Ever wished you could whip up cafe-style drinks - like the World’s Best Vanilla Cream Cold Brew - from the comfort of your own home? Good news! For the first time ever, our small batch, hand-crafted Simple Syrup flavors are available for you to order online and enjoy every day. Simple Syrup will take your favorite coffee drink from basic to sensational.
We'll admit it: we were once total coffee snobs. We believed the perfect cup needed nothing more than our very own exceptional beans and expert brewing. Vanilla? Forget it. Caramel? Even worse. How wrong we were. Flash back to 2015 in our first cafe and Roastery in Shaw. We’re brewing up batch after batch of black coffee, straight shots of espresso, and pour overs like the hipsters we were.
Fortunately, our customers were kind enough to let us know that we were leaving them out, and missing a big opportunity. After all, who says that flavored syrups have to be bad? Didn’t we have a chance to buck the misconception that flavored coffee is best enjoyed at gas stations? What if we were to make flavors that were as good as the coffee?
We started off with Vanilla. A syrup we came affectionately to know as The World’s Best Vanilla Syrup. We used real, simple ingredients, and made it just like you would make at home… because we were making basically at home, in the back kitchen of our Chinatown cafe, one pot at a time. Every batch was homemade from scratch, and of course, with the best, pure ingredients we could find.
No secret recipes here - just Madagascar Vanilla, pure cane sugar, and water we treated specifically to play well with the simple syrup flavors using our very own, custom-engineered, reverse-osmosis water filtration system. Pretty quickly, our customers were obsessed and asked us to create even more mouth-watering flavors. And so, we did! We’ve grown a lot since the early days of Compass. Thankfully, we’re not brewing our Simple Syrups in a pot in the back kitchen of the Chinatown cafe any more. But we’ve stayed true to the core ideas that made our first flavors something we were proud to serve in our cafe, alongside the Real Good Coffee we brew every day. Every batch is still brewed from scratch using real, simple ingredients. Just like you’d make at home.
Consider this your go-to guide for everything Simple Syrups - from the “why” behind every bottle, to what you need to know about using coffee syrup at home like a pro to transform your coffee creations into something truly barista-quality.
What makes Compass Coffee Simple Syrups stand out?
At the core of almost everything we do is one simple, but really important, belief: everything at Compass should be as good as the coffee we serve! This means we just don't cut corners, ever. Seriously… ever. It’s an idea that has led us to do some absolutely crazy things over the years that no coffee company probably ever should.
Of course - and you probably guessed - we source and roast all of our beans in house. We get to know our farmers at origin, building longstanding relationships with them to ensure that every farm we work with adheres to the highest standards of coffee growing and harvesting. Every single batch is peak roasted at our Roastery in DC, and crafted by our master roasters to bring out the unique flavor essences locked away inside of each bean.
You probably didn’t guess this, though - we also design and build all of our cafes from scratch, with our in-house team of artisans and fabricators. We even do our own custom woodworking and welding to make sure that every piece of furniture that ends up in a cafe is exactly right - perfectly designed, meticulously fabricated, and ideally suited for its place and purpose.
And yup, we do lots of other stuff too. Our crack team of espresso technicians is on call night and day to make sure that every piece of equipment in all of our cafes is brewing fresh and pulling perfect shots.
From roasting, to building, we do it all out of the commitment to providing an experience that never compromises quality, at any step.
And - you probably saw this coming - that's why we meticulously craft our Simple Syrups with high-quality natural extracts, authentic spices, and the finest ingredients.
What is flavored syrup?
You probably know your favorite flavor. You’re thinking of it right now. Is it delicately sweet cherry blossom? Or fresh, bracing mint? Or maybe you’re a purist: vanilla or bust. Whatever your favorite cafe flavor, there’s one simple, secret ingredient: Compass Coffee’s very own line of Simple Syrups!
Our Simple Syrups are exactly that - simple. We start off with a strong solution of pure cane sugar and custom-engineered reverse osmosis water and add real, simple ingredients to create amazing varied and delicious flavors that go great in anything - from lattes to cold brew. Or anything else you might blend up at home, if you’re feeling adventurous!
How do we add the flavour? It depends, and every recipe is a little different, but usually it start with lots of chopping (looking at you, ginger!) or grinding (did you know that coffee grinders also work equally well on black pepper, cardamom, and clove?):
- Vanilla Simple Syrup is infused with fragrant Madagascar Vanilla.
- Mint Syrup is made with real Moroccan Mint!
- Lavender gets its flavor from lavender grown in the Pacific Northwest
- Chai syrup - don’t get us started on chai - is made with cinnamon, ginger, star anise, cloves… and about 10 other spices, all ground up into a fine powder and steeped like a tea!
How are Compass Coffee Simple Syrups made?
In the early days, creating our flavor syrups was a labor of love. Every batch was made by hand, right in our tiny kitchen, which we nicknamed the "Chinatown Saucery." We used just a couple of stovetops, constantly experimenting. The work was hands on, both in the best way and the worst way. A single batch of simple syrup could take days to brew, especially our nemesis - Chai - which needs to steep for a full 48 hours to really max out the flavor!
Of course, word of these delicious syrups spread, and demand quickly grew! We knew we had to expand, but never at the expense of the hand crafted quality that is, after all, at the core of everything we do. So, our process evolved.
Today, all of our Simple Syrups are still crafted right here in Washington D.C., in our state of the art Roastery in Ivy City (come visit us!) We've added smart, automated systems to handle larger batches – our Chai syrup, for example, jumped from 5-gallon batches to 400-gallon runs!
But here's the cool part: "scaling up" doesn't mean that we’ve sacrificed the commitment to craft that makes every batch truly special. Those authentic spices for our beloved Chai syrup are still added by hand! ;)
How to mix a flavor syrup with coffee
Adding a tasty syrup of your choice to your coffee is a foolproof way to impress yourself and guests, and it's the first step to becoming your own at-home barista!
The key is to start with a little and add more if you like – we usually suggest 1-2 pumps of syrup per 8-12 ounce (240-360 ml) drink. You might prefer a little less or a little more. Ultimately, your taste buds are the best guide.
For hot coffee drinks
Mixing syrup into your hot coffee, whether it's a pour-over or an espresso shot, couldn't be easier. The warmth helps the syrup dissolve instantly, ensuring a perfectly blended flavor from your first sip to your last.
- Syrup First: Start by adding your desired amount of flavor syrup directly into your empty mug or cup.
- Add Hot Coffee: Pour your hot coffee (drip/filter, espresso, French press, Americano, etc.) directly over the syrup.
- Stir Well: Thoroughly stir for about 10-15 seconds to ensure the syrup is fully incorporated and evenly distributed. You don't want any blobs of syrup!
- Personalize: Now, add hot or cold milk, cream, or other additions you like. Sip and enjoy your customized hot drink, feeling very smug with your barista-style flavored coffee.
For cold coffee drinks
Mixing syrup into cold coffee requires just one small step to prevent it from sinking to the bottom and to guarantee a smooth, even flavor throughout your chilly beverage, no matter how cold it is!
- Warm the Syrup: Begin by adding your syrup to your glass. Add a small splash (just about 1-2 tablespoons / 15-30 ml) of hot coffee or hot water to the syrup. The tiny bit of warmth is your secret weapon!
- Dissolve Thoroughly: Stir the mixture vigorously for about 15-20 seconds. You'll see the syrup fully dissolve into the hot liquid, creating a perfectly blended, concentrated flavor base.
- Add Ice: Once the syrup is dissolved, fill your glass generously with ice.
- Pour in Cold Coffee: Now, pour your chilled coffee (such as iced coffee, cold brew, or cold espresso) over the ice and syrup mixture.
- Final Stir & Enjoy: Give everything one final, good stir (or shake in a tumbler). You want to make sure the melted syrup base blends completely with the cold coffee. Add milk or cream if you like, and savor your enviable creation!
Looking for some recipes? Try our sweet cold brew recipes full of flavor with vanilla and caramel syrup. Check out our irresistible fall coffee recipes or festive coffee drinks featuring our seasonal syrups.
Are there sugar-free coffee syrups?
You don't need to miss out on flavored syrups for your coffee if you're trying to avoid sugar. Compass Coffee's enticing sugar-free vanilla syrup is sweetened with monk fruit.
Monk fruit, you say? Don't worry if you've never heard of monk fruit (some of us hadn't either, until we started researching sweeteners for Compass Coffee's sugar-free syrup!). It's actually a delectable fruit, more than the name suggests.
The mysterious monk fruit extract comes from a small, green melon native to Southeast Asia, and it's incredibly sweet naturally, but with zero calories. We love it because it provides a clean, pure sweetness that blends beautifully into your coffee without any noticeable aftertaste often found in other sweeteners.
Other brands might use different approaches. You'll commonly find sugar-free syrups sweetened with ingredients like:
- Stevia: Another popular plant-based sweetener, derived from the stevia plant.
- Erythritol: A sugar alcohol naturally found in some fruits, known for its mild sweetness and low calorie count.
- Sucralose (like Splenda): A widely used artificial sweetener that's very sweet and calorie-free.
No matter the sweetener, the goal for any good sugar-free syrup is to ensure you get that rich, full-bodied flavor and smooth texture you expect. Sugar-free syrups are an excellent option for those following a ketogenic (keto) diet, managing diabetes, or simply seeking a delicious, low-calorie treat.
Exploring coffee syrup flavor profiles
Did you think flavor syrups for coffee only come in vanilla, chai, and caramel? Think again! There are so many amazing flavors of Simple Syrup to explore, each one of them crafted by hand and ready to help you take your coffee game to the next level.
Get ready to discover your next Compass Coffee Simple Syrup favorite:
- Madagascar Vanilla: This isn't just plain vanilla – it's the gold standard. Our Madagascar Vanilla syrup boasts a rich, clean, and deeply aromatic profile with subtle floral undertones. It's truly the universal flavor, perfect for adding a touch of sweet to any coffee, hot or cold, without overpowering its natural notes.
- Lavender Honey: Fragrant, fun, and floral, our homemade lavender syrup is sure to get you into a springtime state of mind no matter the season! Brewed with - you guessed it - sugar, water, and 100% real lavender from the bountiful fields of the Pacific Northwest.
- Almond Butter: What goes into our almond butter syrup? You’d never guess... almond butter! Add a dash of sugar and a hint of real Madagascar vanilla and you’ve got a sophisticated and rich flavor to savor all year round. And of course, every batch is made by hand. It's a fantastic alternative to traditional nut flavors and pairs wonderfully with milk-based drinks.
- Mint: Mint and coffee? Yes! Our homemade mint syrup is one of the first flavors we introduced at our first cafe in Shaw and it remains a customer favorite to this day. Mint Cold Brew is the unofficial drink of summer in DC... but we love it all year ‘round.
- Turmeric Honey: Spicy and invigorating, our Turmeric Honey syrup will warm your bones and fortify your spirit! We brew each batch by hand using the highest grade turmeric, loads of fresh ginger, and premium wildflower honey.
- Chocolate: Real, premium cocoa is the secret ingredient to our show-stopping chocolate syrup. We source only the finest cocoa and brew every batch by hand… because of course we do.
We’re also always working on new flavors, so check back over the course of the year to see what new seasonal creations we’ve brewed up!
Why use coffee syrups at home? To bring the cafe experience to your very own kitchen!
Flavored simple syrups are an easy yet powerful way to customize your go-to coffee and bring café-quality flavors right into your kitchen. Wondering what all the fuss is about with flavored syrups? Here are some reasons to try them for yourself:
Elevate your coffee in just moments
Tired of the mundane? A single bottle of our gourmet Simple Syrup can, in mere moments, transform your ordinary cup into a cafe-level treat. No specialized equipment is required, just effortless customization at your fingertips.
Convenience
Sure, you could make your own syrups, but who has the time? We’ve already done the hard work for you. Every bottle comes with a pump that is specially calibrated to dispense perfectly consistent pumps of your favorite flavor, every time.
Smooth, velvety consistency
Our premium Simple Syrups are formulated to seamlessly blend into both hot and cold drinks. So, you can enjoy an exquisitely smooth and utterly delightful sip every single time. No clumps, no sugar at the bottom - you barely have to stir!
Unleash your inner barista
You don’t have to stop at just one Simple Syrup… you can mix it up! Try mint and chocolate for a super fun mint mocha at home. Or vanilla and well… anything really, because vanilla tastes amazing with anything. Almond butter and chocolate? Turmeric and mint? What other amazing combos can you brew up?
The Perfect Gift
Looking for a thoughtful gift to surprise a coffee lover? A selection of high-quality coffee syrups is the ideal gift for any discerning coffee enthusiast in your life.
Where to buy the best coffee syrup
When you're ready to shop, consider starting with classic, versatile flavors like vanilla or caramel, then branch out to more adventurous ones like almond butter, lavender honey, or mint. And of course, for a taste that's guaranteed to take your coffee to the next level, explore the full Compass Coffee syrup collection on our website or visit us in-store!
We are so confident that you’ll love our simple syrups that we’ll refund you 100% if you are less than completely satisfied. We can’t wait for you to start brewing, find your new favorite flavor, and discover Simple Syrup that truly is as good as the coffee.
