Spring is when the menu wakes up. Winter drinks lean toward warmth and spice; spring drinks lean toward brightness and lift. Here's what's new at Café Mia this spring — drinks we'll have for about 8 weeks before the summer rotation takes over.
The thinking behind seasonal drinks
We rotate seasonal drinks for two reasons. First, ingredients are better in season — strawberries in May taste different from strawberries in November. Second, drinks should match the weather. A rose-honey latte makes sense in February; in May it just feels heavy.
The seasonal menu runs alongside our year-round drinks (espresso, plain matcha, drip, cold brew). It's not a replacement; it's a layer on top.
Spring 2026 lineup
Strawberry matcha latte
Iced. Real strawberries macerated overnight with a small amount of sugar, no syrup. Topped with our 4g matcha pour and oat milk. The strawberry sits at the bottom; you stir or sip through the layers. The Instagram favorite, but also genuinely the strongest drink on the spring menu.
Lavender honey latte
Hot or iced. Espresso, lavender-infused honey (we steep dried lavender into honey for a week), milk. Floral but not soapy — the honey backs off the lavender's sharpness.
Rhubarb shrub spritzer
Non-coffee. Our house rhubarb shrub (rhubarb cooked down with sugar and apple cider vinegar) topped with sparkling water. Tart, slightly fruity, refreshing. Great for the no-caffeine afternoon.
Strawberry-basil lemonade
House lemonade with strawberry purée and torn fresh basil. Lighter than the matcha; easier on a hot afternoon.
Seasonal cold brew tonic
Our cold brew over ice with tonic water and a slice of orange. Bittersweet, complex, dry. The drink for customers who like a coffee that doesn't taste like dessert.
Spring drinks should taste like the first warm Saturday — light, slightly floral, the kind of thing you order outside.
What's coming back from previous springs
If you remember the rose latte from last year — it's not on the spring menu but it'll come back in winter. Our rotation tries to give each seasonal drink a clear window so they stay special.
Customer favorites we keep year-round: the iced matcha latte, the seasonal latte (which is technically itself a rotating slot), the bottled cold brew.
Pastries for spring
Our baker rotates pastries with the season too. Currently on the case:
- Strawberry-rhubarb danish
- Lemon poppyseed muffin
- Almond croissant (year-round)
- Pistachio shortbread
- Rosewater financier
The strawberry-rhubarb danish in particular pairs well with the iced matcha latte. People order them together so often we should probably bundle them.
How long will spring drinks be on the menu?
Through about mid-June. By summer the matcha lemonade and our iced cold brew variations take over the seasonal slots. The strawberry matcha will stay through May; lavender will probably go a couple weeks longer.
How to suggest a seasonal drink
If you have an idea for a drink we should try in a future season, tell us at the counter or DM us on @cafemiabk. We've added customer-suggested drinks to the menu before. The rules: must be reasonable to make at scale, must use ingredients we can source seasonally, must taste good even when made on a busy Saturday.
Come try the spring lineup before it rotates out. Café Mia, 1128 Broadway, open daily 8 AM – 5 PM.
Frequently asked questions
How often does Café Mia change the seasonal menu?
Every 8–12 weeks. Spring runs roughly March through mid-June; summer through August; fall through November; winter through February.
What's the most popular spring drink?
The strawberry matcha latte is consistently the top seasonal seller in spring.
Do you use real fruit or syrups?
We use real fruit. Strawberries are macerated overnight, rhubarb is cooked down for a shrub, lavender is steeped into honey. We avoid pre-made flavored syrups.
Are seasonal drinks the same price as regular drinks?
Most are within $0.50 of our standard latte price. Specialty drinks with more involved prep (like the rhubarb shrub) are slightly more.
Will the rose matcha come back?
Yes — rose matcha returns for winter. We try to give each seasonal drink one clear window per year so they stay special.