The Best Fall Coffee Drinks in Sacramento Right Now (That Aren’t a Pumpkin Spice Latte)

In California’s capital city, flavors of apple, miso, ginger, and carrot reign in 6 cafés’ autumn-inspired beverages.

BY SONORA SLATER
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Featured photo by Stephen Leonardi. All other photos by Sonora Slater.

There’s something about fall flavors that mark the start of the cozy season better than almost anything else: That first bite of homemade pumpkin bread or sip of a savory soup can signal a shift into autumn even before the weather can catch up—especially in Sacramento, where fall weather is notorious for arriving late.

For coffee lovers, that means refreshing the Instagram page of your favorite local café the second that September hits, hoping their seasonal menu will shift from strawberry and coconut to pumpkin spice. And no disrespect is intended towards fall coffee’s best marketing agent—but in case you’re looking for a nostalgic, comforting, caffeinated sip that isn’t a PSL, we’ve compiled a list of the best fall coffee drinks in California’s capital city that are a little more adventurous in their exploration of autumn flavors. 

Milka Coffee Roasters: Apple Hill Latte

My first fall coffee stop every September is Milka Coffee Roasters on G St., and it’s for one specific reason: their Apple Hill Latte. Technically, the drink remains on their menu year-round, a decision made by the café after customers revolted when they tried to remove it at the end of the fall season years back. But the drink just hits different in the ‘ber months—as owner Sameer Benouar put it, “It gets its moment to shine in the fall and winter.”

The drink, which is made by steeping locally-sourced “Apple Hill” tea bags as a simple syrup, tastes like sipping cider on the first chilly day of autumn. The atmosphere of the café makes the experience even better, tucked inside an old Victorian house with wide windows allowing visitors to catch a glimpse of the City of Trees’ colorful leaves while they stay warm inside.

Sameer recommends coming with a group of friends to get the Apple Hill Latte, the Apple Hill Chai, and the cranberry spice Rosemary’s Baby latte—“almost like a tasting menu!”

Casa Flores Coffee: Brown Sugar Pumpkin Cortado

On the outside, Casa Flores Coffee, which opened in November of 2025, is designed for the spring. They offer a build-your-own-bouquet station daily, have tiny flowers preserved in the resin tops of their tables, and generally exude a sunny spirit. But they’re taking their first official fall season in stride with quite the line-up of seasonal beverages—the highlight of which is their Brown Sugar Pumpkin Cortado.

The drink is incredibly smooth and balances its sweetness perfectly with the strength of the beans, which are roasted locally at Anchor & Tree. The flavor of the pumpkin cold foam complements the brown sugar without being overpowering, layering beautifully into a miniature, creative taste of the fall season.

Concept Coffee: Miso Apple Caramel Latte

More and more coffee shops are experimenting with the combination of cocktail ingredients and techniques and coffee flavors, and the always-hip Concept Coffee is no exception.

Their Miso Apple Caramel Latte, otherwise known as the MAC, is a drink like none other, made with house-made caramel sauce and green apple syrup, along with espresso and milk, served in a cocktail glass and garnished with miso powder and dehydrated apple. It’s definitely a decadent treat, with a true sour bite that you won’t find in many coffee drinks. Their butterbeer-inspired sparkling Americano is another standout, topped with vanilla cold foam and toffee sprinkles.

Anchor & Tree: Harvest Candy Apple Pourover

As usual, no one’s doing it quite like Anchor & Tree, and their menu this season is packed especially full of creative, experimental drinks. Their autumn pourover bar is a stand-out segment of the menu—particularly their Harvest Candy Apple Co-Fermentation, prepared with beans that were fermented alongside fruits and flavors to give them notes of caramel apple, peach, herbal tea, and guanabana. Not packed with sugar or overpowered by milk, the coffee, served black, is nevertheless packed with flavor: the perfect companion for the overcast days that legend has it will eventually descend upon Sacramento.

If you do want something a little sweeter, Anchor & Tree’s Whiskey Business cold brew, Live Laugh Lychee Americano, or Caramel-Cinnamon Soursop Apple Hill Latte are a few of their other non-PSL fall drinks to give you a new and fresh sip of fall.

Temple Coffee: Gingersnap Latte

This year, Temple Coffee is celebrating 20 years in business, and that means they’re going all-out for fall with a wide array of warm and nostalgic seasonal flavors. The arguably best fall coffee drink on their menu is one that’s been a returning fan-favorite for years: the Gingersnap Latte.

Infused with house-made syrup, rimmed with vanilla whip, and sprinkled with chai-sugar, the drink tastes exactly like the first warm bite of a spiced Christmas cookie, heralding rainy days, colorful leaves, and chilly early mornings with a wholly original, decadently delicious sip.

Camp Cove: Carrot Cake Latte

Another returning fan favorite, the Carrot Cake Latte at Camp Cove has been a request from the café’s regulars since it temporarily vanished last spring. Camp Cove—known for their Honeycomb Cold Brew and Caprese Matcha—is no stranger to out-of-the-box ingredients, so it’s safe to say that, when it comes to original flavors, they know how to dial them in just right.

The Carrot Cake Latte is topped with a lightly sweet cream cheese cold foam and dusted with spice, and, arguably even better, the cold brew form of the drink offers a great bitter balance, serving up a less-rich fall drink perfect for the person in your friend group without as much of a sweet tooth, who still wants to experience an autumnal beverage.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sonora Slater is a barista and freelance writer in the Sacramento region with a focus on arts and culture, travel, and what makes a place special. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring her city, trying to grow vegetables, or rewatching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You can find more of her work at sonoraslater.com.

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