Hot chocolate might just be one of the most comforting drinks out there.
The catch, though?
Not all hot chocolates are created equal.
Photo: Shutterstock. Design: Eat This, Not That!
What I discovered surprised me.
Some were chocolaty and straightforward.
Others were bitter and watered down.
Photo: Brittany Natale, Eat This, Not That!
Here’s how each one ranked, starting with my least favorite and ending with the overall best.
I dropped $5 on a hot cocoa that lacked taste and texture.
The look:Pretty typical.
Photo: Brittany Natale, Eat This, Not That!
The taste:Barely there.
The flavor was watery and extremely subtle, with a bitter aftertaste that lingered.
According to Pret’s website, this drink is made with organic steamed milk.
Photo: Brittany Natale, Eat This, Not That!
Long story short: something’s missing from this one.
Mine didn’t come with any of the extras, and I was skeptical right off the bat.
The taste:It was good, but it didn’t taste like traditional hot chocolate.
Photo: Brittany Natale, Eat This, Not That!
The flavor was sweet but not synthetic, with a thin yet creamy texture and a good mouthfeel.
It wasn’t terrible, but it could use some adjusting.
I paid $2.99 for a gourmet cup of cocoa that pulled out all the stops.
Photo: Brittany Natale, Eat This, Not That!
The look:Cute and colorful, Krispy Kreme’s presentation was one of the most eye-catching.
This drink was housed in a thick paper cup with a red plastic top and matching sleeve.
The actual liquid was a swirl of light tan and medium-brown hot chocolate.
The taste:Assertive.
It’s rich and decadent, which tracks since it’s crafted with Ghirardelli cocoa blended with steamed milk.
This hot cocoa is A-plus, but may not be for you if you prefer a more toned-down variety.
Starbucks makes its hot chocolate in sizes smaller than small, which are kids and short.
This drink didn’t come with a sleeve, which was fine because it wasn’t scalding hot.
The actual color of the drink was a light, even tan.
It had notes of dark chocolate, which created a surprisingly pleasant and slightly bitter aftertaste.
It was warm and soothing, and just sweet enough.
It donned a plastic top with a flip-up sipping area and was easy to carry.
The hot chocolate liquid was a dark, glossy-looking brown with a thin foam layer on top.
The taste:Delicious, quintessential hot chocolate.
It was flavorful and creamy and was substantial without feeling too thick.
It also was sweet with hints of marshmallow.
The most important part?
It didn’t taste artificial.
In short, it was great, and Dunkin' definitely didn’t disappoint.
The taste was scrumptious and left me wanting more.
