It’s safe to say that we Swatties have endured a miserable winter in the Philadelphia area, so what is a better way to welcome the spring season than with a good latte? Hobbs recently rolled out three new drinks for their spring menu: a Wamplers honey latte, an iced rose oatmilk latte, and an iced lavender matcha. In case you’re unsure as to where to start, here is a short and sweet guide to which drinks you should try (or try them all –– I’m not here to judge).
Without further ado, listed below are my ratings, as well as an overall ranking for the Hobbs spring drinks.
1. Iced Rose Oatmilk Latte (9.5/10)
The iced rose oatmilk latte was the first spring drink I tried, and it remains the first in my heart. I find the drink’s floral notes to be refreshing and subtly sweet. The rose syrup, which is made in-house, also creates a pretty, pastel-pink experience. The rose and the espresso are married beautifully, making this drink the clear champion of the spring menu.
I don’t appreciate that I don’t have a choice between a small and a large latte. Some days, a small sip does the trick, and I wish I weren’t confined to the larger size. That being said, as an oatmilk loyalist, I deeply appreciate that I don’t have to include a milk modification with my order.
2. Wamplers Honey Latte (8/10)
The Wamplers Honey Latte is my second choice. Unlike the other two drinks on the spring menu, this drink offers more opportunity for variation. I’ve tried it both hot and iced, and I may have a slight preference for the iced version, but that could just be because of our recently brightening weather. I also like that it can be ordered in a small or large size.
What I love about the honey latte is that the flavor isn’t completely lost –– which is something I’ve experienced with other honey lattes in the past. That being said, I find the taste of the honey to be slightly overpowering. Furthermore, the sweetness of the honey syrup is less subtle than the rose syrup.
There is one thing I’ve found elevates this beverage: adding rose or lavender syrup. The floral notes mellow out the sweetness of the honey, and they pair quite well with the espresso.
3. Iced Lavender Matcha (6.5/10)
I’ve never been a fan of Hobbs’s matcha latte, but I do think it has improved since the first time I had it. And yet, I was still left unimpressed by the iced lavender matcha. The lavender syrup didn’t blend well into the drink, and instead, it left a small ring of syrup to collect at the bottom of my cup. The texture was also a little too chalky.
4. Off-the-Menu Spring Favorite: Iced Lavender Latte (Honorable Mention)
Although this isn’t technically part of the spring menu, I think it should be. I love it for all the reasons I love the rose latte, minus the pink color.
It’s important to treat ourselves from time to time, especially as the treacherous finals season steadily approaches! If you can, I recommend you grab a spring drink from Hobbs, go outside, and enjoy the beauty of the season.
