The Best of the Best: An Ode to Hot Chocolate (On Campus!)
The sweet smell of peppermint and chocolate are in the air at Elon, which can only mean one thing: It’s Christmas time!
Drinking a hot chocolate during the holiday season is as synonymous as watermelon during the Fourth of July. Students can have a little cup of holiday joy wherever they go: Target runs with friends, early morning class and even long nights in the library. Hot chocolate is a great alternative to coffee this December as it is caffeine free, but with enough sugar to keep you going until long after the sun goes down. With so many options, however, how do students know which cocoa is the best?
This week we put Oak House, Acorn, Swiss Miss K-Cups and Irazu to the test to find out the best hot chocolate on campus.
The criteria:
Each hot chocolate was purchased was a size small. Although hot chocolate is delicious, it is also very rich. A small was determined to be the perfect size for a pick-me up!
On a scale of 1 to 10, the small hot chocolates were judged on:
The taste of the chocolate
The richness and thickness of the drink
The presentation
The affordability
SWISS MISS
We all know the taste of Swiss Miss. It is a hint of chocolate, depending how much milk used, and tastes pretty okay most of the time. The drink itself is not that rich or thick given the fact that K-Cups are made with water in a Keurig. This treatment works best for a late night study session when all the other stores are closed. Swiss Miss is also the cheapest option because K-Cups come in bulk and can be used throughout the year - It doesn't have to be December to get into the holiday spirit!
Taste: 5
Richness of Chocolate: 3
Presentation: Depends if you have a cute mug or not!
Affordability: Cheap
2. ACORN
Testers were pleasantly surprised with the taste of Acorn hot chocolate. Although some of the Starbucks products are misses, this Acorn item is a hit! The richness is just right if you favor a light approach to chocolate. The presentation was in a cute little coffee cup and served with a smile. Acorn is a great option during the weekends when the dining halls are closed and you want to use your meal dollars and swipes before Tuesday. Acorn is excellent, dependable and the least expensive in-house coffee shop on campus.
Taste: 7
Richness: 5
Presentation: 7
Affordability: 8
3. IRAZU
The runner up Irazu holds the key to all of our Christmas wishes. The taste of chocolate is amazing, the richness knocks it out of the park and the whipped cream is the cherry on top! This coffee shop has the most amazing warm vibes and the lovely employees brighten your day with a smile. Irazu is best for a once a week holiday celebration because it is a little more on the expensive side. For our lactose-free friends, there are finally options! Chocolate with a side of almond, yes PLEASE!
Taste: 9
Richness: 8
Presentation: 5
Affordability: 7
4. OAK HOUSE
All hail the winner!
I mean, look at that presentation *heart eyes emoji*. This hot chocolate is the equivalent of drinking a whole bag of 70% cacao small chocolates, but it is worth every sip. That being said, be careful in consuming one too many. Three of these a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner would be a major blow to your stomach, not to mention your wallet. This is the most expensive hot chocolate, so make you have enough Phoenix Cash!
Taste: 9
Richness: 10
Presentation: 10
Affordability: 2