I scoured downtown Columbia for the perfect cup of hot chocolate. Trek completed, these four stood out.
I found two at Kaldi’s Coffeehouse, one at Lakota and one at Coffee Zone.
The Aztec hot cocoa at Kaldi’s, 29 S. Ninth St., sounded intriguing, and I was hooked after the first sip. The smooth chocolate drink has a hint of cinnamon that lingers on your taste buds moments after each swallow.
I’m a dark chocolate person, but Kaldi’s white hot chocolate surprised me. The white chocolate taste was subtle, and the consistency wasn’t too thick or thin.
Kaldi’s also serves a dark hot chocolate, and all three are priced from $2.45 to $3, depending on size.
Lakota Coffee Co., 24 S. Ninth St., starts its hot cocoa with Ghirardelli powdered cocoa. I opted to add a shot of hazelnut syrup to my cup and was pleasantly surprised with the balanced flavors. Sans syrup, the beverage costs $1.95.
Coffee Zone, 11 N. Ninth St., only serves one kind of hot cocoa, but it’s made with the house cocoa powder. Blended with steamed skim milk, the result is a light chocolate flavor.
Not too sweet, this hot cocoa is perfect for those who appreciate bitter chocolate taste. One size is offered for $2.10.
After sampling frothy beverages all afternoon, I went home and took a nap — no blanket needed.