As the days grow shorter and a crisp chill fills the air, the winter season has officially arrived at Princeton. Amid the buzz of preparation for finals and the promise of a well-deserved holiday break, Coffee Club has unveiled its new and anticipated holiday menu: a lineup of festive drinks specially crafted to keep spirits bright and energy levels high.
Coffee Club announced the new additions to its menu over the course of several days last week, building anticipation for the awaited beverages. Every day, starting Monday, Nov. 18, a new, cleverly named, and intriguing drink was announced, culminating in a launch party on Friday, Nov. 22 — with all five new drinks available at both locations, at a discounted price.
Whether you’re chasing the warmth of spiced flavors, a hint of classic holiday peppermint, or the richness of a great latte, these drinks promise to bring a little extra cheer to your study sessions. As a lover of caffeine and all things festive, I decided to seize the opportunity to sample the new selection and indulge in the seasonal offerings.
Ordered from my least favorite to my favorite, here are Coffee Club’s new holiday drinks, reviewed:
5. The Persephone
Although Persephone is known in Greek mythology as the goddess of spring, this drink was wittily named after one of its main flavors — pomegranate — a fruit that, according to legend, bound Persephone to the underworld and brought winter to the world above.
While I appreciated the astute title, which reminded me of my love for ancient mythology, I cannot say this drink was my favorite from the menu due purely to personal preference. The Persephone is a pomegranate espresso tonic, and I generally don’t enjoy espresso tonics — carbonated espresso beverages served with tonic water over ice. However, for those who do, this drink was incredibly well made. The espresso itself was strong, but not too bitter, and I appreciated the sweet tartness of the pomegranate syrup.
Espresso tonics are an acquired taste, which I have yet to acquire — and I doubt I ever will. But if your taste buds are more developed and sophisticated than mine, The Persephone may be the drink for you.
4. The Grinch
As an avid matcha enjoyer and a self-proclaimed Grinch apologist, I was excited to try this peppermint matcha named after the grumpy, yet beloved, green thief of Christmas. Upon first sip, I was caught off guard by the flavor — specifically, the way the mint complemented the matcha’s earthy flavor. I was hesitant to give it another try, but after a few minutes, I was glad I did. It was a lot more “planty” than I expected, which I tend to prefer. Available iced or hot, I opted for the hot option and chose to have it with some oat milk. The beverage ended up being a very soothing warm experience that was emphasized by the creaminess of the oat milk and distinguished by its minty flavor.
The character of the Grinch taught us about the importance of second chances, and I am certainly glad I gave the drink one. I would definitely order this again and recommend it as a calming and cozy choice to accompany a late-afternoon study session.
3. The Frostbite
The Frostbite is a cherry vanilla latte, available iced or hot with either soy or oat milk. As long as you like cherry, you cannot really go wrong with this drink. I opted for the iced oat option and really enjoyed it. The cherry flavor was very subtle and blended well with the rest of the drink’s notes. Coffee Club’s lattes are always very dependable — proven by perfectly balancing the strength of espresso, the creaminess of milk choice, and just the right amount of sweetness. I will say, though, that the Frostbite was on the sweeter side, due to its combination of cherry syrup and vanilla flavoring, but I did not mind this at all and look forward to purchasing the beverage anytime I am craving a sweet treat after lecture.
2. Naughty but nice
I was pleasantly surprised by the hot honey fog, complete with chai, honey syrup, steamed milk, and a dash of cayenne pepper. My spice tolerance tends to vary — although I enjoy the warming spices commonly found in chai, like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom, I can be more sensitive to sharper notes, so I was a bit worried about the cayenne’s strength prior to my first sip. However, the drink was delicious. The spice of the chai was perfectly offset by the velvety steamed milk and sweetness of the honey. The cayenne added only a slight kick at the end, quickly soothed by the next sip.
1. The Snowtorious
I love peppermint-flavored drinks — especially a good peppermint mocha — so I was very excited when the Snowtorious, a peppermint mocha, available hot and iced with any milk, was announced as the final addition to Coffee Club’s holiday menu.
I hear Santa values honesty, and to ensure I stay on the nice list this year, I am going to be upfront and admit I was unable to try this drink myself due to my early departure from campus. Although I do not have to try this drink to know it is delicious: I sent out my trusted friend, and roommate, to sample this drink for me. Despite her distaste for mochas, she really enjoyed its flavor. She opted for a hot cup, which she described as a perfect refuge from the cold weather and credited the subtle peppermint note as an exemplary finishing touch.
Coffee Club’s holiday drinks are the perfect remedy for the long, chilly days and the stress of finals season. Whether you’re seeking a dependable caffeine fix or a chance to indulge in something new and cheerful, I highly recommend stopping by one of Coffee Club’s two locations. Embrace the holiday magic, and let Coffee Club's menu be your coziest companion this season.
Natalia Diaz is a member of the Class of 2027 and a staff writer for The Prospect at the 'Prince.' She can be reached at nd6595@princeton.edu.
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