For this edition of Guide to Greenwich, I visited three coffee shops to determine which sold the best peppermint hot chocolate in Greenwich, Connecticut. I judged the drinks based off the flavor of chocolate and peppermint, their price, and their proximity to Sacred Heart Greenwich.
Starbucks
First, I headed to Starbucks in Rye, New York, located conveniently in the center of town. The staff was kind and greeted me with welcoming smiles when I entered. I went after school, so there were many students flooding in after school to get some work done and grab a quick drink.
When ordering, you have to select your milk of choice, and personally I prefer half and half, so that is what I selected. I purchased a grande Peppermint Hot Chocolate for $6.30. Starbucks provided a perfectly refreshing yet festive drink. Initially, the peppermint was more subtle, but the more I drank it, the stronger the peppermint flavor became. The peppermint was more flavorful than anticipated, but it was definitely a good accompaniment to the chocolate. The efficient preparation of the drink was impressive given the busyness of the café, and this Starbucks is just a 16 minute drive away from Sacred Heart, making it a great choice for a festive pick me up.
Gregorys Coffee
Next, I headed over to Gregorys Coffee on Greenwich Avenue. Though the café was not too busy, it took the barista a bit longer to make my drink. The layout of Gregorys Coffee is inviting as there is an abundance of open space and tables at which people can work. There were less people in the café in comparison to Starbucks, but most of the people there were working on their laptops.
Again, I selected half and half milk when ordering the peppermint hot chocolate. I purchased a 12 ounce cup of this drink for $6.49, which is a bit more expensive than the Starbucks. Gregorys Coffee provided the perfect balance between peppermint and chocolate in this drink. The peppermint used seemed to be less sharp and more sweet, which paired well with the subtle crispness of the chocolate. Gregorys Coffee served a drink that was not too sweet but not too bitter, making it enjoyable from start to finish. Gregorys Coffee is a 14 minute drive away from campus and is definitely worth the drive.
Love You a Latte
Finally, I made my way to Love You A Latte in Greenwich, Connecticut. The café was not too busy as I went there later in the day, and they made my drink relatively quickly. Love You a Latte café is smaller in size compared to the previous two cafés, but that makes for a cozy ambiance perfect for the holiday season. Due to my evening visit to the café, there were not many people, but the staff greeted me kindly with smiles and a hello.
Unlike most other cafés, they do not ask you to select your milk of choice when ordering. I purchased the regular size of their peppermint hot chocolate for $6.90, which is a steep price increase in comparison to the previous cafés. The drink provided by Love You a Latte was definitely sweet, and unfortunately the sweetness of the drink overpowered the other components of peppermint and chocolate flavor. Because of the drink’s sweetness, its taste became overwhelming, making the drink somewhat unpleasant. Love You a Latte is a 12 minute drive away from campus, making it the closest of all three cafés. Despite the short distance, unfortunately, I do not think the drink is worth the large price increase due to its excessive sweetness and lack of peppermint flavor.
Winner
After tasting all three Peppermint Hot Chocolates from three different locations, I have decided that Gregorys coffee sold the best rendition of a peppermint hot chocolate. The café is not too far from campus, making it relatively accessible. The drink has a reasonable price amongst the others, and the welcoming ambiance of the café paired with the blend of peppermint and hot chocolate made for an overall great experience.
Featured Image by Catherine Ononye ’27
