Students and coffeehouses alike are preparing for the holiday season with their favorite holiday drinks. Mesquite reporters recently interviewed some brew buffs and mocha merchants.
Kinesiology junior Alessandra Rosalez said her favorite holiday drink is the Candy Cane Cold Brew with oat milk from Dutch Bros. It is a peppermint mocha with soft top foam and candy cane sprinkles.
“It’s like a hot chocolate, but for us coffee lovers,“ Rosalez said as she waited for her next class to start Nov. 23 in the Science and Technology Building. “It honestly just makes my day every time I get it.”
Rosalez, with a big smile on her face as she stood up, said she loves going throughout the year because the amazing employees and drinks make a bad day turn into a great one.
“Also, if you like stickers, at the beginning of every month on Wednesday, they give out stickers.” Rosalez said as she walked into her class.
Communication sophomore Xochilt Garcia said her favorite holiday coffee drink is a Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks. It’s a cup of espresso roast combined with steamed milk, sweet mocha-sauce and peppermint-flavored syrup.
“The peppermint reminds me of the holidays,” Garcia said as she took a sip of her own warm coffee Nov. 22. “It feels more socially acceptable to drink it.”
Garcia, sitting back in her seat as she took a break from doing her homework, said soy milk is a requirement in her Peppermint Mocha. Satisfying her tastebuds enhances the holiday spirit.
“I definitely prefer going to local coffee shops,” Garcia said of her preference over popular coffee chains. “I wish there was more on the Southside.”
Adriana Ruiz, owner of Southbound Coffee, is working on a holiday menu that will feature a peppermint horchata latte.
Southbound Coffee, located on 246 E. Cevallos, was established in April 2019.
“I tried to switch it up a little bit so we’re gonna do a peppermint horchata latte. I think that’s gonna be our best seller,” Ruiz said. “Because our horchata latte tends to be our best seller in general, I just think it’s overall the most popular drink.”
The holiday menu for Southound Coffee will consist of other drinks as well, such as a Café De Olla and an eggnog drink.
Ruiz talked about what the holidays mean to her, how they are about families coming together.
“It’s just nice to celebrate kind of whatever it is you believe in.” Ruiz said.
The holiday menu was scheduled to be released Nov. 29 and last until the end of January.
Studying to become a registered nurse at San Antonio College, sophomore Jackie M said her favorite holiday drink is the Toasted White Chocolate Signature Latte from Dunkin’ Donuts. It’s a white chocolate latte topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and cinnamon.
“Since it has been so chilly here, I lean more toward lattes to warm me up,” Jackie said Nov. 18 as she sat inside Dunkin’ Donuts near SAC, waiting for her next class to begin. “I love when coffee shops release their holiday drinks because they bring me so much comfort.”
Jackie, bundled up in sweatpants, a sweatshirt and a beanie, said she loves all of the Dunkin’ Donuts’ selections of hot drinks, but she always contemplates which one to order.
“San Antonio has been freezing for weeks, so I guess it’s a good thing for me because each day I always try a new hot drink,” she said about the colder weeks of November. “I have at least two cups of coffee a day because my taste buds cannot get enough of the flavors.”
Amanda Aguillon, Saile Aranda, Faith Nieto, Alizaha Gonzales and Riana Tovar contributed to this story.
