With Mardi Gras drawing nigh, Tamp & Grind Coffee cafe baresta Kevin Gonzales has not been idle.

"I do come up with ideas and we do mix our own flavors here," Kevin said, referring to seasonal creations currently available in the cafe located at 828 Fourth Street in downtown Alexandria, Louisiana.

"So we get a bunch of Torani syrups and then I usually try to think of, you know, what's seasonal and then I try to come up with different flavors, mix and match different flavors, to make our own original flavors," Kevin said.

Seasonal coffee drinks were offered during Christmas, for example.

"I try to do that for every holiday," he said.

And now is Mardi Gras time.

"Like, we have our own flavors that we make -- we have the Maple Nut, King Cake, Bananas Fosters, Banana Nut -- those are all ones we make," Kevin said.

Being that it is Mardi Gras, Bananas Foster recipes have been known to call for rum as an ingredient.

No alcohol is used in making T&G coffee drinks that imitate such recipes, though.

Kevin said he attempts to get as close to "the actual thing," however, and many customers "think it's convincing," he said. "We do a good job here," Kevin added with a laugh.

Tamp & Grind owner Jeff Phillips said, "We can buy from our company Bananas Foster flavoring but his Bananas Foster that he matched actually tastes better so we were going to keep that ... I'm happy with that."

Alcohol isn't the only ingredient absent in T&G's Mardi Gras coffee creations. "No baby in the King Cake -- no, that would be a lawsuit waiting to happen," Kevin added.

"The Masquerade Latte is Bananas Fosters with white chocolate and the Carnival Cake tastes like King Cake with icing on top," he said.

"You could add a little thing and it tastes totally different."

Phillips said that in addition to Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day is also celebrated this month and he hopes to offer a special "date night" at Tamp & Grind.

"We'll be sure and make a nice little evening available for the Valentine's sweethearts," Phillips said.

Kevin said he is also working on creations for St. Patrick's Day.

"They're not going to be here for long," he said. "They're seasonal drinks."