Weekday mornings can be rough. When the alarm starts annoyingly bleeping at 7:30 a.m., the last thing any collegiette wants to do is get out of bed. Getting dressed, styling the hair, and fumbling with make-up seem like daunting tasks when warm blankets are encouraging you to stay safe and secure in your comfy bed. But there is one thing that can make mornings relatively bearable: coffee.
If you find yourself on lower campus, Hillside is your best bet to get that caffeinated jolt. However, if you’re like me and are totally OBSESSED with the new Chocolate Bar, then Stokes Hall is where it’s at. There’s something about walking into an academic building and being greeted by a sweet aroma of mocha, espresso, and chocolatey goodness that makes the worst mornings so much better.
Since coffee is my A.M. savior, I considered myself pretty well versed in the art of ordering drinks with the perfect balance of caffeine, milk, and sugar. That is, until I heard someone order a hazelnut mocha the other day. A coffee lover’s take on Nutella? Sounds like a drink designed for the gods. I decided to consult a friend who works in The Chocolate Bar to learn about other “secret” drinks that students can order. Next time you find yourself wanting some coffee and you’re feeling adventurous, try one of these “secret” concoctions:
Hazelnut Mocha
This is the drink that started my fascination with trying new Chocolate Bar drink combinations. If you usually order a mocha, then this is a MUST. Ask for hazelnut flavoring in your next mocha and you will be sipping on liquid Nutella. What could be better than that?
Raspberry Mocha
Similar to the hazelnut mocha, ordering this drink is a way to spice up your usual mocha. Ask for raspberry flavoring and your taste buds will scream with delight. Raspberry and chocolate are soul mates. It would be a travesty not to combine them in a coffee drink.
Dirty Chai
I had never heard of this drink until recently, but as a lover of chai lattes I had to include it. When you order a dirty chai, you will get your standard chai latte (hot or iced), but with a fun addition: an espresso shot! If you really need a caffeine boost, then order a dirty double for two shots. And if you want to really mix things up, ask for vanilla syrup to sweeten things up. Believe me, it’s delicious.
BC’s Take on the Starbucks Caramel Macchiato
If you always order a caramel macchiato when you go to Starbucks, then you are going to love this Chocolate Bar secret. To recreate the popular Starbucks concoction, ask for latte with both caramel and vanilla syrup. For all you chocoholics out there, you can always order a mocha with caramel and vanilla syrup. It is probably coffee heaven on earth.
Raspberry or Strawberry Iced Tea
Not in the mood for coffee? This secret drink is for you. I’m sure you know that The Chocolate Bar sells iced tea, but what you probably don’t know is that you can add either raspberry or strawberry flavor shots to your tea. And just think how amazing strawberry iced tea or raspberry iced tea would taste on a warm spring day. Am I making you thirsty?
So next time you find yourself at The Chocolate Bar, or even at Hillside, why not try ordering something new? Feel free to try one of these “secret” drinks or to create your own concoction. Before you run out to get your caffeine fix, remember the barista’s best kept secret: any syrup flavor can go in any drink, so feel free to test out any combinations that you think sound good.
Photo Sources:
http://www.chasingthere.com/2013/02/recipe-nutella-coffee.html