It's no secret that we love coffee, especially when it comes from a local coffee shop. That's why we decided to visit five Lakeland cafes for one of our favorite drinks — an iced vanilla latte — to deal out some superlatives for these sips.

Best paired with a baked good

Unfiltered Lakeland, 801 E. Main St. | Grab a seat in this eclectic space and enjoy your latte with one of Unfiltered's warm blueberry muffins — you'll thank us later.

We love stopping by Mitchell's before a day of downtown shopping. | Photo by LALtoday

The perfect balance

Mitchell's Coffee House, 235 N. Kentucky Ave. | This latte had just the right balance of bold espresso, sweet vanilla, and creamy milk. It would pair perfectly with whatever bites you find at the farmers market.

Cool off with this sugary sip made with Bustelo, a Latin-inspired espresso. | Photo by LALtoday

For the sweet tooth

La Imperial Bakery, 830 E. Main St. | This concoction is great for those seeking a sweet treat. It's made with chilled Bustelo espresso and French vanilla for a syrupy sweet beverage.

The caffeinated drinks from Black & Brew have fueled many of our newsletters. | Photo by LALtoday

Emphasis on espresso

Black & Brew Coffee House & Bistro, locations vary | If you want a latte with a strong coffee taste, this is your best bet. The vanilla takes a backseat to let the espresso shine.

Add a bit of cinnamon to spice up your regular vanilla latte at Pressed. | Photo by LALtoday

Good to the last chapter

Pressed, 213 E. Bay St. | Linger over your book with an iced vanilla latte at this bookstore/coffee shop. Pro tip: We added a dash of cinnamon so each sip had new layers of flavor all the way to our final page.

Of course, we didn't visit all of Lakeland's coffee shops — can you imagine how caffeinated we'd be if we did? Tell us which drinks and cafes we should rate in our next roundup and we just might use your idea.