This Fast-Growing Arkansas-Based Coffee Chain Has A Better Iced Vanilla Latte Than Starbucks

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Given Starbucks' globe-straddling success, it is always noteworthy when a rival coffee franchise manages to beat it at the game it seemingly created. Those who intend to keep drinking iced coffee no matter the season should therefore pay heed: Starbucks' iced vanilla latte has been trumped by that served at the fast-growing, Arkansas-based chain 7 Brew.

In Tasting Table's ranking of iced vanilla lattes from 10 coffee chains, the overall winner may have been the Black Rifle Coffee Company, but 7 Brew stole the number five spot, pushing Starbucks down to number six. This could be part of the reason why 7 Brew has become the fastest-growing beverage brand in the United States, taking it from one location in Arkansas to over 800. 7 Brew describes their vanilla latte as the cleanest expresso drink of the chain's 7 Classics menu, promising: "No caramel stacked underneath, no second syrup, just vanilla and espresso on steamed milk." Of the three ways the vanilla latte can be ordered at 7 Brew, iced is the most popular format.

"At first glance, this was a fairly solid latte," our critic wrote. "The vanilla syrup was not too sweet and worked to smooth out the sharp acidity of the coffee base." Tasting Table's correspondent noted gratefully that 7 Brew's iced vanilla latte was not excessively milky, unlike Starbucks' offering. Although the generous amount of ice that came with the drink did rapidly dilute the coffee, our tester concluded: "I was happy to see that the brand could do something simple well."

Ranking behind 7 Brew, our critic felt the milk and vanilla syrup in Starbuck's iced latte did well to mellow out the distinctive, love it-or-hate it taste of Starbucks coffee, but ultimately compared the drink to a security blanket: "It offers familiar comfort, but that's hardly what I want to wake me up in the morning."

Despite appreciating the virtues of 7 Brew's iced vanilla latte, Tasting Table's tester was tempted by the various upgrades the chain offers. 7 Brew has a wide range of customization options, including temperature, milk type, syrup flavor, sweetness, shot count, and the base drink that starts it all. With all that on offer, our critic suggested ordering something like the Banana Bread Blondie instead. Some 7 Brew patrons have their own distinct orders that put a spin on the traditional iced vanilla latte. On Reddit, one commenter advised ordering an "iced latte with toasted marshmallow, vanilla, dark chocolate drizzle."

If you do pick up an iced vanilla latte from 7 Brew, you can expect to pay $5.46 to a small, $6.11 for a medium, of $6.96 for a large — with two, three, and four shots of expresso respectively — though prices may vary slightly by location. As Monin topped our ranking of coffee syrup brands, if you are making an iced vanilla latte at home, you might want to invest in a bottle of Monin Vanilla Syrup with Pure Madagascar Vanilla to see if yours can beat the big coffee chains.