After the weather decreased to 60 degrees and Starbucks introduced their holiday drinks, we at Eating Berkeley, decided to curate a list of delicious, warm and toasty beverages to survive this fall weather. Rather than ordering the usual vanilla latte or caramel macchiato, why not go for something a little more festive?
Starbucks’ Peppermint Mocha
Omil Xia/Staff
A classic holiday favorite, Peppermint Mocha is finally back in season! We wish there could be a closer Starbucks location near campus, but the closest one is on Oxford Street. The peppermint mocha combines Starbucks’ signature espresso with a delicious spritz of peppermint-flavored syrup added into the inviting mocha. Check out some of its other holiday favorites like the Chestnut Praline Latte or the Caramel Brulee Latte.
Caffe Strada’s Apple Cider
Omil Xia/Staff
Conveniently located near campus, Caffe Strada has an ample amount of indoor and outdoor seating. We definitely enjoy Strada’s hot apple cider on a cold night. The tart beverage is a lovely reminder of fall, and along with the warm ambience, the location is perfect for studying or casual conversations.
Cafe Blue Door’s Nutella Hot Chocolate
Omil Xia/Staff
When you’re tired of drinking triple shots of espresso after long nights of studying, come into Cafe Blue Door for something different! Not just hot chocolate, the holiday special, Nutella Hot Chocolate, is just what it sounds like. The drink combines the delicious sweetness of hot chocolate with the richness of hazelnut Nutella. It’ll give you that much needed sip of heaven before Thanksgiving break.
Asha Tea House’s Matcha Latte
Omil Xia/Staff
Stepping over the realm of holiday drinks, Asha Tea House is a little farther down campus on University Avenue. This cute location provides a wide variety of teas; with one of their most popular being the Matcha Latte. If you want to delight yourself in an authentic matcha-infused latte without the added sweetener, Asha definitely will not disappoint. The 100 percent pure stone-ground Japanese green tea is a good replacement for coffee because not only is it high in caffeine, but also antioxidants, which will contribute to better health.
Yali’s Cafe’s London Fog
Omil Xia/Staff
Yali’s Cafe is the perfect campus cafe located in Stanley Hall. If you’re willing to try something unique, the London Fog is the perfect fall blend of earl grey tea, vanilla syrup and steamed milk. This location also provides a wide variety of sandwiches, salads and soup options to accompany your drink. We love to take our lunch breaks here while catching up on some work.
Contact Omil Xia at oxia@dailycal.org.