The best vanilla syrup for coffee should sweeten your daily cup of joe with the perfect smooth consistency and strong vanilla bean flavor. It shouldn’t be cloying, taste artificial, or require seven pumps to achieve your desired flavor. But what sets the best vanilla coffee syrup brands apart from the others? Do they really taste all that different? Let’s discuss.
Vanilla lattes were my gateway drug. I wouldn’t be the coffee addict I am today without them. And since being a coffee addict is most of my identity plus the only reason I ever get anything done, I owe a lot to that little drink. I’m not going to stand here and besmirch the art of vanilla-flavored coffee with lies, okay? I refuse.
So here’s the deal: Many store-bought vanilla syrups taste pretty darn similar. You have to really sit down and search for flavor discrepancies if you want to find them. Which is exactly what I did. I tried each of these vanilla syrups with the same breakfast blend brew (courtesy of Walmart coffee pods, which is what we had lying around), side-by-side, like a syrup sommelier. I searched for a few key things: potency, authentic vanilla flavor, sweetness level, and syrup hardware—aka, does it come with a pump? How easy is it to pour? User experience is key when it comes to the best coffee syrups. And while I can’t say I found the be-all, end-all of the best vanilla syrup for coffee, these five store-bought options below are definitely worth buying.
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- DaVinci Gourmet Classic French Vanilla Syrup
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Right away DaVinci’s french vanilla syrup stands out from the crowd, thanks to its darker, amber pigment and sleek bottle. Now, does that color mean the vanilla is higher quality? Not necessarily. “Caramel color” is listed in the ingredients, so really, the brand knows what it’s doing. Still, I can’t fault the rich flavor. You don’t need to add much to taste it. With the bolder color, I love this choice for your snow cone syrup—it won’t make it seem like you’re eating straight ice. My only grievance is that it comes at a slightly higher price point than the others (about $10). Plus, you have to buy the pump separately!
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Signature Select Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup
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It was tricky to pin down the best sugar free vanilla syrup—like their full-sugar counterparts, they all have very similar flavor profiles. Unexpectedly, Signature Select was more potent in terms of sweetness than the plain old cane sugar syrups. It’s a one-pump wonder; a little goes a long way. Luckily, it’s not cloying or too fake tasting by any means. But my advice when searching for the best sugar-free vanilla syrup? Pick your artificial sweetener poison. Signature Select uses sucralose and acesulfame potassium. There are other options out there, like Jordan’s Skinny Mixes Naturally Sweetened Syrups, that use erythritol, monk fruit, and stevia. Personally, monk fruit lingers in a way that isn’t for me, but not everything in the world is about me! Almost, but not quite. In my (professional) opinion, this is the best vanilla syrup for coffee if you don’t do sugar.
Credit: Merc / Vons
- Private Selection Vanilla Syrup
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As a cheaper Torani dupe (our runner up for best vanilla coffee syrup), you really can’t go wrong with Private Selection’s vanilla syrup. The flavor difference is negligible, but the price ($3.99) is a buck cheaper. Instead of a pump, this one comes with a spout-like top that makes pouring very easy and mess-free. If you find this in a Kroger-owned store, don’t be afraid to pick it up—it’s one of the best vanilla coffee syrups I’ve tasted so far.
Credit: Merc / Kroger
- Torani Vanilla Syrup
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I actually really wavered on first and second place here. Torani is the “it” girl of coffee syrups for good reason: their vanilla flavor is smooth, potent, and perfectly balanced, carrying just the right amount of sugar. It has a silky consistency that feels like the real deal. It’s got all the hardware options—you can buy it with a pump or with that handy spout top. Torani makes some of the best coffee syrups. No one’s denying that.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Syruvia Vanilla Syrup for Coffee
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There is something especially rich about Syruvia’s vanilla syrup. It has a rounded, concentrated vanilla bean nuttiness that doesn’t rely on sugar to be interesting. It’s velvety smooth, with a flavor depth that makes a real difference in your plain ol’ cup of joe. You can buy it with a pump, which yes, makes it a little pricier than other brands on this list—so don’t be afraid of the other options above! But from one coffee addict to another, this is the best vanilla syrup for coffee we’ve tasted to date. Be your own barista. Live, laugh, latte.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
Best Aesthetic
Best Sugar Free
Lowest Price
Runner Up
Bset of the Best
Other products we tried: Signature Select Vanilla Coffee Syrup, Jordan’s Skinny Syrups Sugar Free Coffee Syrup
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!