots of lovely fresh bakes so that you can make suggestions for coffee and cake pairings for the season... espresso and dark hazelnut chocolate brownie anyone? Spiced Turkish coffee with a slice of sticky orange and honey cake? The right add-ons mean happy customers, and more sales for your business!

Use quality ingredients

It goes without saying that if you want to make the best coffee drinks around, you need to start with a solid foundation of great quality coffee. Use premium roasted coffee beans, like the award winning options available at PureGusto, and your customers will appreciate the difference.