We asked our online readers what drinks they brewed up this holiday season; here’s a list of some of our favorites.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Featured photo courtesy of The Undergrounds Coffee Co.
When the weather outside is frightful, nothing warms the spirit like a café drink laden with seasonal flavors. For our yearly round-up of our favorite holiday beverages, we asked Barista Magazine readers what they were brewing up for the winter—and their answers didn’t disappoint. Read on for our top picks.
Olympia Coffee: Mulled Coffee & Ginger Spice Latte
With locations across the state of Washington—a region notorious for its harsh winters—Olympia Coffee is warming their community up with seasonal drinks like Mulled Coffee (filter coffee with steamed cranberry juice and mulling spices, finished with an orange wheel and cinnamon) and their Ginger Spice Latte (ginger and warm baking spices folded into espresso and steamed milk, finished with orange bitters).
They describe their Mulled Coffee as “a familiar holiday aroma, but with a little shimmer around the edges,” and their Ginger Spice Latte as “bright and warming, like someone opened a window and let the holiday air in.” We’re loving their creative twist on holiday classics.
The Undergrounds Coffee Co.: Pink Peppercorn Persimmon Matcha
For a holiday drink that’s both luxurious and refreshing, The Undergrounds Coffee Co. is serving up a Pink Peppercorn Persimmon Matcha.
Based in St. Petersburg, Fla., the coffee shop has infused this colorful beverage with layers of house-made persimmon syrup, persimmon cold foam, and pink peppercorn flakes. The result is a seasonal special that’s both eye-catching and delicious—a joyful medley of Christmas cheer.
Taproom Coffee: Oatmeal Crème Pie Latte
Who says coffee can’t also be dessert? Atlanta, Georgia’s Taproom Coffee shares one of their seasonal specials, the Oatmeal Crème Pie Latte: made with espresso, milk, house-made spiced oat syrup, and vanilla bean whipped cream.
Other standouts on their winter menu include a Maple Sage Latte and Gochujang Caramel Latte, infused with a sweet and spicy caramel sauce.
And for those local to Atlanta, Ashley Bo, social media manager at Taproom Coffee, shares that the café is currently hosting a winter donation drive. Through the drive, which is a collaboration between Taproom and nonprofit Intown Cares, the café will collect winter gear, sleeping bags, and blankets for those in need. To learn more about the donation drive, visit Taproom Coffee’s Instagram.
Dedo Coffee: Smoked Star Anise Latte
Based in Long Beach, Calif., Dedo Coffee is both a specialty coffee shop and a hi-fi listening space, where customers can sit in for vinyl listening sessions hosted by local DJs.
Their holiday menu includes creative recipes like their Rosemary Oat Shakerato and Smoked Star Anise Latte: Cloudscape espresso from Unity Coffee with milk, smoked star anise, and cinnamon simple syrup. Sweet, smoky, and spicy, this drink hits all of the notes.
Compass Coffee: Sugar Cookie Pudding Matcha
The holiday season simply wouldn’t be complete without a batch of warm, homemade cookies—especially sugar cookies. Vancouver, Wash.’s Compass Coffee has perfectly captured the essence of this seasonal favorite with their Sugar Cookie Pudding Matcha.
Sweetened with house-made sugar cookie syrup infused with vanilla and almond, then topped with sugar cookie pudding, this beverage is truly a treat.
Drink Up & Be Merry
Thank you to all of the cafés that shared their holiday creations with us! As we close out the year, may your holidays be filled with all of the joy, community, and coffee your heart desires.
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