There's nothing like a nice sweet hot chocolate on a chilly autumn day, with many coffee chains offering a quick chocolate fix for those on the go.
Whether you like yours with whipped cream and marshmallows or prefer the classic hot chocolate with no frills, there's plenty of places to snap up a warming cocoa fix. Popular coffee chains such as Costa, Starbucks and Pret A Manger all offer the sweet treat - but which one does it the best?
A hot chocolate can be a lovely treat on a busy day and a great winter warmer, with some costing more than others. We decided to visit the three main coffee chains to rate their hot chocolates in terms of taste, price and value.
READ MORE: We tried Marks and Spencer and Aldi stonebaked pizzas and one was as good as a takeaway
With nifty gadgets such as the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser now making fancy hot chocolates at home an option, we wanted to see if the treat was still worth it. Here's what we found.
Costa Hot Chocolate
I have to confess as the lucky owner of a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser I've been a bit spoiled when it comes to hot chocolate. But having not had a Costa Hot Chocolate before I wanted to keep an open mind.
I chose a small size (£3.20) to take away and took up the offer of an extra sprinkle of chocolate on top. It looked like the perfect lunch break treat to help me warm up on a chilly day.
One thing that sometimes annoys me about hot chocolate is when it's just not hot enough. Being a milky drink, it can be tricky to get right - I usually find it's either lukewarm or scalding hot. Thankfully Costa's hot chocolate was just the right temperature for me to drink straight away without completely burning the inside of my mouth, while still feeling like a hot drink.
Taste wise, I have to be honest and say I've had better. For me, it was just too milky and didn't have a rich enough chocolatey taste. The chocolate sprinkles on top added a stronger hint initially, but overall the taste fell a bit flat for me. It also didn't feel like enough of a treat for me to justify spending £3.20 on one drink.
Price: At the Costa I visited in Liverpool, hot chocolates cost £3.20-£3.85 for a takeaway cup, depending on size. Prices may vary.
Rating: 2/5
Where to buy: Costa
Starbucks Hot Chocolate
I absolutely love hot chocolate, and swear by my Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser which I pretty much use all year round. I'll be honest, I don't usually choose a hot chocolate when I go to a coffee shop, so I was intrigued to see what the Starbucks hot chocolate was like.
If I order a hot chocolate I usually get all the trimmings (plenty of cream and marshmallows) but I thought I'd keep it plain so I could taste the hot chocolate in all its glory. I opted for a small hot chocolate which cost a whopping £3.40.
I thought the price was pretty expensive for a small hot chocolate so I was expecting great things considering my Velvetiser never lets me down. After one sip, I was left relatively impressed, but not blown away.
The hot chocolate was lovely and thick, and a nice drinking temperature. Sometimes, hot chocolates can be absolutely boiling and you end up burning your tongue, so I was glad this was just right.
I would've liked the hot chocolate to be a little sweeter as I thought it tasted quite bland, but it was still pretty good. I definitely wouldn't make a habit of getting hot chocolates from Starbucks though.
Price: At the Starbucks I visited in Liverpool, a small hot chocolate cost me £3.40. Prices may vary depending on size.
Rating: 3/4
Where to buy: Starbucks
Pret A Manger Hot Chocolate
I have an intense dislike of tea and coffee, and only started drinking hot chocolate in recent years so feel I have many years of missed beverages to make up for. Whenever autumn rolls around, I take any and every opportunity to snap up a hot chocolate.
I'm as working class as they come but I have become a little snobby when it comes to hot chocolate. It's Hotel Chocolat's fault; I ventured in with a friend once and became instantly hooked on the silky smooth, velvety taste.
Now, no other hot chocolate can compete. I was keen to see whether high street favourite Pret A Manger may be a worthy rival, and opted for a regular hot chocolate with oat milk to put it to the test.
At £3.10, it's a little cheaper than Hotel Chocolat's offerings but not by much. It was a sweet and smooth beverage, with a generous chocolate flavour that got more intense with every sip.
I'd definitely purchase a hot chocolate from Pret again, but it's not quite delicious or decadent enough to put an end to my obsession with Hotel Chocolat.
Price: At the Pret A Manger I visited in Liverpool, it cost me £3.10 for a regular hot chocolate with oat milk
Rating: 4/5
Where to buy: Pret A Manger
Receive the Liverpool ECHO Shopping & Reviews newsletter by signing up here
READ NEXT:
- We compared autumn door wreathes and the cheapest 'looked expensive'
- We tried bubble baths and a £1.99 bottle scored top marks
- We tried cheap supermarket crisps from Sainsbury's, Heron, M&S and Asda and a 43p bag came out on top
- We tried supermarket burgers from Marks and Spencer, Asda, Iceland and there was a clear winner
- H&M's 'versatile' £24 blazer that 'perfect for autumn'
