A 9 a.m. license renewal DMV appointment calls for a refreshing latte right afterwards. I only had a day left of winter break, so I drove to the nearest Coffee Bean Tea and Leaf to grab coffee and unwind with a great book after I finished my appointment and ran my errands.
I scanned the menu and realized they still served their holiday drinks — winter dream and cookie butter lattes along with a peppermint mocha — but another flashy sign displayed a horchata latte, which is their January special. Horchata is a beverage traditionally from Spain and Latin America crafted with almonds, cinnamon and vanilla, but it is now commonly made using rice milk. I love any sort of spices — nutmeg, pumpkin, cinnamon, you name it — and craved a creamier flavor, so I decided to use my gift card and try something new. 
The drink came with a little too much ice, but the bold espresso flavor made up for it — the extra ice actually helped water down the strong flavor in the end — which mingled well with cinnamon spices and a faint, horchata flavor. My inner barista delighted in this creation and I was glad that I deviated from my typical mocha. I settled down in a nearby chair and enjoyed every sip of my drink. This latte would pair well with one of their chocolate croissants If you have a Coffee Bean near you, I recommend stopping by and sampling this new beverage.
