Holiday drinks are HERE! And we aren’t talking martinis... We’re talking lattés, cold brews, milkshakes, and essentially any other festive drinkable sweet item our local shops are curating this year! They must have known we were coming because the game has been UPPED since our fall drink tour last month!
I can’t help but mention that even though these festive drinks are giving us all of the cozy, home for the holidays, chestnuts-roasting-on-an-open-fire vibes - it’s not JUST the drinks that make these stops so special. Each location has a little bit of holiday magic when you walk in the door. The decor, the music, and the SMELLS make it an easy winter activity to do solo or enjoy with a friend. I mean… holiday drink in hand, wandering through local shops, pretending you’ve just stepped off the Polar Express (really it’s an electric streetcar, but still, that’s a pretty close second option), seeing the lights, and feeling the love… what could be better? And by the time you’re reading this, there are likely already a dozen more beverages to get out there and try…so we better hurry!
Here are six stops we highly recommend!
1. Café at The Stella
Sugar Cookie Latte (hot)
Not gonna lie, my friend Sage and I did stand at the counter of Café at The Stella for a hot minute trying to decide which drink to get. Luckily they have the sweetest staff - and Nicole helped us narrow it down. They are offering a Caramel Brulé Latté, Gingerbread Chai, Sugar Cookie Latté, AND a Peppermint Mocha. Phew. That’s a lot of holiday drinks! We went with the Sugar Cookie Latté and asked for it hot and in a Stella Mug. I was NOT prepared for how adorable the mug would be! It’s a great little stocking stuffer gift for any coffee lover or for visitors who stay at The Stella Hotel & Ballroom to commemorate your adventures! The first statement from Sage after sipping the Sugar Cookie Latté was “I want every latte to taste like this.” We really recommend this holiday drink to those who aren’t into strong coffee, because it tastes like a vanilla-y buttery cookie hopped into a pool of whipped cream and sprinkles. Which is basically ideal. Enough said, let’s move on!
2. Blak Coffee Kenosha
The Spiced Peppermint Bark Cold Brew
Our coffee buffs, espresso nerds, and all of those who won’t settle for the bland stuff… Blak Coffee has got to be your new go-to if it’s not already! Deshaun, the owner of Blak Coffee, got the dealer's choice on this one, and he did NOT disappoint! He whipped up a Spiced Peppermint Bark Cold Brew for us - and listen! This is not the fake stuff! If you want to taste the deep notes of the cold brew while enjoying the natural mint, crisp, white chocolatey goodness of peppermint bark, you might just be going downtown for this one all December long. Along with this decadent cold brew - Deshaun is also offering Gingerbread Chai, Peppermint Mocha Lattés, Sugar Cookie Latté, and a Cranberry Lighting Bolt Quencher! The Lighting Bolts are unique to Blak Coffee - and serve as a natural substitute energy boost. If you do head to Blak Coffee before December 20th, consider bringing a new unwrapped gift for the Lois’ House of Love event!
3. Coopers Uptown
Eggnog Milkshake
Coopers Uptown. You can read our last blog post if you need more of me ranting about the magical snow globe of nostalgia and old-school Christmas magic that Coopers is… but for now… They are serving up a spicy sweet Gingerbread Latté and a special shake of the month - the Eggnog shake! Topped with nutmeg, whipped cream, and a cherry! The best part is that you can take a seat at the old-fashioned soda fountain bar, enjoy a warm cup of chili at a booth, or hop up and get to shopping! With so much of the merchandise supporting other local and small businesses, this is a great one-stop shop to support local this holiday season, and of course, enjoy an amazing sweet treat!
5. The Buzz Café
White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha
We were a little ahead of ourselves this time when we got to The Buzz… the seasonal menu had not yet been announced, but their amazing staff whipped up the cutest White Chocolate Peppermint Latté decked with adorable red crystalized sprinkles and whipped cream! Since we’ve been, they have updated the seasonal menu with 5 new drinks! The Hot Honey Latte with chili-infused honey and cinnamon powder, the Peppermint Sage Latté with homemade sage syrup, the Sugar Cookie Latté topped with sprinkles, a Gingersnap Matcha with house made gingersnap syrup, and a medicine ball tea with orange blossom and mystic mint tea! There is something for everyone in this lineup.
6. The Daily Dose Café
12 Days of Lattes
You already KNOW I tried to get the scoop on the Daily Dose lattés early… But even Visit Kenosha cannot get a sneak peek (taste) at the iconic 12 days of Lattés tradition! Which we are so excited for! Don’t miss out on this 12-day-span of different holiday drinks the 12 days leading up to Christmas at The Daily Dose!
Update: 12 Days of Lattes started 12/11/23:
