One of Isla Vista’s staples found on the corner of Pardall, KOZY Coffee recently made the switch from Monin syrups to house made syrups, elevating the quality and taste of their drinks. With a new seasonal menu and new vanilla cold foam, a whole new world of drink combinations has opened up. As someone who is frequently at KOZY — a KOZY creature, if you will — I was more than excited to try the new drinks. 

As a self- appointed coffee snob, anytime I walk into a coffee shop and see Torani syrups behind the bar, I know my latte will probably be mediocre at best. Truthfully, I might just walk right back out. Not that there’s anything wrong with Torani syrups — they’re perfectly acceptable … for homemade coffees. Any reputable coffee shop will use Monin syrups in their drinks, but the coffee shops truly at the top of their game will make their own syrups, giving them their own unique flavor. How do I know this? I have been spending absurd amounts of money on iced vanilla lattes since middle school, and I’m from Los Angeles — coffee shop central.

The first drink I tried was an iced Berry Green, a matcha latte with the new housemade raspberry syrup. My staple drink at KOZY is the Honey Matcha with oat milk, so I was quite intrigued by this new flavor. At first, I only found hints of the raspberry flavor, but then, the rich, tart taste hit after a few sips. I thought the zestiness of the raspberry paired really nicely with the natural flavor of the matcha. For those who prefer sweeter matcha lattes, I would suggest asking for honey or vanilla if you choose to try this drink. The Berry Green gets an 8/10.

A matcha with vanilla cold foam is the perfect drink for a sunny day.

In the middle of midterm season, a cold brew is just what’s needed to wake up, and the Isla Vista Vibe did exactly that before my Wednesday morning exam. I have grown quite fond of the KOZY Cold Brew — it is silky, smooth and rich. This cold brew drink is topped off with the new vanilla cold foam and cocoa powder, a perfect combination. The vanilla cold foam adds some sweetness and subtle hints of vanilla, elevating the coffee flavor yet still maintaining the richness from the cold brew. I would recommend the Isla Vista Vibe for anyone that needs a quick pick-me-up but doesn’t want an overly sweet drink. As an added bonus, it’s aesthetically pleasing, earning this drink a 9/10. 

The Garden Grove was the next drink I tried, and it did not disappoint. For those familiar with the Honey Vanilla Latte, the Garden Grove is the new, sophisticated version of the KOZY classic featuring their new housemade vanilla syrup. The new syrup really allows the honey flavor to shine through, pairing really well with the bitterness of the espresso. It adds a new and elevated taste to the already tried and true classic drink. I would consider it my new go to drink, giving it a solid 10/10. 

The last drink I tried off the new seasonal menu was the Dark Sunset, a mocha latte with the new raspberry syrup. I generally don’t go for mochas, so this drink was not my favorite of the bunch. However, it did taste like one of the chocolate candies that have raspberry jam in the middle, which I did quite enjoy despite my aversion to mochas. The iced version of the drink reminded me of a cold raspberry flavored hot chocolate. Overall, I think this drink would taste better as a hot latte, so I’m giving it a 7/10.

The “Dark Sunset” mocha latte brings together fruity and chocolate.

With five new drinks on the seasonal menu, the only drink I did not try was the Pacific Drift, a raspberry Americano with tonic water. I am just not a fan of Americanos, but I did really like the raspberry syrup in the other drink, so it would be worth giving a try if you are more fond of Americanos than I am. 

On a whim, I decided to add the vanilla cold foam to an iced Matcha Latte, and it was a great decision. Again, I like my matcha lattes to be less sweet, which makes the cold foam a great addition because it too is not overwhelmingly sweet. For those who do like sweet matcha drinks, I would still add the cold foam to your matcha orders. I give a regular iced Matcha Latte with vanilla cold foam a 9/10. 

Overall, the new syrups and vanilla cold foam at KOZY made their drinks even better than before, and it continues to be one of my favorite coffee shops in Isla Vista. The new vanilla syrup is definitely my favorite and makes the KOZY classics taste even better. As a Kozy creature, I will continue to frequent the coffee shop and try any new drinks they come out with in the future.

A version of this article appeared on p. 11 of the March 6th, 2025 print edition of the Daily Nexus.