Seasonal drinks are a staple of coffee shops. There’s something whimsical about having an order that feels tied to a season, even if it could be made year round. While not all of these are officially seasonal drinks, each one claims a cozy theming that I feel made them fit this list. Now, without further ado, here are seven beverages from seven coffee shops I tried this winter.

Daydrink Coffee – Twelfth Night

Daydrink’s Twelfth Night takes its holiday theme seriously. The cider-based wassail syrup makes the coffee reminiscent of apple pie and nutmeg. It’s one of the least coffee-flavored drinks, despite the espresso, making it perfect for those who want a flavorful caffeine boost. If you’re getting it to go, the drink comes in a small jar, which looks cute in addition to being practical. Daydrink is a fantastic place to check out for a unique drink, and the Twelfth Night feels seasonal beyond an additional syrup.

Scooter’s Coffee – Sugar Cookie Latte

The Scooter’s Sugar Cookie Latte falls into the trap that many chain stores do: it’s far, far too sweet. The cookie taste is drowned out by the absurd, overpowering amount of sugar. It’s not the worst-tasting drink, but if you’re looking for something seasonal, I would search elsewhere on the menu. The latte doesn’t justify its cost as a seasonal drink, and tastes like any other sugar-filled beverage. It might be that my taste buds aren’t fried enough for this, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Java House – Candy Cane White Mocha

Java House’s Candy Cane White Mocha comes with a price hike from the regular white mocha, but delivers little more than candy cane pieces and whipped cream. Beneath these superfluous elements, the drink lacks any actual peppermint flavor. For being more expensive than a white mocha, you’re better off grabbing a regular white mocha and throwing a candy cane in it. For that matter, buying a regular white mocha and throwing a candy cane in it would create a stronger peppermint taste. While pretty, this isn’t worth the purchase unless you’re looking for style over substance.

Prairie Lights – Spicy Cocoa

Tucked away above a bookstore, the Prairie Lights Spicy Hot Chocolate packs a surprising punch. The foamy drink leaves a cayenne pepper aftertaste that would admittedly hit harder with a bigger fan of spice. The actual hot chocolate is solid; however, the spices don’t add much beyond a surface-level taste. If you’re looking to escape the cold with something hot, the drink delivers a solid hot chocolate for a reasonable price. Overall, if you can handle the odd mix, this drink is an interesting hot chocolate at a solid price.

Kindred Coffee – Granola Latte

The granola latte flavor profile mainly mimics a maple latte. The drink is topped with a foam that brings the taste of granola; however, after a few sips, you’ll mostly be getting maple syrup and coffee. This isn’t necessarily bad — the maple syrup works well with a stronger coffee taste than many other drinks — but it’s not anything interesting either. If you’re at Kindred looking for a winter novelty, go for it, but any other maple syrup latte will feel roughly the same.

Press Coffee – Polar Express

The Polar Express is a latte spiced up with vanilla, almond and orange syrups. It’s one of the more tame drinks on this list, but the combination of flavors works well to create an interesting, albeit simple taste. If you’re looking for a small deviation from a traditional latte, the flavors work well for a rich nut taste. It’s not as sweet as many of the others on this list, but it’s a fantastic alternative to a typical variation on a latte, and the flavors work better than expected in tandem.

Sidekick Coffee – Winter Flight

The Winter Flight is unusual as it’s not one drink, it’s four. This order has a Mocha Affogato, Peppermint Mocha, Toasted Sugar Latte, and Gingerbread Latte. Each coffee comes in a small mug, making the experience closer to consuming two medium-sized beverages. The Mocha Affogato is the clear standout in terms of quality; however, none of the drinks are hard to finish. If you dislike very sweet or sugarless drinks, the Toasted Sugar and Gingerbread lattes are on the two extremes of that spectrum, but neither of them is unreasonable. This set is fun to split with a friend, but at at $3.25 for each mug, it’s really only worth ordering for the experience.