Banana Syrup for Coffee: Where to Find It and How to Use It
Coffee is one of my biggest loves. My default cup is pretty simple: coconut milk (the good expensive kind) and local maple syrup from right here in western Massachusetts. There’s nothing to me like homemade hot coffee. When I’m out, though, I love a fun iced latte, and I’m open to all the fun syrups. Pumpkin spice lattes are my favorite, and I’ve had them nearly everywhere. I’ve never tried ube. And yes, I’ve tried banana. I ordered the Iced Banana Bread Latte at Starbucks, decaf with light ice. I liked it, though I’m not sure I’d get it again. So when I saw how fast banana syrup for coffee was taking off this year, I wanted to put together a practical guide on where to find it, what’s in the bottles, and how people are making it at home.
Menus, limited-time drinks, and product lineups vary by location and change often. Everything here is accurate as of September 2026, so please confirm with your local store or app before you go.
The Short Answer
Banana is one of 2026’s biggest coffee flavors. Here’s the quick version:
- It’s trending hard. Google Trends data shows “banana syrup for coffee” searches passed “brown sugar syrup for coffee” this year.
- Big chains have it. Starbucks launched banana bread drinks on August 25, 2026, and Dunkin’ built a banana lineup this spring.
- You can buy it bottled. Monin and Torani both sell banana syrups.
- You can make it at home. A basic version is bananas, sugar, water, and a little patience.
- Treat it like any sweetener. A pump or a spoonful adds up, so it’s worth keeping an eye on added sugar.
Why Banana Is Suddenly Everywhere
I get the Google Trends newsletter, and the September 30, 2026 edition had some eye-opening numbers. According to Google Trends, searches for “banana syrup for coffee” have officially surpassed searches for “brown sugar syrup for coffee” this year. Brown sugar has been a coffee shop favorite for a while, so that’s a real shift.
It’s not just syrup, either. The same newsletter reported that searches for “iced banana bread matcha” are up 1,850% this year. Banana bread was also the top trending latte flavor in the US for 2026 so far.
In other words, people want their coffee to taste a little like something warm out of the oven.
Where Banana Shows Up at Coffee Chains
Here’s what the chains have confirmed on their own official pages. Availability can differ from store to store, so use these as a starting point.
Starbucks
In its official fall 2026 announcement, Starbucks introduced two new banana drinks on August 25, 2026:
- Iced Banana Bread Latte
- Iced Banana Bread Chai
Starbucks describes them as blending “banana, cinnamon and brown sugar flavors” for dessert-like notes. The Iced Banana Bread Latte is the one I tried. In Canada, Starbucks Canada also lists a hot Banana Bread Latte.
Dunkin’
Dunkin’ went big on banana in spring 2026. For National Banana Day on April 15, 2026, Dunkin’s parent company Inspire Brands highlighted these drinks:
- Banana Puddin’ Cloud Latte
- Banana Daydream Refresher
- Banana Shakin’ Espresso
- Bananarama Matcha
The same page notes that customers could customize drinks with Banana Syrup or Banana Cold Foam. I could not confirm on an official Dunkin’ page whether the banana lineup is still available as of September 2026. The easiest way to check is the Dunkin’ app for your local store.
Other Chains
Beyond those two, banana options vary a lot. Local cafes are often the most creative with seasonal syrups, so it never hurts to ask.
Store-Bought Banana Syrups
If you’d rather keep a bottle at home, two big syrup brands make banana flavors:
- Monin Banana Syrup. Monin’s official product page describes it as having “rich, ripe banana notes” and suggests using it in “decadent dessert mochas, cocoas and lattes.”
- Torani Crème de Banana Syrup. Torani uses its Crème de Banana Syrup in recipes on its own site, like this Iced Crème de Banana Mocha.
I’m not reviewing or ranking these. I just want you to know they exist so you can compare labels, sweetness, and sugar-free options at your local store.
A Simple Homemade Banana Syrup Method
To be clear, this isn’t my recipe. It comes from bartender Laurie Ellen Pellicano via PUNCH, and it’s a smart approach for anyone who likes a deeper, caramelized flavor. Here’s the method in plain terms:
- Mash ripe bananas and mix them with part of the dark brown sugar, plus cinnamon and salt.
- Roast the mixture in the oven, stirring now and then, until it caramelizes.
- Dissolve the rest of the brown sugar in boiling water.
- Combine the roasted banana with the sugar water.
- Cool it, refrigerate it overnight so the flavor infuses, and then strain out the solids.
Please check the original recipe for exact amounts, temperatures, and times.
Storage and Food Safety
Homemade fruit syrups are not the same as the shelf-stable bottles at the store. A few basics:
- Keep it in the fridge. An expert answer from Ask Extension, run by Cooperative Extension, advises refrigerating homemade infused syrups and keeping them “only a couple of weeks, or make fresh.”
- Follow the shorter window. The PUNCH recipe says its banana syrup is best used within one week.
- Don’t try to can it. The same Extension answer notes there is no research-based method for safely canning infused syrups.
- Use a clean jar and a clean spoon. Toss it if you see mold, cloudiness, or a sour smell.
How to Use Banana Syrup in Hot vs. Iced Coffee
Banana syrup works in both, but it behaves a little differently.
In Hot Coffee
- Stir the syrup into the hot coffee first so it dissolves fully.
- Add your milk after. This keeps the flavor even from the first sip to the last.
- Start small. It’s easy to add more and impossible to take it back out.
In Iced Coffee and Lattes
- Mix the syrup with your espresso or a splash of coffee before adding ice. Cold liquid makes syrup sink to the bottom.
- For an iced latte, layer syrup, espresso, ice, and then milk.
- Give it a good stir before drinking.
Pairing Ideas to Try
These are just ideas, not my own routine. Since the Starbucks drinks lean on banana, cinnamon, and brown sugar, those flavors are a natural starting point:
- Coconut milk. Banana and coconut are a classic tropical pairing.
- Cold foam. Dunkin’ offered a Banana Cold Foam, so a foam topping is clearly fair game.
- A pinch of cinnamon. This leans into the banana bread idea.
- Matcha. With “iced banana bread matcha” searches way up, banana plus matcha is worth a try.
- Chocolate. Torani pairs its banana syrup with dark chocolate sauce in a mocha.
Where Maple and Coconut Milk Fit In
If you’re curious about my everyday cup, I wrote a full guide to maple syrup in coffee and another on coconut milk in coffee. Those two make up my default cup.
A Quick Note on Added Sugar
Flavored syrups are added sugar, whether they come from a coffee shop, a bottle, or your own stove. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons (25 grams) of added sugar per day for most women and no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams) for most men.
A few easy ways to keep it in check:
- Ask for fewer pumps at the coffee shop.
- Use a smaller spoon at home.
- Look at sugar-free versions if that fits your needs.
- Check the nutrition info in the chain’s app before you order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is banana syrup for coffee actually popular?
Yes. Google Trends reported that searches for it passed “brown sugar syrup for coffee” in 2026.
Does Starbucks have banana drinks?
As of September 2026, Starbucks offers the Iced Banana Bread Latte and Iced Banana Bread Chai in the US. They launched August 25, 2026.
Can I still get banana drinks at Dunkin’?
Dunkin’ ran a banana lineup in spring 2026. Check the Dunkin’ app for your store, since availability changes.
Which brands sell bottled banana syrup?
Monin sells a Banana Syrup, and Torani sells a Crème de Banana Syrup.
How long does homemade banana syrup last?
Keep it refrigerated. The PUNCH recipe suggests using it within about one week.
Does banana syrup work in cold drinks?
It does. Mix it with espresso or coffee before adding ice so it doesn’t sink.
Is banana syrup healthy?
It’s a sweetener, so it counts as added sugar. The AHA suggests keeping added sugar within daily limits.
The Bottom Line
Banana syrup for coffee went from niche to mainstream in 2026. You can order it at big chains, buy it bottled, or make a batch at home and keep it in the fridge. Start with a small amount, pair it with flavors you already love, and keep an eye on the sugar.
If you’re building your own coffee routine, check out my guides to maple syrup in coffee and coconut milk in coffee, and when you’re in the mood for a treat on the go, see my breakdowns of Sonic happy hour and Dairy Queen happy hour. If you want to whip up your own flavors at home, check out my guide to homemade coffee syrup with brown sugar cinnamon, vanilla, pumpkin spice, and maple ideas.
