Let’s cut to the chase – Mountain lakes and its neighboring towns are full of hot chocolate, so we decided to rate some local favorites so you can decide where to go to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Our First Sip: Hapgoods
It’s a classic you all know and love, the one and only Hapgoods. They were strong from the get-go, with Christmas Music, colorful lights, and a fire ablaze to welcome you. We were seated right away and ordered one traditional hot cocoa and one peppermint hot cocoa, plus a biscotti for dipping. The traditional hot cocoa embodied everything Hapgoods stands for: comfort, sweetness, and a rich flavor. (Side note: the whipped cream is truly sensational; don’t be afraid to ask for extra) The showstopper of the evening, however, was the peppermint hot cocoa. The holiday flavor, paired with an already superb base of dark chocolate, was a match made in heaven. Paired with their biscotti, you truly can’t go wrong. Although this was a very high-scoring establishment, we did, of course, have a few critiques. A major one that stood out was the temperature: it just wasn’t hot enough for Sam’s taste. Cate and Charlotte didn’t mind that aspect too much, but they did note the flavor of the traditional was a bit underwhelming compared to that of the peppermint. With its Mountain Lakes charm and truly delicious cocoa, Hapgoods is definitely a spot to check out.
Around the Block to the Corner Creamery
If you are looking for an adorable ice cream store with small-town vibes and colorful decor, Corner Creamery is the perfect place for you! However, we don’t recommend coming here if you’re searching for hot chocolate. While we commend the low price, stick to their ice cream; the hot chocolate was far from hot, had no chocolate flavor, and didn’t quite have any redeeming qualities to offer. At the end of the day, we love all of our small businesses, and we respect the attempt, but until they figure out their hot chocolate, go here for the ice cream instead!
Across Town to Boonton Coffee
After the setback at the Corner Creamery, I had to say the bar was set pretty low. However, our next stop was Boonton Coffee, which proved to be the polar opposite of the previous. Not only was the hot chocolate comforting, but the atmosphere definitely gets points for being aesthetically pleasing. The first sip of the seasonal peppermint hot chocolate immediately gave me feelings of rich and handmade hot chocolate. If I were to describe it in one word, it would be balanced: it wasn’t too thick that you felt like you could only drink a small cup of it, but it was thick and dark-chocolately at the same time.
Even if you aren’t a big sweet tooth, this cup of hot chocolate goes really well with the Cinnamon Chip Scone. I appreciate how they warm it up for you and put it on a cute plate, along with the hot chocolate mug; combined with the homey atmosphere, you really cannot go wrong with Boonton Coffee. Something to note for topping lovers: it doesn’t come with whipped cream. Although, we all thought that it was unnecessary due to the creamy consistency and semi-light flavor. In all, we would rate this location a 11/10, simply because they took the hot chocolate and scenery to a whole other level; we will be coming back here!!
Our Final Sip of the Day: Java Smugglers
We wrapped our night up with Java Smugglers, which offered a fresh perspective on hot chocolate that we had a hard time rating but ultimately felt very fond of. Immediately when walking in, the vibes are incredible; the decor is unique, there are some adorable products for sale that would make incredible gifts, such as candles and tea cups, and it feels very rustic and curated. We ordered their plain hot chocolate, and compared to the other ones of the night, it was less rich and had more of a spiced marshmallow-y flavor, with the chocolate being less prominent. With that said, the flavor was incredible, and it was nice to try something with a less traditional hot chocolate flavor, especially being on our fourth hot chocolate of the night.
On top of that, the whipped cream was incredible, the sizing was very reasonable (we got a small, which was more than enough for three people), and the temperature was pleasant. Some notes we want to make in case you’re considering going is that it would be considered on the thinner side as far as hot chocolates go, which Cate and Sam appreciated, but if you’re like Charlotte and you prefer a more viscous drink, we would recommend looking elsewhere. All in all, Java Smugglers has an incredible ambience, an interesting menu that draws people in for its bourbon coffee, and a great spin on hot chocolate, so go support a small business and check it out.
Ending on a Sweet Note
No matter where you choose to get your hot chocolate from, we hope our reviews helped! From all three of us, we wish you a happy holiday season and happy hot chocolate drinking!
0
0
