Fall in love with Rooted Coffeehouse drinks

The drinks at Rooted Coffeehouse can satisfy the fall flavor cravings. (photo by Mikaela Graf)

By Mikaela Graf | Social media editor

As seasons change, so do our favorite flavor profiles. Rooted Coffeehouse in Evans, Ga. has already jumped mug first into fall with their series of seasonal beverages.

Their specialty menu includes a total of six drinks, four of which are included in this review.

1. Pumpkin Spice Latte:

The pumpkin spice latte is a staple of fall culture, and Rooted keeps it classic by adding a housemade pumpkin spice syrup to their signature latte and topping it with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice. This drink has a rich and smooth flavor that delivers the traditional seasoning while maintaining enough taste of espresso. Rather than overpowering the base, the spices add a subtle, complimentary flavor for those who want to enjoy an essence of fall without sacrificing the coffee aspect. This drink delivered everything I expected, but not much else. It was a good drink, but when compared to the others I tried, it did not stand out. Perhaps in a ranking against other pumpkin spice lattes, it would have ranked higher, but as far as Rooted’s specialty menu goes, there are better-tasting options.

Rank: 6/10

2. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew:

If you prefer your coffee cold and pumpkin spice powerful, then the pumpkin cream cold brew may be a better choice. The base for this drink is a housemade pumpkin spice cold brew that is enhanced with a topping of deliciously sweet pumpkin cold foam. This combination creates a flavor that is reminiscent of a whipped cream-topped slice of pumpkin pie, bringing back memories of fall feasts and sneaky second helpings. The smooth, mild taste of cold brew still shines through the seasonal spices, though, and mixes well with the creamy cold foam. In my opinion, this drink was a step up from the latte. The double pumpkin spice delivered a much more prominent taste, and the cold brew itself tasted fresh and sweet. The cold foam was the star of the show, though, so if you are going to try it, make sure to get some in every sip. Still, it was not as good as some of the other drinks I tried.

Rank: 8/10

3. S’mores Latte:

Fall is not only about pumpkins and their seasoning. When some people think of the season, they picture cool nights warmed by a fire and sweetened with a toasted marshmallow. The s’mores latte combines Rooted’s housemade vanilla syrup, mocha, and white mocha to create a rich, sweet latte. The real s’mores flavor comes from the toppings that include whip, crushed graham cracker, and mini toasted marshmallows. If you are not a fan of immensely sweet coffee, this is not the drink for you. I, however, prefer my coffee extra sugary, so I enjoyed the flavor that felt closer to a hot chocolate than a latte. It truly tasted like a s’more to me, and the only thing that I did not like about this drink was how the graham cracker crumbs turned soggy and fell to the bottom of the cup. Every sip was enjoyable until the last five or so because of this.

Rank: 8/10

4. Apple Crisp Refresher:

Apples are another important staple of the season, and this drink puts a unique spin on the classic apple cider. Served cold, the apple crisp refresher starts with an apple juice base and includes digestion-aiding aloe, assorted freeze-dried fruit. If you do not want to have coffee but still want any energy boost, you are in the right place, because this drink also has 160 mg of plant-based caffeine. Holding true to its name, the drink is crisp, refreshing, and full of apple flavor. The refresher was my personal favorite by far. As someone who prefers cold beverages over hot and apple flavor over pumpkin spice, I was excited to see this option on the menu. By taste alone, it came close to a 10, but I think there is still some room for improvement. This drink contains almost twice the amount of caffeine as an 8 oz cup of coffee or tea, and while you can reduce it by 100 mg by removing the unflavored shot, the remaining 60 mg comes from a flavored shot that would affect the overall taste if removed. There are people who do not or can not consume caffeine, and it would be nice to have a caffeine-free option, so more people can enjoy the unmatched flavor that this drink brings to the table.

Rank: 9/10

The salted caramel cold brew and snickerdoodle iced americano were not included in this review but are still offered on the seasonal menu for those who wish to try them.

Contact Mikaela Graf at mgraf@augusta.edu.

This story is published in the Monday, Oct. 3, 2022 print edition of The Bell Ringer on page 4.