Guide to Greenwich – Holiday Drinks

For this edition of Guide to Greenwich, we strolled through Greenwich and the local area to review different coffee shops and cafés that sell seasonal drinks for the holiday season. 

Starbucks

Our first stop was Starbucks, located on Greenwich Avenue.  Every year, Starbucks releases its new holiday menu, along with red, festive holiday cups.  As we walked into the store, the smell of gingerbread and chestnut filled the air.  From the eight holiday drinks on the menu, we decided to order a tall Toasted White Chocolate Mocha for $4.

The Toasted White Chocolate Mocha consists of espresso with white chocolate mocha sauce, topped with whipped cream and candied cranberry sugar. 

The other customers gathered around the pickup counter to collect their drinks as the baristas crafted the beverages with cheerful spirits.  The barista passed us our warm Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, and with each sip, the sugar melted in our mouths.

Le Pain Quotidien

Our second stop was Le Pain Quotidien (LPQ), also located on Greenwich Avenue.  When we walked into LPQ, the staff welcomed us into the jolly atmosphere, and the staff seated us right away.  The aroma of freshly baked pastries and coffee filled the air. 

After looking through the menu, we decided to order a medium Belgian Mocha for $5.25.  The Belgian Mocha is a hot drink that combines Belgian chocolate and mocha flavors.  To us, the drink tasted like a wonderful mixture of hot chocolate and coffee. 

The delightful holiday drink had a great pairing of melted Belgian chocolate and mocha.  Overall, LPQ had a welcoming and warm environment, suiting for the holiday season.

Dunkin’ Donuts

Lastly, we traveled to Dunkin’ Donuts, located on West Putnam Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut.  Dunkin’ Donuts also uses holiday inspired cups that display the word “joy” to serve the seasonal drinks.  The shop also has a wide array of snacks to pair with any drink.

We decided to order a large White Chocolate Latte with whipped cream for $3.99.  This holiday drink is perfect for a cold winter night, and the Dunkin’ Donuts cup made us want to countdown the days until Christmas.  However, the drink was very sweet since it was topped with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle. 

Winner:
After trying all of the different holiday drinks, the winner of this edition of Guide to Greenwich is Starbucks’ White Chocolate Mocha.  The drink was delicious and the atmosphere of the coffee shop brightened each customer’s day.  While each of the drinks had its own unique taste, the tall White Chocolate Mocha is the perfect choice for the holiday season.

Featured Image by Juliana Collins ’19 and Katherine Santoro ’19