As you stroll down High Street, do you catch a whiff of cinnamon and toffee? The Christmas coffees have arrived, that is all it can mean.
These sweet treats are a holiday staple, adorned with whipped cream and rich drizzles sugary sauces.
Featuring infusions of everything from gingerbread to Terry’s Chocolate Orange, there’s plenty to get your tastebuds tingling.
You might need to stop before taking a sip. You may prefer to stick with your regular latte, as some festive drinks can contain more than 10 teaspoons sugar.
Here, GIULIA COUCH holds a cup of coffee and tries to determine which ones are worthy of the calories. . .
COSTA
Quality Street Toffee Penny Latte
Giulia Crouch gives verdict on a selection of this year’s festive drinks – including Quality Street Toffee Penny Latte from Costa (pictured)
Pricing: £3.95
Calories: 333.
Two teaspoons sugar 9.6
Equivalent to: A bowl full of trifle.
Coffee and toffee are good friends so it’s hard not to like this new addition from 2021. But owing to the intense toffee flavour, it’s difficult to drink a lot. As it has more sugar than Coke, this is just as good. 2.5%
Quality Street The Purple One Latte
Giulia said Quality Street The Purple One Latte (pictured) tastes only of spiced warm milk
Pricing: £3.95
Calories: 348
Two teaspoons sugar 8.
Equivalent to Eight-and-a-half roast potatoes.
If you’re expecting this to taste like a purple Quality Street then prepare to be disappointed. The only thing it tastes of is spiced warm dairy milk. To add insult to injury, you’re also given a purple Quality Street to prove just how unlike one it tastes. The thought of having eight-and a-half roasties is making me feel anti-festive.0/5
After Eight Hot Chocolate
Giulia stated that After Eight Hot Chocolate (pictured is a super indulgent and literally an After Eight drinkable chocolate
Pricing: £3.95
Calories:343
Two teaspoons sugar8.7
Equivalent to One portion each of biscuits and cheese.
This is literally after eight. This is a super indulgent drink, but you don’t care if it tastes so good. Saying that, after three big sips I’m done, as it’s so rich.5/5
Terry’s Chocolate Orange® Hot Chocolate
Giulia said Terry’s Chocolate Orange® Hot Chocolate (pictured right) is for those who like Terry’s Chocolate Orange
Pricing: £3.95
Calories:379
Two teaspoons sugar10.6
Equivalent toOne third of the whole Christmas Dinner
If you like Terry’s Chocolate Orange then you will like this. I, alas, do not. I don’t know what kind of crazy would add orange to chocolate. 3/5
Caffe Nero
Gingerbread Latte
Giulia said Gingerbread Latte (pictured) is very bitter and had a heap of cinnamon plonked on top of stodgy cream
Pricing: £3.85
Calories:151
Two teaspoons sugar4.5
Equivalent to Three pigs wrapped in blankets.
what’s not to like about a Gingerbread latte? It’s Christmas in a cup, right? Not if it’s very bitter, with a heap of cinnamon plonked on top of two inches of thick, stodgy cream. I’d far rather eat three pigs in blankets. 0/5
Mint Choc Chip Hot Chocolate
Giulia said Mint Choc Chip Hot Chocolate (pictured) is classic hot chocolate with a wonderful minty hint
Pricing: £3.95
Calories:279
Two teaspoons sugar 10.3
Equivalent toOne slice of Christmas cake
This classic hot chocolate has a minty taste, and is topped with cream and chocolate dusting. If the syrup is too thick, these can be very synthetic tasting. But this one was perfectly balanced. 4/5
Salted Caramel Latte
Giulia said Salted Caramel Latte (pictured) has a good hit of coffee, but lacks memorable wow-factor
Pricing: £3.85
Calories: 167
Two teaspoons sugar 5.4
Equivalent to Three pieces of bacon.
You get good coffee and a touch of sweetness. A big salted caramel sauce was added to the top of the whipped topping was also a welcome addition. It lacks a memorable WOW-factor. 2.5%
Hazelnut Hot Chocolate
Giulia said beyond the generous swirl of whipped cream, Hazelnut Hot Chocolate (pictured) had no hazelnut flavour whatsoever
Pricing: £3.95
Calories:262
Two teaspoons sugar 9.6
Equivalent to You can also add some stuffing.
It was something I had high hopes for. Maybe the barista forgot to add syrup but this did not have any hazelnut flavor beyond the swirls of cream. 1/5
Starbucks
Fudge Brownie Hot Chocolate
Giulia said Fudge Brownie Hot Chocolate (pictured) is way too sweet and not very chocolatey
Pricing: £3.45
Calories: 297
Two teaspoons sugar9.7
Equivalent toRoast turkey in two portions
I don’t really understand how a fudge brownie is Christmasy, but this year Starbucks has deemed it so. For me, it’s way too sweet and not very chocolatey. It also presents a logistical challenge — there’s such a huge amount of chocolatey cream, it’s impossible to drink without getting it all over your face.2/5
Latte with Toffee Nut
Giulia said Toffee Nut Latte (pictured) has a delicious flavour of toasted nuts, wrapped up in a smooth, sweet toffee taste
Pricing: £3.45
Calories:201
Two teaspoons sugar 3.4
Equivalent toA chocolate log in two portions.
The festive cocktail is comforting and toasty with a good sugary crunch. It has the aroma of toasted nuts wrapped in sweet toffee. Delicious. 4/5
Gingerbread Latte
Giulia said Gingerbread Latte (pictured) has a nice spice and a creamy texture
Pricing: £3.45
Calories: 236
Two teaspoons sugar5.9
Equivalent toFourteen servings of gravy
Far, far better than Caffe Nero’s, this one has a nice spice and a creamy texture. Its ginger-bread topping is what makes it stand out. 3/5
Eggnog Latte
Giulia said Eggnog Latte (pictured) is creamy and smooth with a warming backnote of nutmeg
Pricing: £3.45
Calories:287
Two teaspoons sugar 7.7
Equivalent to One portion of Christmas pudding
This has been on Starbucks’ menu for years, but I’ve never tried one. Don’t let me down. It’s creamy and smooth with a warming backnote of nutmeg. And, weirdly, considering how much sugar it’s got in it, it doesn’t taste too sweet. It’s also in a glass mug that allows you to see the different, creamy layers with the foamed milk on top.5.
McDONALD’S
Choco Fudge Latte Large
Giulia said Choco Fudge Latte Large (pictured) is very bitter and super synthetic-tasting
Pricing: £2.09
Calories:226-226
Two teaspoons sugar 6.
Equivalent to One mince pie
The taste was very artificial and bitter. If I could, I’d eat the mince pie every day.0/5
Hot Chocolate Deluxe
Giulia said Hot Chocolate Deluxe (pictured) tastes like petrol station hot chocolate
Pricing: £1.39
Calories: 201
Two teaspoons sugar 6.
Equivalent toPortion of potato mashed.
It isn’t anything special. It tastes like petrol station hot chocolate — way too sweet and watery. However, it’s one of our most popular. 2.5%