Starbucks recently released their holiday menu, so it’s officially the holiday season! I’ve debated putting my tree up early and splurging on gingerbread candles that are way too expensive. There is absolutely nothing like the romance of big, red scarves, and coffee so hot that it burns your tongue on a December morning. Although I am a loyal pumpkin spice latte drinker, I have decided to try all of the new Starbucks ‘holiday’ flavors before they’re taken off the menu once again. Here is the best guide to savoring each beautiful red and green covered cup while still not going caffeine crazy!
First things first, I’d like to make an official list for you to follow on your holiday-coffee-drinking journey: the classic Peppermint Mocha, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, and the Eggnog Latte. Don’t they all just sound perfect for a snowy day while you are wrapped up in a blanket and holding a warm, festive cup? The listed drinks are the seasonal drinks Starbucks lays out for you, but remember you can always tweak your order a bit depending on what level of sweetness you prefer and your opinions on dairy; you can even opt out for coffee entirely. Even better, they all come in hot, iced, or frappuccino options! This was such a relief for me; because I live somewhere where the weather never dips below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, I can still enjoy the winter drinks with some fresh ice.
After making your list (you may even want to include the seasonal treats like scones in your journey), you can create a solid plan to conquer all of the drinks in a way that you can enjoy each one. My advice is to spread out each Starbucks run by at least 3 days, just to let the flavor profiles of each really sit with you. Fortunately it is still mid-November, so this holiday drink journey can be spread out all the way until the end of December! While it is obvious that I love my Starbucks coffee no matter the season, I’m still a college student and the coffee charges start adding up rather quickly. My best advice is to download the Starbucks app on your phone and set up a free rewards account. Through this, you can earn “stars” everytime you purchase a coffee and these stars later accumulate to free drinks or other fun rewards. Additionally, the app lets you know of special offers and discount days in your area. For example, this past Thursday on November 12th, Starbucks had a ‘Happy Hour’ event from 2-7pm where all of their drinks were “BOGO” (buy one get one free)! Not only did I accumulate more stars, but also I got to treat my mom to a holiday drink—I got to try a new holiday drink too! It’s also pretty convenient to refill your Starbucks card through the app and use it to set a weekly spending limit for yourself. It’s so easy to get carried away with these delicious drinks.
If you’re just not the type of person that loves sugary drinks or coffee but still wants it to feel like the holidays, Starbucks now sells their Holiday Brews at various U.S. supermarkets. These products are for Keurig and Nespresso coffee machines, and also come in limited edition “instant” versions or cold brew bottles. The most easily-available holiday flavors you’ll find in participating grocery stores are the Peppermint Mocha and the Holiday Blend. Even though I have yet to try it, I’m sure it’s delicious. If you’re an at-home coffee drinker, that’s totally okay too! The shelves are already stocked with peppermint and eggnog-flavored creamers in my local supermarkets.
This is my fun way of getting into the holiday mood and enjoying coffee runs as a way to get out of my house; I hope some of my tips have helped. Happy drinking!