The iconic pumpkin spice latte heralds the arrival of all things fall, but if local coffee shops are more your thing (or if pumpkin isn’t), Des Moines has your taste buds covered. From ciders to chais to coffee, the central Iowa coffee scene hits practically every seasonal craving. These are only a portion of the offerings you can find!
Written by Seeta Mangra-Stubbs, Des Moines Girl Contributor
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
The DSMG Guide to Fall Drinks Around Des Moines
Chain + Spoke Coffee & Cyclery
- Open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Chain + Spoke Coffee, 515 28th Street, Suite 102, Des Moines, Iowa 50312
While the weather is still cooperative, a bike ride to Chain and Spoke in the heart of Des Moines will take you to less-pumpkin oriented beverages. Their fall menu includes a maple old fashioned, pumpkin cloud, golden spice and an apple harvest (a non-coffee based option). Be sure to watch their socials for weekly season-themed baked goods made by their in-house baker.
Why we love it: It’s the city’s only combined bike shop and coffee shop!
Best for: Taking a break after maneuvering the bike lanes downtown.
The Slow Down Coffee Co.
- Open Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- The Slow Down Coffee Co., 3613 6th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50313
Locally owned and operated in the Highland Park neighborhood, The Slow Down has quickly become a north side staple. The fall menu features a customer favorite, The Sparrow, an apple pie steamer, golden chai latte and a pumpkin spice latte (obvi). Don’t forget to check out their baked goods brought in by other local bakeries.
Why we love it: Cozy and welcoming atmosphere that makes you instantly feel at home.
Best for: Meeting friends or colleagues, slowing down, and enjoying each moment.
Vintage Road Coffee Co.
- MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center (1775 59th Place, WDSM, 50266), open daily 6:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- Vintage Road Coffee Co. Madrid Shop (320 S. Kennedy Ave, Madrid, IA 50156), Wednesday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. & weekends 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Mobile Coffee Trailer, check out their Instagram for weekly schedules!
There are three ways you can enjoy coffee from Vintage Road Coffee Shop, at their Madrid location, within MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center or at local events. Their seasonal menu is bursting with fall flavors, everything from a pumpkin cheesecake latte with cold foam, a caramel apple crisp latte and a maple praline latte. They’ve got white pumpkin cream, salted caramel and s’mores cold foam cold brew flavors and shaken espressos. You might just have to order two drinks to try out the different flavors!
Why we love it: Bringing coffee to the people, wherever they need it.
Best for: Amy’s Famous Spiced Cider, enjoy hot or iced.
Horizon Line Coffee
- Open Monday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Horizon Line Coffee, 1417 Walnut Street, Suite B, Des Moines, Iowa 50309
The ever-popular Horizon Line Coffee always wins for creativity. Their fall drinks do not fall short. They have five offerings, the most popular being the malted maple latte, which seems straightforward until you get to the barley malt infusion. The great pumpkin is a salute to a classic PSL and can be made hot or cold, the friendly robber combines steamed milk and chocolate sunflower butter syrup, the golden snitch is a cold brew mixed with cream soda topped with butterscotch and brown butter cold foam and last but certainly not least, the stay gold, a clarified cofee mocktail sure to please your taste buds.
Why we love it: Horizon Line’s ingenuity continues to impress.
Best for: The adventurous palate.
Northern Vessel
- Open Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. & Weekends, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m
- Northern Vessel, 1201 Keosauqua Way, Des Moines, IA 50309
For those who love the famous Oat Milk Cold Brew Latte, Northern Vessel has some tasty fall drinks for you to try out this season. For those who love traditional fall flavors, try their pumpkin spice latte or the pumpkin pie chai, both made with real pumpkin puree. If you’re looking for something a little more unique, try the s’mores latte. But, if you don’t want to stray from your usual classic order, we don’t blame you!
Why we love it: Great vibes, can enjoy at the Farmer’s Market and always delicious
Best for: Obvi the Oat Milk Cold Brew Latte!
Reading in Public
- Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Please note the. cafe closes at earlier times, check out their website for hours)
- Reading in Public, 315 5th Street, Suite 100, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Who doesn’t love picking up a new book and a fall-flavored drink at the same time? Reading in Public has you covered in both departments. Next time you stop in, try the witches’ brew-be (pronounced broo-bay) infused with ube, the warm + fuzzies (espresso based), Persephone’s Descent (matcha!) and the great pumpkin chai.
Why we love it: The unique twist on traditional fall flavors, especially the ube.
Best for: Books and coffee, need we say more?
All the details.
Mayalu Coffee
- Open Monday – Saturday, 6 a.m. – 5 p.m., & Sunday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Mayalu Coffee, 4426 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, Iowa 50321
Mayalu Coffee is a south side favorite when it comes to coffee shops. It’s also one of the most unique with Nepali coffee, teas, and drinks year-round. Their regular menu is already spice-forward with the Nepali Chiya and Masala Coffee, but they have a seasonal menu as well. Try their pumpkin spice latte and pumpkin cold brew. And don’t forget, they have a drive thru!
Why we love it: Asian-owned, locally owned, lots of space to hang out and respond to some emails.
Best for: Warm spices and non-coffee drinks.
Good Day DSM
- Open Wednesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., & Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Good Day, 1515 SW Main St. Suite 105, Ankeny, IA, 50023
Newly opened in The Prairie District, a visit to Good Day really is a good day. Their fall menu features everything pumpkin; a pumpkin pie chai, pumpkin pie Vietnamese coffee and a pumpkin pie good day. The house-made pumpkin pie sauce and sweet cream make each drink extra tasty.
Why we love it: Asian-owned and has the most delicious and unique flavored macarons!
Best for: Picking up a little treat for yourself or a box to share with others.
SweetDude Coffee & Cafe
- Open Monday – Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. & Friday-Saturday, 8:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- SweetDude Coffee and Cafe, 9763 University Avenue, Clive, Iowa 50325
SweetDude’s draw is their choux pastries with craquelin, a hard sugar crust. But if you pair one of those with their pumpkin inspired drinks, you’ll have a creamy, crunchy seasonal treat. Choose from a pumpkin pie latte, pumpkin brown sugar latte, pumpkin white mocha, pumpkin chai latte, spiced brown sugar latte or an apple pie chai. Moreover, if you’ve got a little following on TikTok, SweetDude has a fantastic space for a solid aesthetic.
Why we love it: Anything for that incredible choux pastry!
Best for: Stylish selfies and dessert-loving foodies
The Coffeesmith
- Open Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. & Saturday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- The Coffeesmith, 770 Alice’s Road, Waukee, Iowa 50263
In one of those “blink and you’ll miss it” strip malls, The Coffeesmith in Waukee has a full roster on their fall menu as well as a pumpkin cream muffin. Their competitor in the PSL fight is the pumpkin pie latte as well as The Great Pumpkin cold brew cold foam and the iced pumpkin shaken espresso. But they don’t keep it to pumpkin. They’ve also got a maple brown sugar latte, butter pecan latte, apple butter with a caramel layer, caramel apple cider, and caramel apple sucker energy drink.
Why we love it: It’s as low-key as a coffee shop gets.
Best for: Solo workers seeking autumnal warmth.
What’s your fav fall drink in the metro? Was it one of the featured lattes from Chain + Spoke? Or, did you try a good ol’ cup of joe with a choux pastry from SweetDude? Tell us your go-to fall drink and let us know your review!
