Hot or Not: Ranking Hot Cocoa Brands from Best to Worst
By: Rauri Cooley
Snuggled up on my couch with the fireplace's comforting heat, I suddenly desired to turn on my favorite Christmas movie and indulge myself in a cup of hot chocolate. Christmas time is my favorite season of the year: and the best part is the festive traditions that come along with it. Watching Christmas movies, ice skating, seeing Christmas lights, and of course, drinking hot chocolate. As a certified hot Chocolate lover, I wanted to share my love and knowledge of this fantastic chocolatey drink with others. My goal is to go to stores near me to try and find the best hot cocoa to make from the comfort of my home.
Rating Scale:
I am rating each hot chocolate over the price, how much each cup makes, the quality of the powder, the flavor, how creamy the cocoa is, and most importantly; if the packaging is giving holiday cheer.
Ranked from hot to absolutely not:
Ghirardelli Hot Chocolate
Price: $11.97
Quantity: 8oz
Quality: 9/10
Flavor: 10/10
Creaminess: 10/10
Holiday Cheer: 8/10
Before trying this hot chocolate, I had very high expectations. After the very first sip, I knew that I was immediately going to have a favorite. Everything about this hot cocoa, down to the packaging, was great quality. The preparation for the hot chocolate was simple and gave exact instructions on the back of the package. When I took the first drink, the rich chocolate taste instantly hit my taste buds. I could tell that the chocolate powder was super high quality and gave me a great first impression. The cocoa was super creamy and had just the right amount of frothiness to take the drink to the next level. The drink had the same consistent taste throughout the whole cup, which was nice considering some of the other brands tasted different with each sip. Everything down to the aroma of the hot chocolate was fantastic and left me wanting more. The only thing that I didn't like about the drink was the slightly bitter aftertaste when I was finished. It lingered a little longer than I would've liked but everything else made up for it. Overall, I would definitely splurge on this hot cocoa mix again and I think it is worth the price.
Swiss Miss
Price: $5.90
Quantity: 6oz
Quality: 8.5/10
Flavor: 9/10
Creaminess: 10/10
Holiday Cheer: 4/10
Swiss Miss is a hot chocolate brand that I grew up drinking as a kid. Drinking this hot chocolate gave me immediate nostalgia and transported me back to simpler times. At first taste, I suddenly remembered why I loved this cocoa so much. This drink has a creamy, milky taste; not too chocolaty. This cocoa was very similar to the Nestle brand, however, the quality and the taste were much better. Personally, I prefer a chocolatier taste over a milkier one, but this is a very neutral hot chocolate and would be great for any age. I wish they would make a new packaging for the hot cocoa to improve the overall experience of the drink. Swiss Miss has always been a classic, and it stood the test of time by remaining to carry a great flavor. I recommend this hot chocolate and I will be drinking it again in the future.
Good and Gather
Price: $5.79
Quantity: 6oz
Quality:7/10
Flavor: 8/10
Creaminess: 8/10
Holiday Cheer: 7/10
I wasn't sure what to expect from this hot chocolate because I haven't heard much about it. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the deep chocolate taste and the quality of the drink. It was very creamy and sweet with a rich flavor that isn't too overpowering. I liked how the cocoa went down very smoothly and left no bitter aftertaste. I thought the packaging was pretty good and the cup of hot cocoa on the cover looked very appetizing. Overall, I enjoyed my experience with this hot cocoa and I would definitely drink it again.
Nestle Hot Cocoa
Price: $1.44 (fantastic price!)
Quantity: 6oz
Quality: 7/10
Flavor: 7.5/10
Creaminess: 9/10
Holiday Cheer: 2/10 (The only thing festive was the color red)
Nestle Hot Cocoa claims to be “the classic hot chocolate that never gets old, simple yet always tasty.” That is exactly how I would describe this drink–simple, yet tasty. At first taste, the cocoa was creamy and mellow, but there isn't necessarily a “wow factor.” There is a sweet and subtle chocolate taste with a slightly milkier taste than the other cocoas. The best part of this cocoa was that it was a lighter hot chocolate and left no bitter aftertaste. The consistency of the cocoa was perfect and went down very smoothly–making my experience with the drink enjoyable. Overall, the taste of this hot cocoa was very consistent and gave me a warm cozy feeling. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and taste of the cocoa considering that the price is so low. Although this is not my top choice, I enjoyed this hot cocoa and I would buy it again.
Starbucks Hot Chocolate
Price: $7.49
Quantity: 6oz
Quality: 5/10
Flavor: 5/10
Creaminess: 3/10
Holiday Cheer: 10/10 (loved the packaging)
The only delightful thing about this hot chocolate for me was the packaging. As for the taste, I was less than satisfied. I have heard many good things about this hot chocolate, but when I went to taste it, I felt slightly disappointed. The first initial sip of the hot chocolate was pretty good, leading me to assume the rest of my experience with it would be pleasant. However, after having a few more sips, it started to have a different flavor. The chocolate taste was pretty nice, and it was not too bitter and not too sweet. However, the creamy consistency and rich taste were lacking, and instead, they tasted more watery. Hot chocolate with no water should never be classified as watery. I have had Starbucks hot chocolate before, and I enjoyed my experience. However, the hot cocoa powder seems to be low quality. Every sip I had of this drink tasted very differently and left my tastebuds confused. Overall, I wanted more from this hot chocolate mix and I feel like there are better alternatives out there.
Overall, I enjoyed trying most of these hot chocolate brands. Out of all of the options, I would suggest the Swiss Miss or the Ghirardelli. Both of these hot cocoas have different aspects about them that really give a “wow factor.” Want to try it for yourself? Buy these hot chocolates to put my ranking to the test!