As the yellow leaves swirl around Spa Creek and the air gets that crisp, apple-scented bite, Annapolis-area baristas have rolled out their finest fall concoctions. These are the kind of coffee and tea drinks that make you want to pull on a chunky sweater and pretend you’re the main character in a small-town rom-com. Here’s your caffeinated cheat sheet to autumn in a cup!
Bean Rush Cafe
In West Annapolis, Bean Rush is where locals go for a pick-me-up. Their Harvest Latte layers pumpkin, caramel, and toffee all into one glorious cup — it’s dessert disguised as coffee. The Monster Mash Mocha adds dark and white chocolate chips, plus whipped cream, because moderation is overrated. Don’t sleep on the Witches Brew Chai, which gets a brown butter twist (and optional sweet cold foam if iced).
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Ceremony Coffee Roasters
This season, Ceremony is pure magic with its 24 Carrot Gold — iced matcha meets ginger beer and carrot juice. The much-missed Hocus Pocus makes a triumphant return after three long years, conjuring up brown sugar, cardamom, and ginger in a silky oat milk latte topped with cinnamon. For tea lovers, the Earl-y Morning transforms Earl Grey into a creamy cloud of vanilla oat milk foam, and the Peary Superstitious (espresso and pear cider together) is as weirdly delightful as it sounds.
P.S. You can visit their roastery off Russell Street! Peek through the glass and you’ll get to see their roasting operation.
Ingrano Bakery and Cafe
Tucked off Harry S. Truman Parkway, Ingrano knows how to celebrate fall in style. Start with their Agave Gold Matcha — sweet, grassy matcha topped with a salted agave cold foam that’s basically sweater-weather sunshine. The Brown Butter Pecan Latte tastes like roasted pecans vacationing in a caramelized sugar dream, and the Pumpkin Dulce Chai Latte delivers pumpkin spice nirvana with a dulce drizzle.
Pro tip for the thrifty (and the hungry): Peek into the corner for the “day-old” pastry basket — one for $4 or four for $12.
Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse
If you like your lattes with a side of literarature, head to Old Fox Books where they serve Brown Mustache Coffee. Annapolis Moms Editor, Ricky, swears by the Bonfire Tea Latte, a smoky-sweet blend of lapsang and honeybush teas mingled with hazelnut, cocoa, and caramel. It tastes like reading poetry by candlelight — or, let’s be honest, scrolling BookTok in a cardigan.
Oscar’s Coffee
Oscar’s autumn lineup is like a hug in mug form – plus, you’re 99.9% likely to pet a dog if you visit. Go classic with the Pumpkin Spice Latte, or try the floral Cardamom Vanilla Cinnamon Latte. The Maple Pecan Latte is overloaded with rich, sweet pecan taste notes, the Brown Sugar Cinnamon Latte is a returning favorite, and the Apple Cider (with caramel added, obviously) is a fall classic.
Bonus: Add pumpkin cold foam to literally everything. You’re welcome.
Rise Up Coffee
Grown by friends, roasted by friends, and enjoyed by friends! Located in Annapolis, City Dock, Edgewater, Arnold, and Severna Park, Rise Up is a fan favorite hangout spot. The Maple Cream Latte is smooth and subtly sweet, while the S’mores Hot Chocolate will make your inner child (or your actual child) weep with joy. Our team recommends the Happy Camper — an iced s’mores latte topped with toasted marshmallow cold foam. For fans of Rise Up’s smoothies, The Great Pumpkin (Spice) may be your new obsession.
Pro tip: Arrive early to the Rise Up in Severna Park and you may be lucky enough to snag fresh Carlson’s Donuts.
Notable Mentions
The Big Bean, Wyrd, Curate, and Toastique are all brewing up autumn energy too — because fall isn’t just a season, it’s a flavor served with extra foam.
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