It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The long-awaited holiday menu is back at Starbucks, and finals are closing in fast. As we brace for the end of the semester, the red cups seem to signal two things at once: holiday cheer and a siren of panic. The overlapping of finals season and the holiday season is quite a tragedy for college students. Still, the annual festive menu gifts us a sense of ritual and comfort amidst our increasingly volatile lives. Your Starbucks order isn’t just a drink; it’s a personality test, a coping strategy, and maybe even a cry for help disguised behind a smiling mermaid. Whatever your cup of choice, it comes with a built-in finals strategy; you just have to know how to read it.
Peppermint mocha
If your favorite holiday drink is a Peppermint Mocha, it’s been your favorite forever; you’ve been waiting for it all year, maybe even dreaming about it. You’re social and outspoken, especially when defending your love for mint against the tyrannical “toothpaste” brigade. Some may call you basic, but you don’t care. You know what you like, and you wear it proudly on your cup sleeve. For finals, you know what you need to do. Channel that caffeinated confidence into your work: trust your instincts, stick to your tried-and-true methods, and don’t let anyone else’s opinions distract you.
Gingerbread Latte
Nostalgic, loyal, and deeply attached to ritual — that’s the Gingerbread Latte. This drink has been through the wringer (and so have its fans). Originally introduced in the early 2000s, the drink was then discontinued in 2019, just to be brought back briefly in 2023, and is now back on the 2025 menu. Gingerbread Latte fans know the pain of inconsistency, and they crave stability and structure; something that Starbucks hasn’t always delivered. Your plan for finals should be fireproof, like your love for this drink. While some may say you are too much of a traditionalist, you view it as loyalty to ritual. For finals week, keep your usual routines strong and spicy, just like you. They’ve gotten you this far; they won’t let you down now.
Gingerbread Chai Latte
If Gingerbread Chai is your go-to, you may need a bit of a wake-up call. This fall has been good to you, but times are changing. As winter creeps in, you might feel a bit out of your element as you cling to your favorite fall flavor. It’s okay to be scared, and it’s okay to take things slow. You had your chai era, but this finals season, you need to “ginger snap” out of your fall haze by starting with a quick reset every study session: Stretch, sip your drink, and set small goals. This will make the transition feel cozy and comfortable, and once you’ve reached your goals, then (and only then) you can reward yourself with a Gilmore Girls binge.
Caramel Brûlée Latte
As a Caramel Brûlée Latte lover, you probably always have a justification for a sweet treat (as you should). You like to take things slow and love to indulge in luxury and elegance. With your “reward first” mindset, this finals season you should take the time to slow down a bit before exams and soak in de-stressing, “lazy” activities- rewatch your favorite movies, order your go-to takeout, and curl up with your Caramel Brûlée latte, or maybe something without caffeine for a change. When you feel ready and recharged, ease into the study session. Maybe try the “Pomodoro Method,” 40 minutes of focus followed by 10 minutes of sweetness, and repeat. The “sweet treat” of study methods.
Sugar Cookie Latte
The Sugar Cookie Latte is the light of the holiday season. It isn’t just sweet in flavor, but in reputation too. With a four-year streak on the Starbucks menu, it has quickly climbed the popularity ranks. Its fans? Equally bright, playful, and slightly chaotic. You care deeply about doing well, but your attention scatters like the sprinkles atop your drink. You thrive when studying feels creative, not clinical, and your goal for finals prep isn’t control; it’s containment with a pop of color. Let your imagination run wild with stickers, colorful notes, and all sorts of visuals for your study materials. If it’s fun, you’ll actually stick to it. Sugar Cookie Latte is there to remind you that studying can be cozy, colorful, and delightfully sweet.
No matter which holiday drink you reach for, your Starbucks order is not just a cup of coffee; it’s a ritual, a comfort, and a little magic to help you get through the season. It reflects how you handle stress, how you celebrate, and how you survive the sleigh ride that is finals week. Whether you’re a Peppermint Mocha warrior, a Gingerbread loyalist, a Chai traditionalist, a Caramel Brûlée indulgent, or a Sugar Cookie creative spirit, there’s a strategy in every sip.