Why fill the cup with ice first?

Warm espresso melts ice fast. Building the drink in a separate pitcher gives the espresso, syrup, and caramel time to combine without watering down your final pour. When you do pour over the ice, the cubes barely budge and the drink stays at the strength you intended.

Can I use peppermint syrup instead of Mint Syrup?

You can, but you'll get a different drink. Our Mint Coffee Syrup is spearmint, so the cooling is gentler and the flavor sweeter. Peppermint runs sharper and reads more like a holiday candy cane than a summer porch sipper. For this build, stick with the spearmint Mint Syrup.

What milk works best?

Whole milk gives the creamiest body and stands up best to the espresso and caramel. Oat milk is the closest non-dairy match because it has enough fat to carry the coffee. Skim milk thins everything out and lets the caramel feel cloying, so skip it if you can.