Peppermint Cafe Drinks: Mint Coffee Recipes Beyond the Mocha

The best peppermint cafe drinks that aren’t a mocha are mint cold brew, a mojito-style mint iced coffee, a fresh mint latte and coffee topped with cool mint cream. The secret is choosing the right kind of mint: fresh leaves for bright, garden flavor, extract for a strong candy-like chill, and mint-flavored coffee beans for a subtle, everyday cup with no sugar.

Chocolate and mint is a classic, and we already cover it in our peppermint mocha recipe and candy cane latte. This guide is for everything else, from summer iced drinks to a clean, chocolate-free mint latte.

Fresh Mint vs Extract vs Mint-Flavored Coffee

Mint flavor comes mostly from aromatic oils. Peppermint is high in menthol, which gives that cooling sensation. Spearmint is softer and sweeter, closer to chewing gum. Each form brings these oils to your cup in a different way.

Extract is the most common mistake. It is very concentrated, and two extra drops can make a drink taste like toothpaste. Measure with a dropper or dip the tip of a toothpick in the bottle.

Start With Fresh Mint Syrup

Most of the recipes below use this syrup. It keeps about one week in the fridge.

• ½ cup (120 ml) water
• ½ cup (100 g) sugar
• 1 packed cup (about 20 g) fresh mint leaves

1. Simmer the water and sugar until the sugar dissolves.
2. Remove from heat, add the mint and press it under the surface.
3. Steep 20–30 minutes, then strain and chill.

Don’t boil the leaves: heat turns fresh mint dull and slightly bitter. For more syrup flavors, see our homemade coffee syrups guide.

Peppermint Cafe Drinks to Make at Home

1. Mint Cold Brew

Fill a 16 oz (475 ml) glass with ice. Add 1–2 tbsp (15–30 ml) mint syrup, 4 oz (120 ml) cold brew concentrate and 4 oz (120 ml) water or milk. Stir and garnish with a mint sprig, slapped between your palms first to release the aroma.

Why not steep fresh mint with the coffee grounds? A 12–18 hour steep pulls grassy, vegetal flavors out of the leaves. Adding mint at the end through syrup keeps it bright. Our cold brew guide covers the coffee part.

2. Mojito-Style Mint Iced Coffee (Non-Alcoholic)

This takes the fresh mint and lime zest of a mojito and pairs them with cold coffee and cream. No alcohol needed.

• 8 fresh mint leaves
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) simple syrup or mint syrup
• A strip of lime zest (no juice, which can curdle the cream)
• 6 oz (180 ml) cold brew or chilled strong coffee
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) half-and-half

1. Gently muddle the mint, syrup and lime zest in a glass. Press, don’t shred.
2. Fill with crushed ice.
3. Pour in the coffee and stir.
4. Float the half-and-half on top and garnish with a mint sprig.

3. Fresh Mint Latte (No Chocolate)

1. Warm 8 oz (240 ml) milk with 6–8 fresh mint leaves until steaming, around 150°F (65°C). Don’t let it boil.
2. Cover and steep 5 minutes, then remove the leaves.
3. Sweeten with 1–2 tsp (5–10 ml) sugar or honey and froth.
4. Pour over 2 oz (60 ml) espresso.

The result is gently herbal and much lighter than a peppermint mocha. Oat milk works well here too.

4. Mint Cream Topping

Whip ½ cup (120 ml) cold heavy cream with 1 tbsp (15 ml) mint syrup, or 1 tbsp (12 g) sugar plus 1 drop peppermint extract, until soft peaks form. Spoon it over hot black coffee, an iced americano or an espresso. Sipping hot coffee through cold mint cream is the whole point, so don’t stir.

5. Minty Espresso Tonic

Muddle 4 mint leaves with 1 tsp (5 ml) mint syrup in a tall glass, add ice and 4 oz (120 ml) tonic water, then slowly pour 1–2 oz (30–60 ml) espresso on top. Bitter, cool and very refreshing on a hot day.

Best Coffee for Mint Drinks

• Chocolatey medium-dark roasts make mint taste like an after-dinner mint, even with no chocolate in the cup.
• Smooth cold brew lets fresh mint come through without bitterness.
• Avoid very bright, citrusy light roasts with peppermint extract. The acidity and menthol can taste sharp together.
• Mint tea and coffee: a green tea and mint blend is a good caffeinated alternative when you want mint without coffee. If you like mint in tea, read about the Moroccan mint tea ritual.

Mint Coffee FAQ

Can you put fresh mint in coffee?

Yes. Muddle a few leaves into iced coffee, steep them in warm milk, or make a mint syrup. Adding whole leaves to hot black coffee gives only a faint flavor, so syrup or infused milk works better.

Is peppermint or spearmint better in coffee?

Peppermint gives a stronger, cooler, candy-like flavor that suits sweet lattes. Spearmint is softer and sweeter, which suits fresh iced drinks. Either works in the recipes above, so use what you can find.

How much peppermint extract goes in coffee?

Start with 1 drop per 8 oz (240 ml) cup and taste. Peppermint extract is very strong, and it’s easy to add more but impossible to take it out.

Does mint-flavored coffee contain sugar?

No. Flavored coffee beans add aroma, not sweetness or calories, so the brewed cup tastes minty but unsweetened.

Cool Mint, Strong Coffee

Make a jar of mint syrup and you have a week of fresh iced drinks ahead. For the simplest minty cup, brew Feel Espresso’s Mint flavored coffee, use our Cold Brew Coffee for the iced recipes, and keep Moroccan Mint green tea around for coffee-free days. Every coffee is roasted 1–5 days before delivery.