Deck the halls with... Red Cups!
It’s that time of year again when every coffee house bring out their festive drinks to get you in the Christmas mood (yes, already).
This year there seems to be a competition between not only what sugary extremes they can push your latte to, but also how creative they can be with their packaging.
But does the cup maketh the coffee? We decided to put the coffees to a cup-off.
The Classic Cup: Starbucks Eggnog Latte, £3.25
They Say: 'It’s the festive favourite and back due to popular demand - a creamy, sweet eggnog with rich, caremelly espresso and a dusting of ground nutmeg.'
We Say: 'It has an amazing consistency- very gloopy. It is so sweet it hurts your teeth. But the smell is good and the aftertaste is quite nice'. Lena De Casparis, Culture Editor and Coffee Reviewer
Final Score: 6/10
The Chocco Cup: Pret A Manger’s Mint Hot Chocolate, £2.70
They Say: 'It’s an indulgent treat just for Christmas.'
We Say: 'This isn’t Christmassy but it’s yummy!' Elizabeth Adetula, Features Intern and Coffee Connoisseur
Final Score: 7.5/10
The Christmasy Cup: Costa’s Gingerbread & Cream Latte, £2.95
They Say: 'An irresistible seasonal drink'
We Say: 'The gingerbread taste is not very strong but the whole package makes this one my favourites.' Finlay Renwick, Freelance Digital Writer and Coffee Expert
Final Score: 8/10
The McCup: McDonald’s Toffee Latte, £1.99
They Say: 'A large shot of espresso with steamed organic milk and toffee syrup, topped with a swirl of whipped cream & caramel drizzle.'
We Say: 'An instant coffee trying to be fancy. I’m not sure about the cup either. Poor effort.' Jade McSorley, Intern and Coffee Lover
Final Score: 5/10
The verdict: It looks like Costa’s Gingerbread & Cream Latte wins the cup (ahem)! Whilst it didn’t rate highly on flavour, it satisfied the ELLE team’s festive cheer. To be honest we just liked the added gingerbread man and pretty cup.
So, yes, the cup does make a difference.
Words: Jade McSorely
