With Christmas approaching, it is time for coffee shops to start promoting their peppermint mochas!
One thing to note about Starbucks is that their peppermint mocha originally contained dark chocolate curls on top when I visited the Vintage Faire Mall location in Modesto. When I realized I needed pictures, I visited a different Starbucks (because it is the same recipe right?). In Dublin, the curls were replaced by light brown sprinkles on top. Perhaps my order was mistaken for a pumpkin latte? Finally, I went to a third location in Fresno and the brown sprinkles and dark chocolate curls were gone.
Also, when I originally went to House of Java, they served my peppermint mocha in a large mug and it looked nice. When I went a second time to get a picture, they gave me a plastic cup and it looked worse from an aesthetic standpoint.
The one from Panera Bread ended up as my favorite, judging by looks and taste.
- Both the peppermint and espresso taste are stronger here, which is why this drink wins as my favorite peppermint mocha. The chocolate syrup on top of the whip cream is a nice touch.
- From an aesthetic standpoint, this looked really pretty with pink sprinkles on top. The “peppermint” part of this mocha was a bit hard to taste, but the overall texture felt right and I ended up liking this one second best.
- or this peppermint mocha, I noticed the sweetness more than anything. The texture is thick and creamy, as most peppermint mochas are, and it ends up being a solid drink with no standout qualities.
- The Starbucks drink is a bit more difficult to judge because each Starbucks gave me different looking peppermint mochas. Obviously convenience is why many people go here, but the actual quality falls somewhere in the middle and there are better options.
- The peppermint and espresso flavors were a bit weak, and it lacked the artful look of the ones I drank at Warrior Grill and Panera Bread, so this peppermint mocha falls last in my ranking. But the price is cheaper, and you will be impressed by the “home” atmosphere of the building.
