As Princeton’s winter weather lingers on, nothing beats a cozy hot chocolate to help with the trek between classes. As a self-proclaimed hot chocolate connoisseur who has at least one cup each day, I set out this past week to expand my horizons and make the definitive list of hot chocolates on campus and in town. To help you determine the best place for your own hot chocolate fix, I documented my experiences and thoughts for each day.
Monday — Tiger Tea Room
Hot chocolate in Tiger Tea Room.
Larkin Macosko / The Daily Princetonian
On Monday, I stopped by the Tiger Tea Room inside Firestone for a quick hot chocolate before studying. Immediately, I was greeted with smiles from the sweetest workers. To make their hot chocolate, they use Hershey’s syrup and steam it with milk. While this creates a more artificial chocolate flavor, it’s not overly sweet or rich, making it an ideal option to sip on while studying. They also usually offer a topping of whipped cream but had unfortunately run out when I visited.
At only $2.75 and taking less than a minute to make, Tiger Tea Room hot chocolate is a perfect middle ground between coziness and productivity, making it a convenient pick-me-up while studying.
Tuesday — Small World
Hot chocolate at Small World.
Larkin Macosko / The Daily Princetonian
The next day, I made my way down Witherspoon Street to Small World Coffee to try their Mexican-style hot chocolate. I was intrigued by their incorporation of spice into a typically sweet, chocolatey beverage. While costing almost twice as much as Tiger Tea Room’s option at $5.25, Small World’s version is made with an in-house syrup that uses real chocolate, topped with a generous portion of whipped cream.
Despite mentally preparing myself for the spice, I still managed to be overwhelmed by it from the first sip. The spice lingered in the back of my throat, enticing me to take another sip of hot cocoa, only for me to get hit by another wave. While the addictive nature of this unique treat certainly warmed me up, it is too strong to become my go-to. However, the chocolate flavor itself was notably richer and more authentic-tasting than Tiger Tea Room’s hot chocolate, making this drink a fun option for those seeking a more novel, distinctive flavor.
Wednesday — Bent Spoon
Hot chocolate at Bent Spoon.
Larkin Macosko / The Daily Princetonian
On Wednesday night, I ventured over to The Bent Spoon to try their highly-regarded hot chocolate. After reading several online reviews that claimed this version was the best in Princeton, I came in with high expectations. Even the barista at Small World from the previous day had admitted it was her favorite.
Unlike the last stops, Bent Spoon’s hot chocolate comes in four different varieties: regular, vegan, peppermint, and habanero. After my slightly traumatic experience with spice at Small World the day before, I decided to play it safe with the regular version. Each cup costs $8.50, and with toasted marshmallows, my drink rang in at a whopping $10.50.
After my first sip, I can certainly say that trying Bent Spoon hot chocolate is an experience, though not one I wish to repeat. Drinking it tasted like drinking liquified chocolate cake, making one sip more than enough for me. While their house-made “toasted marshies” certainly added a visual appeal, they were fairly grainy and not worth the additional $2. After speaking with a worker, I learned that Bent Spoon pre-makes all their hot chocolate in a European style that uses real chocolate, sugar, and flour, which explains the cake-like taste. It seems Bent Spoon’s hot chocolate could be classified under its own category of “dessert beverage,” perfect for when you want to try something different and empty your wallet.
Thursday — Whitman Dining Hall
Hot chocolate at Whitman dining hall.
Larkin Macosko / The Daily Princetonian
After trying my hand at some rather unorthodox hot chocolates for the last two days, I decided to return to a familiar favorite. With on-tap access at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I have had my fair share of dining hall hot chocolate. I made myself a cup topped with a generous dollop of whipped cream at the Whitman dining hall for a post-lunch treat.
Although it’s apparent that the dining halls use a powdered mix rather than an actual chocolate sauce, the flavor profile is still very similar to that of those made from real chocolate. The customizability is also a plus, as you can tailor it to your liking with a variety of toppings, such as marshmallows and chocolate sauce. Therefore, if you’re low on time and not feeling up for the usually high prices in town, dining hall hot chocolate never fails.
Friday — Halo Pub
Hot chocolates at Halo Pub.
Brianna Melanie Suliguin / The Daily Princetonian
On Friday night, I returned downtown for Halo Pub’s Parisian hot chocolate. Steamed together with real chocolate bits, chocolate milk, and cinnamon, I was initially worried the cinnamon would leave the $6.75 drink far too pumpkin spice-esque.
Instead, the slight spice amplified the chocolate flavor, adding a unique depth. The use of real chocolate also made it more decadent, but it lacked any sort of topping to enhance the flavor.
Saturday — Maman
Hot chocolate at Maman.
Larkin Macosko / The Daily Princetonian
The penultimate stop on my hot-chocolate journey was Maman to test their lavender hot chocolate. While lavender and chocolate are not flavors I would typically pair, I was nevertheless extremely eager to try them. Stepping into Maman felt like being transported to a beautiful European café, leaving me no choice but to dine in so I could have the full experience with their fine china. Of all my stops, Maman hot chocolate took the longest to make and was at the higher end of the price range at $6.25.
When it finally arrived, I was surprised to see that the drink had a light purple hue. A worker told me that their version is assembled with a house-made chocolate syrup, real lavender petals, and milk, all steamed together and topped with cocoa powder. Despite the aesthetics, the lavender flavor dominated the chocolate, resulting in the drink better resembling a London fog. Additionally, I was a bit discouraged by the lavender petals listlessly swirling around the drink. Overall, this lavender-themed drink was tasty and comforting, but not something I would consider as hot chocolate, leaving it outside my top rankings.
Sunday — Thomas Sweet
Hot chocolate at Thomas Sweet.
Larkin Macosko / The Daily Princetonian
Finally, I ended my chocolate crusade at Thomas Sweet Chocolate, a popular chocolate shop in the area. As I entered the shop, I was instantly met with the deep aroma of chocolate and free samples of chocolate for us to grab.
Thomas Sweet pre-makes their hot chocolate with a simple powder mix and milk, so I was instantly handed my drink, heavily loaded with whipped cream. Initially, I was pleasantly surprised by the drink’s prominent dark-chocolate flavor and its moderate sweetness compared to the hot chocolates I had sampled previously. However, with more sips, chunks of powder began to form a skin on top of the drink. While I may have received an old batch since I visited in the evening, I ended up tossing the $5.50 hot chocolate after a couple more lumpy sips.
After a whole week of trying the best and worst of Princeton’s hot chocolate, I found the dining hall and Tiger Tea Room to be reliable options and Maman and Small World as perfect alternatives if you’re feeling more adventurous. While Bent Spoon’s hot chocolate may be a favorite of many Princetonians, for me, the price doesn’t justify the taste. Although also on the upper end price-wise, Halo Pub’s Parisian hot chocolate, with its subtle cinnamon kick and robust flavor profile, was my surprise favorite, inspiring me to add cinnamon to my own hot chocolates going forward.
Larkin Macosko is a member of the Class of 2028 and a contributing writer for The Prospect. She can be reached at lm4788[at]princeton.edu.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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