On The Menu: A Salted Caramel Cold Brew From Amavida Coffee Roasters

If you find yourself on the Florida Gulf Coast this summer, point your GPS to the nearest Amavida Coffee. With locations in Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Historic St. Andrew’s, and inside Perla Baking Co. in DeFunkiak Springs, chances are you’re not too far away from at least one! All summer, the cafes offer special seasonal drinks crafted by their barista team. “Seasonal and signature drink programs are relatively new for Amavida and are mostly barista driven,” says owner Jennifer Pawlik.

Amavida Coffee’s barista trainer Sunni Ellis crafted their signature Salted Caramel Cold Brew. Initially created for their May menu, the drink proved so popular they’ve carried it over through August.

 

What’s a Salted Caramel Cold Brew?

The Salted Caramel Cold Brew is made with organic cold brew coffee shaken with toasted caramel and topped with vanilla cold foam, caramel drizzle, and flaky sea salt. “The Cold Brew Blend is 100% Guatemala Manos Campesinas at the moment,” Amavida’s training and development coordinator Martin Trejo tells us, “it changes origin due to seasonality; in the Winter/Spring, it is usually Colombia. We roast it closer to a medium roast and extend the roast time to mute the acidity.”

What’s the deal with cold foam?

Hot lattes have hot foam. Iced lattes have no foam. Enter cold foam. Cold foam is frothed or aerated milk. One uses fresh, cold milk instead of hot milk, as you would make a latte or hot chocolate. After vigorous agitation, you can achieve a foam-like consistency using a blender, an aerator, a French press, or a mason jar. You get a nice creamy foam layer you’d ordinarily miss out on when added to a cold coffee drink.

Amavida takes this approach to their Salted Caramel Cold Brew and kicks it up a notch, adding vanilla.

Amavida Coffee’s seasonal menu also includes tea and tisane-forward drinks this summer. Try their Sakura Blossom, “a delicious tropical crimson iced tea with a magic potion (glittering hibiscus rose) and vanilla syrup topped with coconut milk.” If you’re into matcha, check out their Sparkling Matcha Lemonade, “a sweet and refreshing matcha with lavender syrup and lemon juice, topped with sparkling water, served over ice.”