Best Winter Drinks in NOCO
Satisfy your sweet tooth with these toasty winter drinks from our favorite local coffee shops.
FORT COLLINS
• The Human Bean •
PUMPKIN BREAD LATTE:
A fall favorite with spiced pumpkin and cookie dough syrup.
HARVEST CIDER:
A mix of sweet chai and local apple cider swirled with rich Ghirardelli caramel sauce.
THE GRINCH:
A not-so-naughty treat made with organic ceremonial matcha and sweet candied peppermint, topped with candy cane flakes.
FROSTED GINGERBREAD:
A creamy Ghirardelli white chocolate latte with a hint of holiday gingerbread.
HOT BUTTERED RUM LATTE:
A traditional rich eggnog from local Morning Fresh Dairy mixed with butter rum syrup.
• Mugs Coffee Lounge •
PEPPERMINT BARK LATTE:
A traditional espresso and milk latte flavored with a tasty peppermint bark.
EGGNOG LATTE:
Rich creamy espresso topped with steamed eggnog.
• Starry Night Espresso Cafe •
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE:
A classic pumpkin spice latte with real house-made pumpkin butter, a touch of vanilla syrup and cinnamon.
• Bean Cycle Cafe •
SMASHING PUMPKIN:
A unique take on the pumpkin spice latte, made with real pumpkin and fall spices.
FRIDA KHALO:
A spiced up mocha with cayenne and culture.
EGGNOG LATTE:
A creamy mix of eggnog and espresso.
• Alleycat Coffee House •
WALKING IN PARIS:
Paris black tea with steamed oat milk, white chocolate and mint.
CHAIDER:
Cider mixed with the Alleycat’s famous house-made spice chai.
CLASSY JACK:
A caramel, white chocolate and pumpkin latte sprinkled with cinnamon.
GOLDEN TIGER:
An invigorating house-made ginger tea with a dash of sweet chai and turmeric.
NOR’EASTER:
A toasty caramel and maple spice latte topped with creamy foam.
WARM ALCOHOLIC DRINKS IN FORT COLLINS
/ Social /
TODDY BEAR:
A boozy libation made with bourbon, Bénédictine, honey, lemon and hot water.
LES NOISETTES:
A toasty cocktail crafted with hazelnut liqueur, cognac, 151-proof rum, fresh lemon, honey, hot mulled cider and nutella quenelle.
/ Ace Gillett’s /
GHEE WHIZ:
A unique twist on hot buttered rum made with Plantation dark rum and five-spice ghee, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon.
/ Mugs /
BOURBON APPLE CIDER:
Hot apple cider with a touch of cinnamon and bourbon, topped with whipped cream.
IRISH COFFEE:
A coffee classic loved by all—Bailey’s Irish Cream and bourbon topped with drip
coffee and creamy whip.
BOOZY CHAI:
A spicy, flavor-filled bhakti chai latte made adult-y with Bailey’s Irish Cream.
HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOW FLUFF
Source: The Spruce Eats
Total time: 20 min
Yields: 3 cups
INGREDIENTS
• ½ cup egg whites (from 4 large eggs)
• ¾ cup granulated natural cane sugar
• ¼ cup corn syrup
• ½ tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
• Gather the ingredients.
• Fill a small pot halfway with water and bring to a boil (choose a pot that can snugly fit the bowl of a stand mixer over it, without letting any steam escape).
Combine the egg whites, sugar and corn syrup in the stand mixer bowl. Whisk to mix.
• Set the bowl over the pot with boiling water. Whisk constantly, keeping water at a vigorous simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved into the egg whites, and they reach 160 F, using an instant read thermometer to test (not a candy thermometer), 4 to 5 minutes.
• Affix the bowl to the stand mixer with the whisk attachment in place. Add the vanilla extract and cream of tartar. Starting on low and gradually increasing the
speed to high, beat the whites until they form a glossy, sticky meringue-like marshmallow cream, with stiff peaks that cling to the whisk attachment without
slipping off, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Use as a frosting, filling for cupcakes or as you would any recipe calling for marshmallow
cream.
LOVELAND
• Dark Heart Coffee Bar •
HEADLESS HORSEMAN:
A creamy pumpkin pie latte made with in-house pure pumpkin puree, fall spices
and espresso.
CARDAMOM LATTE:
A silky latte with the base of a double shot of espresso and pure cardamom simple syrup.
FIG LEAF LATTE:
A deliciously dark latte integrated with espresso and an in-house fig-ginger syrup.
• Jamoka Joe’s •
GINGERBREAD CHAI LATTE:
A flavorful winter latte made with cinnamon, cardamom, clove, a little honey and steamed with milk.
• Loveland Coffee Company •
LONDON FOG:
A nod to the classic, this Earl Grey tea blends steamed milk with subtle hints of lavender and vanilla.
EGGNOG LATTE:
A homemade, premium latte with eggnog from the local Morning Fresh Dairy.
PEPPERMINT PATTY LATTE:
A deliciously classic winter combination of chocolate and peppermint.
WINDSOR
• Windsor Lake Coffee •
MALFOY MATCHA:
A peppermint matcha latte made with organic matcha powder, peppermint syrup and steamed milk.
HOLIDAYS WITH HAGRID:
A gingerbread and tuxedo mocha made with gingerbread syrup, white and dark chocolate sauces, espresso and steamed milk topped with a dusting of spiced brown sugar.
FIRE WHISKEY MOCHA:
A spiced cranberry white mocha made with cranberry syrup, white chocolate sauce, espresso, steamed milk and a cinnamon and ginger spice dusting.
HOGWARTS ESPRESSO LATTE:
A peppermint and vanilla latte made with peppermint and vanilla syrups, espresso and steamed milk.
LUNA LOVEGOOD HOT COCOA:
A blackberry dark chocolate hot cocoa made with blackberry syrup, dark chocolate sauce, steamed milk, topped with an edible glitter “snow dusting” and whipped cream.
YULE BALL TOAST:
A homemade cranberry and blood orange soda with house-made sugared cranberries.
• Coffee House 29 •
MAPLE BREVE: A sweet, creamy latte with espresso, half and half and maple syrup.
AUTUMN LATTE:
An espresso latte with steamed milk and chai, topped with whipped cream
EGGNOG LATTE:
A house-made eggnog topped with whipped cream and graham cracker crumbs
WINTER WONDERLAND:
A wintry latte with espresso, steamed milk and a house-made white chocolate, topped with peppermint crumbles and whipped cream.
• Toast Coffee & Wine Bar •
THANKSGIVING LATTE:
A smooth pumpkin and white chocolate latte topped with a light, fluffy foam.
SNICKERDOODLE:
A sweet, creamy vanilla latte sprinkled with cinnamon sugar on top.
JOHNSTOWN
• B’s Coffee •
PUMPKIN CHAINOG:
A hot chai mixed with eggnog, sweetened with a creamy pumpkin sauce and topped with cinnamon.
WHITE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT FOG:
A hot tea latte with creamy white chocolate and cool peppermint.
RED VELVET CUPCAKE:
A rich, blended and coffee-free treat.
CANDY CANE:
A silky white chocolate latte stirred with cool peppermint and topped with whipped cream.
PEPPERMINT PENGUIN:
A decadent latte with white chocolate, milk chocolate and peppermint (try as a hot chocolate, too).
SNOW PEAK:
A smooth latte with tones of nutty almond, vanilla and white chocolate, topped with a thick layer of foam.
• Lift Coffee Bar •
THE GRISWOLD:
A creamy spiced chai eggnog sprinkled with cinnamon.
THE POLAR EXPRESS:
A sweet and creamy toasted dulce de leche.
NORTH POLE TRUFFLE:
A double chocolate peppermint bark latte topped with crushed candy cane chunks.
FROSTED GINGER SNAP:
A festive gingerbread, cinnamon and holiday spice latte.
BERTHOUD
• Ko-Fe House •
SNOW WHITE:
A white chocolate and frosted mint latte.
DITCH DRIVER:
A chocolate, white chocolate macadamia nut, vanilla latte.
POT O’ GOLD:
A creamy latte with white chocolate, Irish cream and hazelnut.
TIMNATH
• Colorado Feed & Grain Public Market & Coffee House •
MAPLE CHAI LATTE:
A local Pi Chai mix and maple syrup steamed in oat milk and garnished with nutmeg (make it dirty with shots of espresso).
THE SNOWMAN:
A latte featuring delightfully sweet flavors of white chocolate, marshmallow and hazelnut, topped with marshmallows (order a coffeefree Mini Snowman for the kiddos).
ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE:
A fanciful concoction featuring espresso and alcohol-free whiskey with a hint of amaretto and cinnamon flavors.
WELLINGTON
• Owl Canyon Coffee •
THE WHITE RABBIT:
White chocolate and hazelnut in a swirl of espresso, topped with milk and foam.
PEPPERMINT MOCHA:
Espresso and milk mixed with peppermint and spearmint.
THE BLACK FOREST:
A rich latte with notes of espresso, dark chocolate and cherry.
MINT TEA LATTE:
A decaf peppermint tea with spearmint, sugar and milk.
Laurel Thompson is a Fort Collins native and CSU alum. When she isn’t writing for local lifestyle publications, you’ll find her soaking up the sun, cooking something delicious, or reading a good book while sipping an iced coffee. To comment on this article, email letters@nocostyle.com.
