As holiday menus roll out nationwide each winter, coffee fans race to try the newest festive drinks from their favorite chains. Many people wait all year for the seasonal flavors, and this year Starbucks, Dutch Bros and 7 Brew are all competing for attention with their holiday lineups. With so many options on the menu, students are already debating which chain deserves the holiday crown.
Starbucks
Starbucks is a holiday drink icon, known for its cozy and nostalgic offerings. When their signature red cups return, that is how you know the holiday season has begun. Starbucks drinks tend to be richer and creamier, with comforting and familiar tastes.
The Peppermint Mocha tastes almost like hot chocolate, but with a caffeinated kick. The Caramel Brûlée Latte is Starbucks’ signature espresso with rich caramel brûlée sauce and steamed milk. This is an excellent choice if you are looking for a classic. The Iced Sugar Cookie Breve is also a great choice, having become very popular this year, as it is a twist on the holiday classic, the Iced Sugar Cookie Latte. This has a creamy taste and combines the taste of a buttery sugar cookie with hints of vanilla. The gingerbread chai has also become extremely popular. While it is a classic chai, it has a very distinctive taste with hints of gingerbread. If you are looking for a simpler drink, the White Chocolate Mocha is a great option. This features a white chocolate sauce with steamed milk and is topped with sweet cold foam. Lastly, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is a mixture of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. This is a fan favorite and is perfect for the holiday season.
One downside to Starbucks drinks is that they can get a little pricey. Once you start customizing, this is when the price starts to become a little too much. However, these drinks have become a tradition, and their red cups are essentially a symbol of the fantastic holiday season.
Dutch Bros
If Starbucks had a symbol, it would be a cozy fireplace, and Dutch Bros would be the Christmas light show around the corner, bright and bold. Dutch Bros is known for their sweet drinks with crazy flavor combinations.
The Dutch Bros menu features five holiday drinks this year: Snow Cap Freeze, Hazelnut Truffle Mocha, Merry Mischief Rebel, Candy Cane Cold Brew Freeze, Cocoa and the Zero Sugar Added Peppermint Bark Mocha. The Snow Cap Freeze is a frozen coffee with a cupcake flavor. This is the first time Dutch Bros is offering a cupcake flavor, so this is a fun flavor to try. The Hazelnut Truffle Mocha is Dutch Bros’ signature chocolate milk with hazelnut flavors and espresso. Merry Mischief Rebel is a unique drink featuring strawberry and raspberry flavors, paired with an energy drink and a new green apple soft top, which was also introduced this year. The candy cane is a popular flavor, which is why it’s featured in cold brew, freeze and cocoa. This is a classic winter drink, featuring peppermint flavors and chocolate milk. And if you are looking for a less sweet option, I definitely recommend the Peppermint Bark Mocha (zero sugar added). This is a coffee with chocolate, white chocolate and peppermint flavors, all of which are sugar-free.
Dutch Bros tends to have a sweeter taste with a mix of assorted flavors. I wouldn’t recommend Dutch Bros if you are looking for a more subtle taste, but if you have a sweet tooth, this is the perfect choice.
7 Brew
This is one of the fastest-growing chains in the U.S. If you haven’t tried it yet, think of it as a mix of Dutch Bros’ unique flavor pairings with Starbucks’ classic seasonal favorites. 7 Brew’s holiday lineup includes: Crème Brûlée Latte, Pecan Pie Breve, Candy Cane Mocha, Santa’s Cookie Mocha, Holiday Punch 7 Energy and Brew Frost 7 Fizz Soda.
The Crème Brûlée Latte is a blend of candy cane, caramel and toasted marshmallow, combining all the festive flavors. The Pecan Pie Breve features almond roca, Irish cream and caramel flavors. A Candy Cane Mocha is an excellent choice if you want a sweeter drink with a rich peppermint flavor. Santa’s Cookie Mocha is made with white chocolate and vanilla, and features a hint of almond roca. The Holiday Punch 7 Energy is a refreshing drink with a blend of blackberry and pomegranate flavors. This is a suitable alternative if you are looking for a fruity drink that doesn’t taste like coffee. Lastly, the Brew Frost 7 Fizz Soda includes blue raspberry, coconut and vanilla flavors. This is an excellent alternative if you are not a coffee lover and prefer something sweeter.
“I have been to 7 Brew twice since the holiday drinks have come out and I love them,” Ada Lowney, a junior, said. “I tried the Candy Cane Mocha, and it was definitely rich in flavor, but it was very good. I totally recommend trying 7 Brew, as it’s one of my new favorite drink spots.”
You can customize your drinks in any way at 7 Brew with various syrups, sauces and milk options. These drinks strike an outstanding balance of sweet and adventurous, making them an excellent choice if you are looking to try something new.