Got flavored milk? Chicago cafes, restaurants are deliciously embracing this beverage trend

Chicago Sun Times / by Lisa Shames / May 21, 2025

Years back, I mistakenly grabbed a pumpkin spice latte instead of my usual drip coffee from a popular chain. Its cloying sweetness and strange artificial flavor made me swore I’d never have a flavored coffee again, accident or otherwise. Recently, however, my coffee-purist eyes were opened to how delicious these drinks can be when done thoughtfully.

Spend any time on Instagram or walking around trendy areas and you can’t help but notice people holding coffee drinks of various hues. Purple, red and yellow, along with the signature green of matcha have become part of our favorite morning beverages. Multicolored caffeinated drinks are a thing too, with each layer suspended above the other until that first sip. Some baristas are using chef techniques to infuse the milk itself; others take a similar culinary approach for their nuanced syrups, when allow them to meet the increasing demand for dairy alternatives. Read More Here.