August at Klatch Coffee always feels a little different. Summer is still very much here. The days are warm, the sun stays out late, and iced coffee is still very much a necessity. But, there’s also a subtle shift in the air. The peak of summer is beginning to pass, and we start looking toward what comes next. It’s that strange little window of the year when you can still enjoy a refreshing summer drink while simultaneously craving something a little warmer, a little cozier, and a little more comforting. That’s part of the reason we launch our Klatch Patch menu so early, and it’s also what’s inspired this month’s Coffee Curious drink, the Second Summer.
Second Summer is our take on a flat white designed to capture that transition between seasons. The drink starts with a rich, velvety espresso, made with Klatch Coffee’s House Espresso, and steamed milk, then brings in bright lemon, warming ginger, smooth vanilla, and rich brown sugar. To finish it off, we add delicate notes of cinnamon and cardamom, creating a drink that feels both familiar and unexpected.
The Second Summer is bright without being overly citrusy, sweet without being dessert-like, and warm without feeling like we’re rushing into fall.
What is Coffee Curious?
Coffee Curious is a signature drink menu crafted for those who sip differently. Each month, when we rotate our Bru Bar pour over selection, we also change out this signature drink. Creating one signature drink each month to complement our seasonal offerings, Bru Bar selection, and regular menu lets our creativity shine while giving the team an opportunity to experiment with new recipes and flavor combinations. It’s our way of sharing our love of coffee, with a little something special. To us, it exemplifies everything we believe in at Klatch Coffee: meeting people wherever they are in their coffee journey, and always innovating, learning, and trying new things. There’s no shame in enjoying a fancy flavored coffee, and it doesn’t make you any less of a coffee drinker to do so! We love our espressos and pour overs, but sometimes, a little sweet treat just hits different. We also believe that coffee is never finished. We love experimental processes, we love unique roasts and coffees, and we’re always curious and searching for ways to enhance those flavors and create something exciting!
Why the name Second Summer?
The name Second Summer refers to that feeling of summer lingering just a little longer. Technically, August is still in the middle of summer, but it can feel like the season is starting to wind down. Vacations are coming to an end, school is starting back up, and we begin seeing the first hints of fall on the horizon. But, the weather hasn't gotten the memo yet, especially here in Southern California. It's still hot and sunny, and we’re still looking for ways to cool down.
At the same time, however, there's something appealing about beginning to transition toward warmer, more comforting flavors. Cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, vanilla, and brown sugar all tend to bring out that feeling of warmth and coziness. They're the flavors that make you think of baked goods, warm kitchens, and the first cooler mornings of the year while listening to the sounds of family running down the halls laughing and shouting.
We didn't want to choose between the two to determine what part of August was our favorite, so instead, we combined the two.
The lemon keeps the drink bright and lively, giving it the freshness you expect from a summer drink, ginger adds a gentle warmth and a subtle spice, and vanilla and brown sugar provide a smooth sweetness that rounds everything out. Cinnamon and cardamom finish the drink with a delicate aromatic quality that hints at the season ahead.
Why a Flat White?
When we started developing Second Summer, we wanted a drink that would let all of these flavors work together without becoming overly complicated. A flat white gives us a strong foundation because of its balance between espresso and milk. Unlike a larger, milkier latte, a flat white keeps the espresso much more present. The milk adds sweetness and texture, but it doesn't completely cover up the coffee.
Coffee Curious is ultimately about coffee, so even when we're creating something unconventional, we want the coffee to remain an important part of the experience. The espresso provides the foundation of the drink, bringing depth and richness that helps tie all of the other flavors together.
The velvety texture of steamed milk also gives us something to work with. Milk naturally softens acidity and bitterness while adding its own sweetness, making it an ideal partner for ingredients like lemon and ginger.
Which espresso goes into the Second Summer, and why?
The espresso is an especially important part of Second Summer because we didn't want the coffee to get lost underneath all of the other flavors. For this drink, we're using our House Espresso, a blend that has been a cornerstone of Klatch Coffee for decades. Rich, syrupy, and full-bodied, House Espresso brings notes of orange zest, semi-sweet chocolate, cinnamon sticks, and an undertone of walnut, making it a natural fit for a drink built around citrus, spice, sweetness, and warmth.
In fact, House Espresso has a pretty impressive history of its own. This five-bean blend of Indonesian and American coffees helped our CEO Heather Perry win the U.S. Barista Championship in 2003, making it an important part of Klatch's competition history. Today, it remains one of our hallmark espresso blends, and its smooth, balanced character makes it particularly well suited for drinks made with milk.
For Second Summer, those characteristics really come into play. The orange zest notes in the espresso naturally complement the bright lemon, creating a citrus combination that feels vibrant without becoming sharp. Meanwhile, the semi-sweet chocolate and walnut undertones give the drink a deeper foundation, balancing the lighter citrus flavors and working beautifully with the brown sugar and vanilla.
House Espresso already carries a natural cinnamon-stick note, which means the cinnamon and cardamom used to finish Second Summer don't feel disconnected from the coffee. Instead, they reinforce flavors that are already present in the espresso itself!
How does Second Summer taste?
The easiest way to describe Second Summer is as a familiar drink with an unexpected twist. If you enjoy a flat white, you'll recognize the espresso and milk immediately. The texture is smooth and velvety, with enough coffee character to keep the drink grounded. The lemon adds a subtle brightness that keeps the drink from feeling too rich. The ginger follows with a gentle warmth, creating a contrast that makes each sip more interesting. The vanilla and brown sugar are what bring the flavors together. They're rich, smooth, and familiar, giving the drink a comforting sweetness that pairs naturally with espresso. The cinnamon and cardamom finish the drink beautifully, hinting at autumn and pumpkin spice and the holidays.
Where can I try Second Summer?
For the month of August only, the Second Summer will be available at any of our store locations. You can also order ahead through our mobile app. There’s no reason summer has to end just yet, so get your August started with a sip of Second Summer today.