4 New Year Specialty Coffee Drinks for Cafés

When cafés refresh their menus for the Lunar New Year, they often turn to festive flavors—but not all seasonal drinks are created equal. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into those pink-hued lattes or spiced teas behind the counter, here’s the full breakdown of four real drinks currently served in Chinese cafés, with every syrup, milk, and tea measurement accounted for.

These four drinks—Sakura Moment, Hazelnut Almond Tea Latte, Caramel Coconut Latte, and Fruity Cinnamon Tea—use between 10ml and 160ml of specific syrups, milks, and brewed teas, with clear layering and prep steps. Below, we break down each recipe, method, and key ingredient ratio.

Sakura Moment

This pink-hued layered latte combines floral and tart notes for a spring-like caffeine experience. It’s built in a standard latte cup with precise amounts of flavored syrups, steamed milk, cream, and foam.

• 15ml Sakura (cherry blossom) syrup
• 10ml Grenadine (red plum) syrup
• 100ml hot milk
• 80ml heavy cream
• (generous layer of milk foam)

To assemble: Pour the syrups directly into the cup. Add the hot milk and cream. Top with milk foam.

Hazelnut Almond Tea Latte

A nutty twist on the classic tea latte, this drink blends hazelnut and bitter almond flavors with black tea and steamed milk. It skips the espresso, making it a lighter option for non-coffee drinkers.

• 15ml Hazelnut syrup
• 10ml Bitter almond syrup
• 160ml hot milk
• 60ml strong black tea

Method: Add both syrups to the cup. Pour in the milk. Finish with the hot black tea poured on top.

Caramel Coconut Latte

This tropical-meets-dessert drink layers coconut, caramel, and espresso for a rich yet fruity profile. It uses a full shot of espresso alongside syrups and steamed milk.

• 15ml Coconut syrup
• 10ml Caramel sauce
• 160ml hot milk
• 60ml espresso (or coffee)

Steps: Combine syrups in the cup. Add milk. Pour coffee over the top.

Fruity Cinnamon Tea

A spiced apple tea with sweet and tangy syrup layers, this non-caffeinated drink features green apple, mango, and warm cinnamon. It’s built in a teapot rather than a cup.

• 15ml Green apple syrup
• 10ml Spicy mango syrup
• 6 apple slices
• A pinch of ground cinnamon
• 200ml hot black tea

Preparation: Add syrups, fruit slices, and cinnamon to the teapot. Pour hot black tea over everything. Serve hot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sakura Moment drink made of?

The Sakura Moment consists of 15ml sakura syrup, 10ml grenadine, 100ml hot milk, 80ml heavy cream, and a generous layer of milk foam. All ingredients except the foam are layered into a latte cup in that order.

Do the Hazelnut Almond Tea Latte and Caramel Coconut Latte contain espresso?

The Hazelnut Almond Tea Latte does not contain espresso—it uses 160ml milk and 60ml black tea. The Caramel Coconut Latte includes 60ml of coffee (likely espresso) along with 160ml milk and flavored syrups.

Which drink is caffeine-free?

The Fruity Cinnamon Tea is the only caffeine-free option. It’s made with green apple syrup, spicy mango syrup, apple slices, cinnamon, and 200ml hot black tea, served from a teapot.

How much milk is used in the Sakura Moment?

The Sakura Moment uses 100ml of hot milk along with 80ml of heavy cream and a topping of milk foam. The syrups are added first, then the milk and cream, and finally the foam.

What syrup flavors are in the Fruity Cinnamon Tea?

This drink uses green apple syrup and spicy mango syrup, along with fresh apple slices, a pinch of cinnamon, and 200ml of hot black tea. It’s assembled in a teapot.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Festive Lattes

For these syrup-forward New Year drinks, pair them with FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Huakui for bright floral notes that complement sakura flavors, or their Yirgacheffe for a juicy citrus lift that works well with nutmeg and spice. The Classic Blend also offers a balanced medium roast base ideal for milk drinks like the Caramel Coconut Latte. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.