My favorite way to spend a chilly winter day in Burlington is to stroll down Church Street with friends with a warm hot chocolate in hand to fight off frostbite.
The delicacy dates back thousands of years to the Aztec, Mayan and Olmec cultures and is now a staple each winter.
As a non-coffee drinker, I’ve tried my fair share of hot chocolate in Burlington, which had me wondering which one was the whipped cream of the crop.
Since mid-December, I have visited a handful of locations on and off-campus to put their hot chocolates to the test. I ordered each location’s version of a traditional hot chocolate to compare each fairly.
Each hot chocolate faced three main criteria: distance and accessibility from campus, quality of the product and college budget friendliness.
My perfect hot chocolate has a strong chocolate flavor and is not too sweet. I also prefer a consistency that is slightly thicker than milk but not overwhelmingly rich or heavy. Fresh whipped cream or marshmallows are always a bonus.
Lake Champlain Chocolates – Classic Option
If you’re looking for traditional hot cocoa, Lake Champlain Chocolates is a Burlington staple. This option is perfectly in between bitter and sweet for a classic and reliable beverage.
Along with having standard options, Lake Champlain Chocolates also has unique flavors like hazelnut and Aztec hot chocolate.
Their eight flavors are divided into two categories: sweet or rich. For a 12-ounce traditional cup in the sweet category, the total came to $5.30. In the rich section, however, a small cup is only eight ounces for $5.85.
The traditional sweet hot cocoa may be a bit thinner compared to the rich but does not lack in flavor. They also give you the option of either a housemade marshmallow or fresh whipped cream, at no extra charge.
Lake Champlain Chocolates is perfectly placed in the middle of Church Street. Most days they close at 7 p.m. but stay open an hour later on the weekends, making it perfect for an after-dinner treat if you’re not in the mood for Ben & Jerry’s.
The Café HOT – Most Unique
For a picture-perfect, Insta-worthy hot chocolate, The Café HOT has you covered.
Known for their inventive “no-kill” breakfast sandwiches and murder-themed decor, it’s no surprise they make a “killer” hot cocoa.
Their hot chocolate is crafted with a housemade chocolate sauce composed of cinnamon, cocoa and maple syrup. The notes of maple and warm spices give it a rich, nutty depth of flavor.
By mixing in housemade syrup, the flavor was strong and the balance between chocolate and spice was perfect for a brisk day. The texture was smooth and not overwhelmingly thick, with a nice foam top giving it the appearance of a latte.
A regular hot chocolate comes out to $6.41, which is the most expensive option on this list. Also, I was only offered a 12-ounce cup size and it did not come with marshmallows or whipped cream.
As for location, it sits on Main Street right off the bottom of Church Street, making it a convenient beginning to a stroll. Though there is currently construction blocking this portion of the road, you can still take the bus downtown or park your car around the block.
Cat Pause – Most Affordable
If you’re in a pinch between classes and want a midday hot chocolate hit, Cat Pause is a good affordable option.
A 12-ounce cup of hot chocolate came to $2.35, making it the cheapest option on this list. Other sizes include 16 and 20-ounce cups that are sure to not use up all your retail points.
The hot chocolate is Hershey’s pre-made mix, so the texture is on the grainier side. The flavor was also quite artificial-tasting and the texture was thin, so not my ideal choice.
Overall the location and price for Cat Pause are excellent, however, the flavor and texture fall flat.
Kru Coffee – Bang For Your Buck
A great place to study with free WiFi and grab a hot chocolate is Kru, located at the top of Church Street.
Kru is a no-frills, less sweet hot chocolate option with a foam top. A housemade mocha sauce is used as the base of this drink so it’s on the thinner side for consistency and has a subtle chocolate flavor if you aren’t fond of richness.
For a 12-ounce cup, the total came to $3.90, so it won’t break the bank.
Kru is also near the Downtown Transit Center, making it easily accessible as you can hop on any bus headed downtown for a midday study sesh with friends.
Muddy Waters – Best Overall
If you’re looking for a near-perfect cup of hot cocoa, look no further than Muddy Waters.
Every time I have family or friends come up to Burlington, I make sure to take a visit to Muddy’s for their vibes and hot chocolate. It has a lovely rich cocoa-forward flavor and a consistency that’s creamy and not too thin.
Not only do they offer fresh whipped cream at no extra charge, but they opt to use maple syrup instead of sugar to sweeten it. The maple whipped cream sets this beverage apart from the others as it adds a hint of Vermont.
For a 12-ounce, the total came to $4.50, but I also recommend adding raspberry syrup for an extra 75 cents if you enjoy fruit and chocolate.
Muddy Waters is also surrounded by the construction on Main Street, but don’t let that stop you from making the trip to try their stellar hot chocolate.
Even though we have a few more treacherous months of winter left, be sure to stop by any of these spots before spring has sprung.
