Fall Flavor Continuum

Coffee has quickly become one of salted maple’s strongest stages, particularly as operators search for fall flavors that feel like a natural evolution beyond pumpkin spice. At Intelligentsia Coffee, headquartered in Chicago, the Smoked Salt Maple Latte blends espresso with maple syrup, steamed milk and a finishing sprinkle of smoked salt. The success of drinks like this reflects a broader shift, with salted maple appearing in lattes, cold brews and cold foams as either a complement to or replacement for pumpkin spice.

Concepts such as Sacramento, Calif.-based Pachamama Coffee Farmers lean into the flavor through organic salted maple lattes tied to regenerative sourcing, while Dialtone Coffee + Wine Bar in Chicago layers salted maple with cinnamon for a cozy but contemporary seasonal latte. Together, these drinks position salted maple as a fall flavor with longevity, not just a short-term seasonal experiment.