Coffee Syrup
Buying Guide
There’s something special about that first sip of coffee, but what if you could make it even better? That’s where coffee syrups come in. Syrups provide a convenient and versatile way to elevate the flavour and variety of your coffee based drinks, whether you're running a bustling café or simply looking to enhance your enjoyment of coffee at home.
From sweet classics like vanilla and caramel to more adventurous choices such as gingerbread, hazelnut or pumpkin spice, syrups offer endless possibilities for tailoring the coffee experience. Using the right flavour can transform a standard cup of coffee into something extraordinary, or provide the key ingredient to help you create a new and exciting drink option.
Understanding how to choose and use coffee syrups can make all the difference. So read on to find out more about these versatile ingredients and how to make the most of them.
What Are Coffee Syrups?
Coffee syrups are sweet, flavoured liquid additives used to enhance the taste of coffee and other drinks. They’re made from ingredients such as sugar or sweeteners, water and natural flavourings, and they dissolve easily into both hot and cold beverages. This makes it simple to add an extra touch of sweetness and flavour that you can adjust to your liking.
Why Use Flavoured Syrups?
Coffee syrups do more than just add flavour, they open up a world of possibilities for cafés and home coffee enthusiasts alike. Here are some key benefits that coffee syrups bring to the table:
Enhanced Flavour Variety
Coffee syrups let you introduce a variety of flavours without needing extra ingredients or complex recipes. From classic options to unique and interesting flavours, syrups provide a quick and easy way to offer something different.
Customisation and Personalisation
Coffee syrups allow customers to personalise their drinks, adjusting sweetness or creating new flavour combinations to suit their preferences. Whether a customer prefers a hint of caramel or a bold raspberry mocha, syrups make it easy to craft the perfect drink every time.
Seasonal and Limited-Time Offerings
Syrups make it simple to add seasonal favourites to your menu, such as Pumpkin Spice in autumn or Peppermint in winter, keeping things fresh and exciting for customers. Limited-time options create a sense of novelty and encourage customers to return to try the latest flavours.
Accommodating Dietary Preferences
Many syrup brands offer sugar-free, vegan, and organic options, which appeal to health-conscious customers and those with dietary restrictions. This flexibility means cafés and home brewers can cater to a wider range of preferences, allowing everyone to enjoy their favourite coffee flavours.
Increased Profitability for Businesses
For cafés, coffee shops and other businesses, offering flavoured drinks can boost profitability by adding high-margin items to the menu. With a simple pump or two of syrup, a standard coffee becomes a unique offering that customers are willing to pay a little extra for, making syrups a valuable addition to any café menu.
How to Use Coffee Syrup
Using coffee syrup is simple and can elevate your coffee drinks in just a few easy steps. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use coffee syrup:
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Make your coffee: Start with your base; pull your espresso and add hot water to your preference, or pour your brewed coffee into your cup.
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Choose your syrup: Pick a flavour that complements your coffee, such as vanilla, almond or gingerbread.
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Use a syrup pump or bottle: For consistent flavour, it’s helpful to use a syrup pump, which dispenses a standard amount (about 10-15 ml) with each press. Syrup drizzle bottles can also be used to give you more control over the amount, particularly for decorating the top of drinks with a finishing touch.
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Add the syrup: Typically, 1-2 pumps are enough for most coffee drinks. Iced coffee might benefit from 2-3 pumps to ensure the flavour shines through.
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Mix thoroughly: Stir or shake the syrup into the coffee to ensure it blends well and provides even flavour throughout the drink.
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Add milk or extras: Finish your drink with steamed milk, cream, or whipped toppings for that extra touch.
A World of Flavours: Choosing the Right Syrups
The variety of coffee syrup flavours available today allows both professionals and home users to create an endless range of delicious drinks. From classic choices to more unique options, selecting the right syrups is an effective way to enhance the coffee experience.
Popular Flavours
Classic flavours like Vanilla, Caramel, and Hazelnut are essential for any café or home coffee setup. These syrups pair well with a wide range of coffee drinks, making them versatile and easy to use. They complement everything from lattes and cappuccinos to frappes and iced coffees, adding a hint of sweetness without overpowering the coffee's natural taste.
For those who want to offer something a bit more indulgent, flavours like Salted Caramel, Gingerbread, and Irish Cream bring a richer, more luxurious taste to coffee. These options are perfect for those who enjoy a little extra flair in their drinks, turning an everyday cup into something special.
Offering a Range of Flavours
Having a mix of both classic and more adventurous flavours ensures there’s something for every customer. Offering a diverse selection including bolder choices such as Raspberry or Popcorn is a great way to add variety and make your menu truly unique. It allows customers to explore different flavour profiles while ensuring that fan favourites are always available.
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For cafés, it’s important to balance familiar flavours with unique ones to cater to a wide audience. Many customers prefer reliable classics, but others are drawn to new and exciting combinations. Including sugar-free options for popular flavours also appeals to those with dietary preferences or restrictions, broadening the appeal of your syrup offerings.
Seasonal and Trending Flavours
Introducing seasonal syrup flavours adds excitement to the menu throughout the year. During autumn, Pumpkin Spice is a favourite for its warming, spiced notes, making it a great addition to lattes and cappuccinos. In the winter, flavours like Gingerbread, Peppermint, and Cinnamon are popular choices that evoke the festive spirit and bring a seasonal twist to hot drinks.
Trending flavours such as Salted Caramel and Chai are increasingly popular in cafés and can be incorporated into both hot and iced drinks. Keeping up with these flavour trends helps ensure the menu remains fresh and appealing, encouraging customers to try something new and different.
Creative Drink Recipes Using Coffee Syrups
Coffee syrups offer endless opportunities to get creative with your coffee menu, whether you’re crafting hot or cold drinks. By experimenting with unique flavour combinations and using syrups as the key ingredient, you can offer your customers or guests a range of exciting drinks that go beyond the standard cup of coffee.
Salted Caramel Latte
A rich, creamy hot latte enhanced with the sweet and salty notes of salted caramel.
?Syrup Used: Salted Caramel
Vanilla & Hazelnut Mocha
A warm mocha with a perfect balance of chocolate, vanilla, and nutty hazelnut.
?Syrups Used: Vanilla, Hazelnut, Chocolate Sauce
Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino
A seasonal hot cappuccino with the comforting flavours of pumpkin spice.
?Syrup Used: Pumpkin Spice
Gingerbread Latte
A festive hot latte with the sweet, spiced flavours of gingerbread.
?Syrup Used: Gingerbread
Caramel Coconut Iced Coffee
A refreshing cold iced coffee with a tropical twist of coconut and caramel.
?Syrups Used: Caramel, Coconut
Irish Cream Iced Latte
A smooth cold iced latte with the indulgent taste of Irish Cream.
?Syrup Used: Irish Cream
Raspberry Mocha
A fruity twist on the classic mocha, combining rich chocolate with raspberry. Serve hot or cold.
?Syrup Used: Raspberry, Chocolate Sauce
Chai Vanilla Cold Brew
A spiced cold brew with chai and vanilla for a unique flavour combination.
?Syrups Used: Chai, Vanilla
Peppermint Iced Mocha
A cool and refreshing cold iced mocha with a minty kick from peppermint syrup.
?Syrups Used: Peppermint, Chocolate Sauce
Honeycomb & Cinnamon Latte
A cosy hot latte with the warm flavours of honeycomb and cinnamon.
?Syrups Used: Honeycomb, Cinnamon
Sugar-Free & Alternative Syrup Options
With growing awareness of health and dietary preferences, offering sugar-free and alternative syrup options has become essential in both cafés and home setups. These alternatives cater to customers who are looking for lower-calorie options or have specific dietary needs, without compromising on flavour.
Sugar-Free Syrups
Sugar-free syrups provide all the flavour of traditional syrups but without the added sugar. They are ideal for customers who are watching their sugar intake, such as those with diabetes or those following a low-calorie or low-carb diet.
Brands such as Simply and Monin offer a variety of sugar-free versions of popular flavours, including Vanilla, Caramel, and Hazelnut. These syrups use sweeteners such as sucralose or stevia to replicate the sweetness of sugar without the extra calories, making them a guilt-free option for flavouring coffee.
Vegan and Organic Syrups
For customers with dietary restrictions, vegan and organic syrups are an excellent choice. Many syrups are naturally vegan, but it’s always worth confirming that they don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients, especially for those who strictly follow plant-based diets.
Organic syrups are another option for customers who prefer to consume natural, pesticide-free products. These syrups are often made with organic cane sugar and natural flavourings, ensuring a clean and wholesome flavour experience.
Catering to a Broader Customer Base
By offering sugar-free, vegan, and organic alternatives, you cater to a much wider range of customers. Health-conscious individuals, those with dietary restrictions, and customers who follow specific lifestyles (such as keto or vegan) will appreciate having options that align with their needs.
This inclusivity not only helps to broaden your customer base but also enhances customer loyalty, as people are more likely to return when they feel their preferences and health considerations are valued.
The Best Coffee Syrup Brands
When it comes to finding the perfect coffee syrup, it helps to know a bit about the brands that bring these flavours to life. Each brand has its own unique style, from classic, reliable options to bold, creative flavours.
Whether you’re after a trusted favourite or looking to try something new, the right brand can make all the difference in every cup. Here’s a closer look at some of the top brands that PureGusto offers to help you find your perfect match.
Simply Syrups
Simply Syrups are known for their natural ingredients, value and extensive variety of flavours. With options ranging from classics like Vanilla and Caramel to more adventurous choices such as Popcorn and Toasted Marshmallow, Simply Syrups offer great flexibility for cafés wanting to experiment with their menu. Their sugar-free alternatives also cater to a broader customer base. Simply’s reliability and range have made it a trusted name in cafés, allowing businesses to confidently offer both standard and creative beverages.
Monin Syrups
Monin is a globally recognised brand with a reputation for high-quality, premium syrups. For over a century, Monin has built its name on authenticity and the rich, intense flavours of its syrups. Their diverse range includes staples like Hazelnut and Vanilla, alongside exotic flavours like Coconut and Pistachio, ensuring something for every customer. Monin’s strong brand reputation gives cafés a distinct edge, providing customers with familiar and highly regarded flavour choices. Monin’s sugar-free options also appeal to health-conscious customers, further enhancing its appeal.
1883 Maison Routin
1883 Maison Routin syrups are synonymous with sophistication and gourmet quality. These French-made syrups, known for their rich and natural taste, are perfect for high-end cafés looking to offer more refined drinks. The brand’s long-standing history and emphasis on quality craftsmanship make it a top choice for businesses looking to offer something truly special to their customers, such as the delicious Chocolate Orange syrup, made as a collaboration with Terrys.
Sweetbird Syrups
Sweetbird has become a popular choice, particularly for cafés focused on sustainability and ethical production. Known for being vegan-approved and free from artificial additives, Sweetbird syrups stand out for their commitment to health and environmental considerations. Their range includes everything from Caramel to more unique flavours like Chai and Raspberry. With Sweetbird’s growing reputation in ethical sourcing, offering their syrups can enhance a café’s appeal to a customer base that values sustainability.
Best Practices for Using and Storing Syrups
To get the most out of your coffee syrups, it's important to follow best practices in both usage and storage. Proper handling not only ensures the syrups maintain their vibrant flavour but also extends their shelf life, helping you manage inventory efficiently.
Optimal Use of Syrups
To maintain consistent flavour in every drink, use syrup pumps or dispensers, which provide an accurate measurement of syrup with each pump. This ensures that your drinks are perfectly balanced, and helps you avoid overuse, reducing both waste and overly sweet beverages. Typically, 1-2 pumps (about 15-30ml) of syrup is sufficient for most drinks, but this can be adjusted based on customer preferences or drink size.
When experimenting with flavours, especially when combining multiple syrups, it’s best to start with small amounts and gradually increase until you find the right balance. This method helps prevent overwhelming the drink’s natural coffee flavour and allows you to create more refined, enjoyable blends.
Storing Syrups for Maximum Freshness
To keep your coffee syrups fresh and flavourful for as long as possible, it’s essential to store them properly. Syrups should be kept in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Although syrups do not need to be refrigerated, ensuring that the bottles are tightly sealed after each use will help prevent contamination and maintain quality.
For opened syrups, it’s recommended to use them within 6 to 12 months, depending on the brand and type of syrup. Regularly check for changes in flavour, colour, or consistency as these can indicate the syrup is nearing the end of its shelf life. In busy cafés, rotating your stock and keeping track of usage dates will ensure you’re always serving syrups at their freshest.
Handling Syrup Dispensers
If you’re using syrup pumps or dispensers, it’s important to clean them regularly to avoid any build-up that could affect the syrup’s flavour. Pumps should be rinsed with warm water between flavour changes and cleaned thoroughly at the end of each day in high-use environments. This practice ensures that your syrups remain uncontaminated and hygienic for every use.
Find A Full Range Of Premium Flavoured Coffee Syrups
Coffee syrups bring variety and creativity to any coffee experience, whether in a café or at home. Offering a diverse range of flavours and following best practices for storage and use ensures that your drinks consistently stand out.
At PureGusto, we are proud to be a trusted supplier of top coffee syrup brands such as Monin, Simply and 1883 Maison Routin. With discounts available on bulk orders, our wide selection covers everything from popular flavours like Vanilla, Caramel, and Hazelnut to more creative and seasonal options like Gingerbread and Pumpkin Spice. We also offer a range of sugar-free and vegan-friendly syrups to cater to customers with specific dietary needs.
Browse our extensive range and start adding extra creativity to your menu today.
FAQs About Coffee Syrups
How Much Syrup Should I Use In Coffee?
The amount of syrup to use depends on the size of the drink and personal taste preferences. As a general guideline, for a standard-sized drink (250ml), 1 to 2 pumps of syrup (approximately 15-30ml) is recommended.
For stronger flavour or larger drinks, you can add more syrup, adjusting the sweetness and flavour to your liking. For iced drinks, it’s common to use an extra pump to ensure the flavour shines through in the chilled beverage.
What Is The Shelf Life Of Coffee Syrups, And How Should I Store Them?
Unopened coffee syrups typically have a long shelf life of 12 to 24 months, depending on the brand. Once opened, it’s best to use them within 6 to 12 months for the best flavour and quality.
Syrups should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. There’s no need to refrigerate them after opening; just ensure the cap or pump is securely closed to avoid contamination and preserve freshness.
Are Coffee Syrups Healthier Than Creamers?
The health aspects of using syrup versus creamer depend on the type and brand you choose. Coffee syrups typically add sweetness and flavour but don’t contain the fats and creaminess found in creamers. However, syrups do contain sugar unless opting for sugar-free versions.
Many syrup brands, including those available from PureGusto, offer sugar-free alternatives, which can be a healthier option for those looking to cut back on sugar. Creamers often add extra calories and fat, so if you’re mindful of your calorie intake, choosing a sugar-free syrup could be a better option. Always check the nutritional labels to see what fits your dietary needs.
