Happy New Year, fellow caffeine addicts!

Now, this is not going to be one of those “new year, new me” blog posts where I tell you all about how I am going to be a changed woman in 2026 and cut back on coffee. In fact, if I ever make a post saying that I am going to stop treating myself to a daily latte or cold brew from a local cafe, please call the police, because I have obviously been kidnapped. 

Since I am a trend hopper who has never had an original idea, I thought I would put a list together of what I think should be “In” versus “Out” for 2026. This list is heavily inspired by making my transition from coffee shop customer to coffee shop employee this past year (if you thought I was opinionated about coffee before, I am even more annoying now).

This is all my own personal opinion, so take it with a grain of salt and don’t get mad if you don’t agree with me. It’s not that deep.

In:

• Asking the barista for their recommendations 
• 16-oz drinks
• Dirty hot chocolates 
• Oat milk for lattes, almond milk for chai
• Whipped cream on hot drinks
• Cold brew over iced coffee
• Mini marshmallows
• Engaging with your fav coffee shop’s social media posts
• Coffee-scented candles 

Out:

• Not knowing your barista’s name
• Going to chains over local cafes
• Dome lids
• Only going through the drive-thru
• Gatekeeping your favorite coffee shops 
• Assuming the barista can read your mind
• Frozen hot chocolates
• Leaving a negative Google review after one minor inconvenience
• Letting your reward points expire