In honor of the epic Snowpocalypse 2011, you’re probably looking for some way to stay warm. Our solution – get yourself a hot beverage! We’ve narrowed down the specialty drinks available around campus to the absolute best in quality and most reasonably priced. Cheers!
*On our scale of 1-5, 5 is the best.
Uprise Bakery: Hot Chocolate
Rating: 3
Price: $2.75
This little shop is located next to Ragtag Cinema on Hitt Street. It’s a few blocks from campus, but it’s a nice place to stop before or after a movie with the girls. We got a hot chocolate and were pleasantly surprised. This drink was just the right ready-to-drink temperature with the perfect amount of sweet melted chocolate. Also, this hot cocoa is made with real Hershey’s, which makes a huge difference. It was a great morning pick-me-up! The only complaint we have is Uprise’s distance from campus. We wouldn’t want to hoof it there just for this drink, but if we were in the neighborhood, we would definitely stop by again.
Infusion: Peanut Butter Cup Shake
Rating: 5
Price: $4.29
Part of the newest addition to the Student Center, Infusion has become a popular place to get your breakfast and morning coffee fix. Infusion’s Peanut Butter Cup Shake was the best milkshake we’ve had in a long time. The location was ideal while on our way to class, and the price wasn’t all that bad (plus you can just charge it on your E.Z. Charge account). This is the perfect order for a peanut butter-lover and is made with real ice cream. Deliciously creamy and topped with whipped cream, it would make for a great afternoon snack. Infusion also has three signature Mizzou blends of coffee and AMAZING smoothies!
Starbucks: Tall Hot Chocolate
Rating: 1
Price: $2.55
Located conveniently in Memorial Union, this Starbucks always seems to be the most crowded coffee joint in the early mornings. Luckily, we went when the line wasn’t all the way out the door. But it was still the longest amount of time we had to wait for any warm drink. Essentially, this hot chocolate tasted like a watery cocoa mix topped with whipped cream, and we had to wait 15 minutes for the scalding drink to cool down. Not to mention, it was pretty pricey for a small cup!
Panera: Caffe Mocha
Rating: 2
Price: $3.19
On 9th Street in downtown Columbia, Panera is the perfect place for a breakfast or lunch date or a quiet study spot. When it comes to fulfilling a coffee craving, though, we suggest going some place else. The Caffe Mocha was served scorching hot and once again entailed a long cool-down wait. On the blander side, it didn’t compare to the other drinks we tried.
Kaldi’s: Mint Chocolate Frappe
Rating: 4
Price: $3.50
We had never been to Kaldi’s, which is located on Ninth and Cherry as well, but we instantly loved its atmosphere. We went on a Sunday afternoon when Kaldi’s was filled with Mizzou students studying and chit-chatting. We recommend Kaldi’s if you’re looking for a new place to study or want to go out for a quality coffee with your friends. Not only is the vibe great, but its Mint Chocolate Frappe is amazing as well. It’s a cold drink, and the flavor is so different that it doesn’t have an overwhelming coffee taste. This drink is a quick caffeine fix that will wake you up right away for those early-morning finals!
Coffee Zone: Turtle Mocha
Rating: 2
Price: $3.95
Coffee Zone is a café on Ninth St. past E. Broadway. We found the trip there to be quite a hike, and we’re not sure if its Turtle Mocha is worth it. We crave our caffeine as much as the rest of the Starbucks-addicts on campus but don’t like the actual caffeine taste. The Turtle Mocha was not our favorite, but Coffee Zone seems like a good place to get away from campus to study and grab a snack.
Starbucks: Caramel Macchiato
Rating: 4
Price: $3.25
Looking to try something new at Starbucks? The Caramel Macchiato is the perfect blend of coffee and caramel-y goodness. Unfortunately, there aren’t many well-done caramel beverages out there. This one takes the cake! Just the right drink to cuddle up with a good book or movie, this indulgence is guilt-free; another plus is that it’s low-cal!