At these St. Louis area cafés and shops, hot chocolate is more than a toasty alternative to coffee. Local beverage experts are offering a few twists on the classic winter treat this season.
Peppermint Bliss
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Teleo Coffee’s original hot cocoa features a housemade chocolate sauce, chocolate milk, and a whipped-cream topping, but Clara’s Cocoa is extra jolly with housemade peppermint and mocha syrups, crushed peppermint, and a decadent chocolate drizzle.
Similarly, The Mud House on St. Louis’ Cherokee Street has a White Hot Candy Cane hot chocolate that combines white chocolate and the café’s housemade peppermint syrup.
Kaldi’s Coffee shops across the metro area also offer peppermint hot chocolate with the same seasonal candy sprinkle.
Sugar and Spice
Mexican hot chocolate is especially popular this time of year, but everyone makes it a bit differently. The Mud House’s Mexi-Cocoa is made with a Mexican hot chocolate mix and dark chocolate from Kakao Chocolate. “The Mud House has been partnering with Kakao since they were our (almost) neighbors at their old Jefferson Street location, and we feel great about working with them,” general manager Robyn Niesmann says. “Not only are we keeping things local, their quality chocolate never disappoints.”
Century Coffee Co. at City Foundry offers a chocolate chai latte made with Hugo Tea and chocolate milk from Rolling Lawns Nursery in Webster Groves.
Less spicy alternatives can be found at City Coffee & Creperie, which sells a Mexican hot chocolate and a red velvet hot chocolate, and Crave Coffeehouse, which this month features a cinnamon-roll hot chocolate with white mocha sauce and caramel syrup.
Deliciously Dairy-Free
A dairy sensitivity or vegan preference doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun. La Finca Coffee’s signature Mexican hot chocolate, which is listed on the menu as La Finca Cocoa and made with a chocolate-cinnamon powder, is delicious with oat, almond, soy, or coconut milk.
At The Gelateria, the hot chocolate comes with housemade vegan mocha syrup and oat or almond milk alternatives. For added flavor, request an additional syrup–peppermint and “cinnaroll” are staff favorites.
Snow Day-Ready
Need to stock up for the next time you’re snowed in? Check out local shops like The Annex in Webster Groves and Kakao Chocolate in Maplewood for an extensive selection of specialty hot chocolates. The Annex allows customers to choose their own adventure with a variety of mixes, melting chocolates, and hot chocolate bombs. Kakoa’s mixes combine “the best cocoa powder and real bits of chocolate,” says Brian Pelletier, shop owner and chief chocolatier. “We also serve made-to-order [hot chocolate] of each flavor in our shop.” Flavors include traditional, bittersweet, mint, chai, and other cozy considerations.
