As the nights draw in and we start digging around for woolly layers before leaving the house, we're getting to that time of the year where we start craving comfort foods.
Sure, a warm coffee on a chilly morning can do wonders - but, with their extravagant toppings, flavoured syrups and dollops of whipped cream, a hot chocolate on a cold day is hard to beat.
So, why not try a tempting treat from one of these independent Birmingham coffee shops to cast away away any creeping winter blues?
Centenary Lounge
Centenary Lounge offers the perfect hot chocolate for a weary traveller within its vintage art deco cafe at Moor Street Station.
You can top your choc with lavish extras, including chocolate flakes, marshmallows and cream - or, you could pick a flavoured hot chocolate, such as mint, hazelnut, praline or cherry. Alternatively, there is the tempting raspberry white hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and drizzled in chocolate sauce. Mmmmm.
Centenary Lounge, Birmingham Moor St Station, Birmingham, B4 7UL.Cen
Six Eight Kafé
The Six Eight Kafe is the perfect spot to take a date, whether they enjoy a hot chocolate or not.
Voted as one of the Independent's top 50 coffee shops in the country, the team here deliberately keep the menu simple. However, what it lacks in flamboyance it makes up with delicious, high quality ingredients. Oh, and some fantastic cookies to dunk in your hot chocolate, too.
Six Eight Kafe, 6/8 Temple Row, Birmingham, B2 5HG.
Boo Boo Coffee
To get your hands on this chocolate delicacy, head to Harbourne to find Boo Boo Coffee, where your hot chocolate can be topped with the classic flavoured syrup and marshmallow combo.
We recommend you bring it all together with one of Boo Boo's famous poached eggs and avocado on sourdough muffins.
Boo Boo Coffee, 27 Lordswood Road, Harborne, B17 9RA.
Java Lounge
Recently celebrating its tenth anniversary, Java Lounge in Moseley is another independent coffee shop selling delicious variations on classic hot chocolate.
The Caramel Nut Hot Chocolate is perfect for those with a sweet tooth, esecially when served with lashings of whipped cream. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, get into the season with a pumpkin spice hot chocolate.
Java Lounge, 115 Alcester Road, Moseley, B13 8DD.
Boston Tea Party
There really is a chocolate drink for everyone at Boston Tea Party. Accompanying classic hot chocolate and white hot chocolate options is the slightly more unusual chocolate tea.
This is made with crushed coco beans that have been infused in tea bags – the ideal way to enjoy chocolatey flavours without having to worry too much about the calories.
Boston Tea Party, 190 Corporation St, Birmingham, B4 6QD.
Coffee Lounge
Lavish is an understatement when it comes to hot chocolate from the Coffee Lounge on Navigation Street, opposite New Street station.
Here, you can make your hot chocolate extra special, not just with whipped cream, but M&Ms and marshmallows, too. Plus, you can spice things up even further with flavoured syrups including gingerbread and caramel.
Coffee Lounge, 10 Navigation St, Birmingham, B2 4BS.
Have we missed your favourite hot chocolate hot spot? Let us know in the comments below.
Find more great coffee shops in Birmingham.