From Los Angeles to Kansas City all the way to the Philippines, there’s no shortage of creative beverages this winter season—and we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites.
BY EMILY JOY MENESES
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photo by Natalie Behn via Unsplash
Whether or not the area you live in is experiencing a “real” winter (it’s still 75 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny here in Los Angeles!), there’s always a way to incorporate the cozy feelings of the season into your café beverages. Around the globe, shop owners are spotlighting tried-and-true winter ingredients—think nutmeg, peppermint, dark chocolate, and more—in new and exciting ways. Read on to uncover some of our favorites this season!
Cafe Cà Phê: The Christmas Saigon
Known as Kansas City, Mo.’s first and only Vietnamese coffee shop, Cafe Cà Phê serves up The Christmas Saigon. This traditional Vietnamese coffee brewed on a phin filter is dressed up with peppermint, condensed milk, and a splash of oat milk.
Union Coffee Co.: Sugar Plum Latte
New Hampshire favorite Union Coffee Co. is making all of your sugar plum dreams come true! Their house-made “sugar plum syrup” is made with prunes, apricots, cranberries, and star anise.
Kumquat Coffee: Minty Mochaccino
As always, we’re impressed by Los Angeles-based Kumquat Coffee’s seasonal menu. The star is the Minty Mochaccino—a decadent, chocolate-y coffee drink topped with house-made mint whipped cream.
Paramount Coffee: Dark Choco Nutmeg Tea Infusion
With two locations in Davao City, Philippines, Paramount Coffee serves up Christmas vibes with its holiday special: a cozy blend of oolong tea, dark chocolate, and nutmeg.
Mr. Espresso’s The Caffè: Bicerin Alla Menta
Oakland, Calif.’s Mr Espresso has created a tribute to an Italian classic this holiday season. “Bicerin” (beech-eh-reen) means “small glass“ in Italian, and is a drinking chocolate native to Torino, Italy. The Bicerin alla Menta consists of a TCHO drinking chocolate recipe, a double shot of Mr. Espresso’s Signature Neapolitan Blend espresso, and a top layer of lightly whipped peppermint cream, served in the traditional small glass.
This drink was created in collaboration with Craig Stoll, owner and executive chef of San Francisco’s Delfina restaurant. Ten percent of the drink’s sales will go to Community Kitchens Oakland and their work toward food justice in Oakland’s underserved communities.
No Free Coffee: The Southern Comfort
Nashville, Tenn.’s No Free Coffee recently announced its newest signature drink, and it has all of the warm, comforting feelings you want from a winter beverage. The Southern Comfort is infused with molasses, cinnamon, clove, and allspice—the perfect blend of sweet and spicy.
Pinhole Coffee: Gingersnap Capp
Pinhole Coffee, which has a café in San Francisco and a coffee van in Ojai, Calif., created a fantastic drink for the holidays. Cue their Gingersnap Capp: a typical cappuccino, holiday-ified with an infusion of ginger, brown sugar, molasses, clove, and cinnamon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emily Joy Meneses (she/they) is a writer and musician based in Los Angeles. Her hobbies include foraging, cortados, vintage synths, and connecting with her Filipino roots through music, art, food, and beverage.
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