The holiday season means sleigh-riding is ‘round the corner, and what better way to start this year’s festivities than to cozy up in Saxbys or Starbucks with some delicious treats? These coffee shops near Temple University are the perfect spot to warm up from Philadelphia’s chilly, windy weather, and they’ve made some tasty preparations to start spreading yuletide cheer!
Autumn is on its way out of the door as Thanksgiving slowly approaches. Pollett walk is once again strewn with fallen leaves, and the branches are revealing their wintry frames. Of course, once the temperatures start to frost over windshields, and force you to layer the heaviest clothing items you can find, it can seem endlessly tiring to actually attend the final classes of the year.
However, now is the time to finish out the year strong, with just a few weeks standing between you and a relaxing holiday break spent by a fireplace (or space heater). Yet, if this enticing prospect is not enough to boost your productivity, try grabbing a sweet treat or delectable drink on your walk to class- or during a well-deserved break from studying. Even though your Canvas calendar might seem overwhelming, it just makes frankincense to get your mittens on some festive delicacies.
One of the most exciting events of the season is when you go into your favorite coffee shop and see all the new holiday-themed drinks gracing the menu. Although college students universally rejoice at the scent of pumpkin spice lattes, nothing compares to the joy on earth that the scent of sugar cookies or peppermint inspires.
Even if you can’t get any of mom’s special homemade Christmas cookies, or a taste of your family’s infamous challah bread, the campus’ best coffee spots can give you the taste of home everybody needs right now.
Dunkin’
- Cookie Butter Cold Brew
What’s better than a plate of cookies and cold milk on Christmas morning? Combining both treats into one delicious, iced coffee! This cold brew is steeped slowly to give a perfectly smooth flavor to this cheerful treat. Santa Claus would race down the chimney if this was waiting for him, so run to one of the several Dunkins around campus to try out a draft that even Ebenezer Scrooge wouldn’t be able to resist.
2. Cookie Butter Donut
Although Philadelphia may not be getting a white Christmas, this butter creme-filled delight is reminiscent of a wintry forest with its sweet maple flavoring. A sprinkle of crushed cookies completes this buttery, indulgent pastry. Warm holiday spices are a perfect wonderful confectionary to pair with a warm brew for breakfast, or you could even place a box of these under your tree on the night of Christmas Eve. Either way, Dunkin’s new seasonal menu items will have everybody in jolly spirits!
Saxbys
- Dark Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Cold Brew
With notes of bittersweet dark chocolate and the fresh taste of peppermint, this drink’s arrival means Christmas has fully come to town. Topped with flakes of peppermint candy, this drink is the perfect companion for a study sesh or holiday movie marathon. If you’re in the mood for a drink to warm your mitts after a snowball fight, then get this drink served hot by ordering a Dark Chocolate Peppermint Mocha. Complete with all the same mouthwatering flavors brought to you by Saxbys dark chocolate peppermint sauce, which is made in-house!
2. Vanilla Love
There is no doubt that even those who have been hesitant to get into the matcha groove will adore Vanilla Love. This hot matcha latte may be reminiscent of the Grinch’s signature green, but don’t worry, it is much sweeter than sour. The vanilla-bean-infused flavors will surely make your heart, and your stomach, grow three sizes just to make room for more! To make this treat even more jolly, Saxby’s has finished the Vanilla Love with a red raspberry garnish in the shape of their logo!
3. Cranberry and Pumpkin Seed Plant-Powered Overnight Oats
These oats are not only the perfect pick-me-up before an early morning class, but they also beautifully combine elements of Thanksgiving and the holiday season. Gluten-free overnight oats are complimented by crunchy granola, chia, and pumpkin seeds, along with cranberry, vanilla, and pumpkin spice flavors to top it all off. Kudos to Saxby’s for finding a way to make their holiday menu both indulgent and health-conscious at the same time!
Starbucks
- Peppermint Mocha
Coffee lovers know that when Starbucks brings around their wintry-themed to-go cups and merchandise that the most wonderful time of the year has begun. So, fill up your red and green thermoses with the inviting taste of espresso, steamed milk, and peppermint-flavored syrup. As if a minty mocha wasn’t enough to pique your interest, heavenly whipped cream and semi-sweet chocolate curls will surely make your Christmas anything but blue.
2. Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte
You might have to wait until you go home for holiday break to eat your mom’s Sufganiyot or gingerbread cookies, but don’t fret because Starbucks is bringing a taste of your family kitchen into the student center. Blonde espresso roast paired with sugar cookie flavors is hard to resist, especially with a festive assortment of red and green sprinkles serving as the finishing touch! Just try not to get run over by a reindeer (or a stampede of students) while getting your gloves on this delectable drink.
3. Chestnut Praline Latte
Even though your dorm or apartment most likely doesn’t have a fireplace fit for roasting chestnuts, that does not mean you can’t enjoy their classic taste. Caramelized chestnut flavors are featured alongside Starbucks’s deliciously delightful espresso. Pumpkin spice may be on its way out the door, but the spiced praline crumbs on top of this drink are the perfect replacement for the classic aromatic treat. Baby, it’s cold outside, but this steaming latte will surely warm your heart, and fill it with joy.
4. Reindeer Cake Pop
Who doesn’t love Starbuck’s cake pops? The classic dessert (or breakfast) has remained a staple item on the chain’s menu, and this fun twist on their original flavors will surely have you shining with glee. Vanilla cake and buttercream dipped in a milky and sweet chocolate sauce will help you have yourself a merry little Christmas. Completed with antlers, eyes, and a bright red nose, Rudolph would surely be proud to be the genius behind such a classic confection.
It’s time to hop on the Polar Express and head over to your favorite coffee destination on campus. With the semester coming to an end, treat yourself to one of these enticing new items. Whether you’re writing your final paper or decking the halls with bounds of holly, these new festive selections will surely start your Christmas story off the right way!