Mani Meets Coffee was born out of a love for catch-ups over lattes. We (Kristen + Sadie!) love nothing more than throwing on a cute fit, meeting up at a coffee shop and yapping about anything and everything under the sun—with cute manis too, obviously. We’ve bopped around so many different coffee shops and tried a variety of lattes that we feel more than qualified to recommend our favs. These are our must-have latte picks you have to try before the year is up!
Kristen’s Picks
Classic Latte
You can’t go wrong with a classic! My go-to latte order of choice? A simple almond milk latte. I enjoy mine both hot and cold, but now that we’re inching towards fall—I’ve swapped my iced latte for hot. Sipping on steamed milk and espresso is such a treat, especially when paired with a scone from maman. When Sadie and I cozied up to the bakery counter, the blueberry and thyme scone looked so delicious, I knew I had to have it. If you’ve never paired a scone with a hot latte, please allow me to put you on! Scones are meant to be paired with a warm drink—try taking a bite of scone, and immediately follow it up with a sip of a warm latte. You’ll be in heaven, trust me.
Bee Sting Latte
Sipping on a hot bee sting latte from Sunday Morning Bakehouse at Pike & Rose gives cozy fall vibes all year-round. It’s one of my favorites! Consisting of milk, honey and cinnamon, a bee sting latte is the perfect choice if you like your coffees not too sweet, but still with a bit of flavor. I generally prefer my coffee without sweeteners, but this one certainly hits the spot. Some bee sting lattes contain a dash of cayenne for an extra kick, but Sunday Morning Bakehouse’s version is cozy and tame, no extra spice needed. This specialty drink has a permanent spot on their menu, and it’s perfect for the upcoming fall and holiday season.
Sadie’s Picks
Hot Honey Lavender Latte
As far as lavender lattes go, maman’s (Bethesda Row) Honey Lavender Latte is one of the best I have ever had. This is one of my go-to lattes. Unlike some flavored syrups, it tastes fresh, not artificial. Plus, I really enjoy maman’s espresso by itself. It’s smooth and not too bitter. If you ask, the barista will give you a sprig of lavender on top to make it aesthetic.
Steal my order by pairing it with an Everything But the Bagel croissant. This combo is elite because it is the perfect combo of sweet and savory. It sounds slightly less exciting than the other options they have in their bakery area, but I think this is secretly the best pastry they have.
Iced Blueberry Matcha Latte
Matcha isn’t just a summer drink anymore. The girlies are drinking it all year-round. Plus, who doesn’t love a berry-flavored beverage? If you find one– please let me know where to get one This Blueberry Matcha from Joe & the Juice at Bethesda Row is delightfully bursting with flavor. The berry syrup and the matcha pair really well together, and the colors are bright and beautiful. Stirring the matcha and watching the colors blend together was so satisfying! I got this with the Spicy Tuna sandwich, and it was such a fun pairing.
Iced Banana Milk Hojicha
I was initially skeptical about the new specialty drink at Sunday Morning Bakehouse in Pike & Rose, but the barista explained that hojicha is a roasted green tea, similar to matcha but darker and slightly more bitter. It still had a hint of that matcha-like powdery texture, though it didn’t linger. Since banana lattes are trending, I decided to try the banana hojicha — and it completely exceeded my expectations. The banana added just the right amount of sweetness, perfectly balancing the roasted flavor of the tea. I paired it with a blackberry pistachio croissant, which was just as delicious. Next time, I’d go for something more savory to offset the sweetness, but both are absolutely worth trying.
