You love this time of year when Starbucks rolls out the peppermint mochas and all those specialty holiday drinks—but you also want to support your local café. Luckily, four different San Francisco coffeehouses are setting out seasonal drinks as well.
Lift a hot mug for the holidays and double-check your gift list in the healing steam that rises from it. Here’s a sampling of what you can expect.
Andytown
3655 Lawton St and a handful of other locations
Every year, Andytown features a new single origin coffee to mark the holidays, but this year it’s trying a blend instead: the midwinter blend. One of the Andytown roasters says its taste is reminiscent of a Werther’s candy, a perfect caramel-based holiday flavor. Additionally, try the minty mocha made with Andytown espresso, housemade peppermint syrup, Guittard Chocolate ganache and clover milk, topped with house whipped cream and a tiny candy cane. Aw.
Sightglass
270 7th St and two other locations
Sightglass just launched two new seasonal beverages for the first time: a brown butter miso caramel latté and a green cardamom mocha. Word on the street is that both are selling like crazy.
Linea
3417 18th St
Linea’s offering a special latté this holiday season, the organic salted maple latté made with maple syrup, whipped cream and Maldon salt. You can also order an organic peppermint mocha.
Philz Coffee
549 Castro St and three other SF locations
This year, two new holiday drinks are rolling out, and an old favorite is returning. The new drinks are the spiced gratitude cold brew (brewed with holiday spices) and the winter bliss cold brew (a creamy cold Ghirardelli mocha made out of the spiced gratitude). The time-honored choice is the winter bliss, a hot Ghirardelli mocha made with gratitude blend and holiday spices.