At Isle of Us, a colorful, cozy all-day café located on New York City’s Upper East Side, the focaccia is crispy, the brownies are gooey, and the seasonal lattes aren’t just gimmicks designed for Instagram. Caffeinated, spicy, and just a little sweet, the Cardamom Maple Latte is the star of the fall hot drink menu. Think of it as the perfect companion to power through a few hours of work, or take my advice, and pour one into your favorite thermos before taking your morning walk around the neighborhood.
What makes the Cardamom Maple Latte work?
Far too many seasonal lattes run sweet (we’re not naming names), but the Cardamom Maple Latte leans on grassy, earthy ground green cardamom pods for flavor. Steamed whole milk makes this latte rich and creamy, but feel free to substitute in your favorite dairy-free alternative milk — the higher the fat content, the foamier your drink will be.
Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen
For this recipe, we like to use spices from Burlap and Barrel, which sources cardamom from Guatemala, and spicy, complex Royal Cinnamon from Vietnam. Once you’ve made a batch of cardamom maple syrup, consider adding some to a regular cup of drip coffee, or as a sweetener in espresso drinks like an Americano or Cortado.