Every winter, kids and adults alike all around the country have the same debate—coffee or hot chocolate? This might just sound like a simple question based on preference, but the answer says a lot about how we navigate the cold months, manage stress, and find comfort in the cold storms of winter.
Some might think about that morning cup of coffee they have every day, how they “need” it to function throughout the day (I know I do!), and quickly come to the conclusion that it must be coffee. However, as you look closer into what winter demands of us, hot chocolate becomes the clear winner.
Coffee might get you through a tired morning, but hot chocolate gets you through the whole season. Hot chocolate hits closer to home for everyone because it’s more than just a drink or that nice burst of caffeine; the magic of hot chocolate is built on memories.
Senior JP Wong says, “Hot chocolate reminds you of Christmas and brings you back to those times when you came inside after playing in the snow to a cup of hot chocolate your parents made for you.” JP captures the power behind hot chocolate perfectly, a feeling of warmth and nostalgia that simply no other drink can recreate.
Winter is full of stress. Between finals, deadlines, sports in the freezing cold, and even college applications, hot chocolate brings that rare comfort and calm that coffee doesn’t. Coffee may give you the energy to meet these expectations, but hot chocolate calms you in a way that coffee can’t.
Winter, more than any other season, is about revisiting what makes us feel safe and calm; it’s the season of gratitude and love. As the days get shorter and surely not any warmer, we are drawn to the things that bring us comfort and joy. Hot chocolate does exactly that. It reminds us of holidays, traditions, and especially the joys of our childhood; it’s something that we gather around, not just gulp down on our way to school. Winter should not just be survived, it should be savored, and hot chocolate is the one drink that lets you do that.