The Dalai Java

10/01/2026

Not sure if it’s still called spooky season, but we decided to get real spooky with this month’s specials design. We do like jamming to Joy Division and The Cure at the shop, I will say.

Decided to put a little different twist on the pumpkin spice latte this month. Sichuan pepper pairs surprisingly well with pumpkin. It has an earthy, citrus flavor and adds a tingling/numbing sensation to anything it’s added to. Ask for an extra pump of syrup if you’re looking for an interesting sensory experience in your latte.

Grapes are in season in the Finger Lakes, and it would be a crime not to use them for a matcha special. The grape simple syrup is made from scratch with local Concord grapes. This one is deliciously jammy.

With apples in season as well, we felt it was a good time to bring back a chai special. Combining a from-scratch simple syrup made with local McIntosh apples and our guy The Chai Guy’s chai, this month’s chai will make a crisp fall day chai-tastic.

09/03/2026

09/01/2026

Another September, another month of specials, and another great summer to remember.

For this month’s latte, we took the spices used to make pho and infused them into a simple syrup. While it doesn’t taste like soup, this union of aromatics serves as a tasty transition from summer to fall.

It’s fig season right now, and luckily, it’s always matcha latte season. Made with purple figs and local honey, this classy combo will have you asking where the charcuterie board is. Great hot or iced.

Back-to-school isn’t complete without PB&J. We made a peanut butter sauce and a strawberry jam syrup to turn a classic school lunch item into cold brew form. Add a toasted marshmallow cold foam if you want to add some marshmallow Fluff.

Go Bills 🦬

08/01/2026

Seasonal fruit is this month’s theme 🍑

The Blackberry Cobbler Latte is made with real blackberries and a house-made oat simple syrup. The only thing missing is a scoop of ice cream and a spork.

We’ve also got another funky matcha this month: the White Mocha Melon Matcha Latte. It’s topped with a makrut (kaffir) lime cold foam and made with house-made melon and lime syrups. Shoutout to our barista, Emilie, for the inspiration 🤙🏼

The Peach Fuzz Spritz is our Dolce Vita with a twist. It has all the same flavors, with the addition of a house-made peach syrup. Not a bad way to finish the day when you’re trying to beat the heat. It’s pretty peachy… ba dum tss 🥁

07/02/2026

In order to give our beloved staff time to enjoy the holiday weekend we will be closing at 12pm on the 4th and 5th of July.

We look forward to sharing another 4th of July with all of you 🇺🇸

07/01/2026

It’s finally summer in the CDGA, and we’ve got some fun July specials to celebrate.

This month’s latte features a caramel made with miso. Yes, the same stuff that goes into ramen broth. While it may sound out of place, it creates a delicious combination of sweet and salty that’s well worth checking out.

Following in the footsteps of the Johnny Utah with more Point Break references, we have Ride the Wave. This special is a layered salted watermelon matcha with blue spirulina milk, creating a tie-dye "wave" of blue and green.

S’mores and summer go hand in hand, so we decided to bring the campfire to you. The S’mores Cold Brew features brûléed toasted marshmallow cold foam and is served with a graham cracker garnish.

06/19/2026

No powders, no frozen cans, and no store-bought bottles of lemon juice. From-scratch lemonade is here for the summer.

We also have a couple of fun creations for the adventurous.

The Bootsy Collins, named after the famous bass legend, is half lemonade and half cold brew. Same idea as an Arnold Palmer, but with a little more funk.

Lastly is the Yellowjacket This combines lemonade, espresso, honey, and a pinch of dried Thai chili for some sweet heat with a kick of caffeine.

06/11/2026

Warm weather is here and there’s no better time to kick back and cool off.
The Dolce Vita is an Italian style soda made with fresh lemon and Orzata almond syrup. Crisp, refreshing and not too bad with a shot of espresso.
You’ll be living life in a dolce vita.

06/05/2026

The sodas are getting dirty at Dalai

Dirty Soda options are now available. Any and every soda available in our cooler is able to be customized any which way you would like. Prices and sizes will vary based on soda of choice.

This also includes sparkling water and flavored seltzers if anyone wants to do a more Italian style soda.

Don’t forget to add a shot of espresso ☕️