The best hot chocolate on campus
As Providence turns from 60 degree hoodie weather to cold Canada Goose sprouting weather, you’ll find yourself craving something warm for your hands and for your insides. Hot chocolate is, of course, the best solution, especially if you still haven’t succumbed to a caffeine addiction. But with so many places on campus offering hot chocolate, you’ve got to know the right places to go. Luckily for you, I’ve done the research. The Blue RoomCost: $2.05Sweetness scale: Bitter - Dark - Chocolate - Semi-Sweet - Sugary - PuckeringChocolate scale:Definitely not chocolate - Passable - Real - ChocolateOverall score: 2/10Worth it?No! It’s just hot water with some powder in it. Some of the powder actually floated to the top and despite my attempts at trying to get it to at least be suspended, it just kept coming back. It is very hot water. Even if you get one of those cardboard things, it’s still on the verge of burning your hands. You may have to stir it for like twenty minutes before taking a sip, if you want to keep your tongue. Definitely not speaking from experience. The VDubCost: 1 swipeSweetness scale: Bitter - Hint of Sugar - Semi-Sweet - Sugary - PuckeringChocolate scale:Definitely not chocolate - Passable - Real ChocolateOverall score: 2/10Worth it?Considering it’s free once you’ve had your meal at the VDub, it’s not awful. If you’re looking for some vaguely chocolate flavored hot water, then sure, go for it. If you’re looking for real hot chocolate that actually satisfies your chocolate cravings, then this is definitely not your cup of...hot chocolate. The RattyCost: 1 swipeSweetness scale: Bitter - Hint of Sugar - Semi-Sweet - Sugary - PuckeringChocolate scale:Definitely not chocolate - Passable - Real ChocolateOverall score: 5/10Worth it?The things about Ratty hot chocolate is that you have to make it yourself. You get your hot water and you dump some of that powder in. You are the designer of your own hot chocolate (sort of). It’s actually not that bad, though. Is it hot chocolate? Debatable. But it sure is better than the Blue Room hot chocolate. I wouldn’t pay for it, but I would definitely grab this on the way out. Barus and Holley CafeCost: $2.95Sweetness scale: Bitter - Hint of Sugar - Semi-Sweet - Sugary - PuckeringChocolate scale:Definitely not chocolate - Passable - Real ChocolateOverall score: 10/10Worth it?I dream about this hot chocolate day and night. These people really know how to make it. This cafe is honestly such a hidden gem. This hot chocolate has a ton of chocolatey foam at the top, and it’s not bitter like a poorly made latte’s foam is. I don’t actually know if it’s made of real chocolate or if it simply uses syrup, but it is definitely made with milk and it sure tastes like a real hot chocolate. Almost makes me consider being an engineer so I don’t have to go out of my way to get some good hot chocolate. The UndergroundCost: $2.50Sweetness scale: Bitter - Hint of Sugar - Semi-Sweet - Sugary PuckeringChocolate scale:Definitely not chocolate - Passable - Real ChocolateOverall score: 6/10Worth it?They have the same hot chocolate machine as Barus and Holley’s cafe, but it’s nowhere near as good. It’s very mediocre. The foam has some chocolate flavor, but the drink gives me no satisfaction whatsoever. Kudos to The Underground for using actual milk, though. Andrews CommonsCost: Could be freeSweetness scale: Bitter - Hint of Sugar - Semi-Sweet - Sugary - PuckeringChocolate scale:Definitely not chocolate - Passable - Real ChocolateOverall score: 7/10Worth it?Well, it’s like the Ratty where you make it yourself, except it’s explicitly in packets of Swiss Miss. So you might as well just buy a thing of Swiss Miss instead. However, if you’re sneaky enough, you wouldn’t even have to spend any money on it. It’s not bad hot chocolate, especially if you use milk instead of water. It is enjoyable to drink. Shiru CafeCost: Free/Your dataSweetness scale:Bitter - Hint of Sugar - Semi-Sweet - Sugar - PuckeringChocolate scale:Definitely not chocolate - Passable - Real ChocolateOverall score: 8/10Worth it?It’s foamy. It’s a comfortable temperature. It’s not too sweet. It is somewhat chocolatey. I don’t love that I gave away my data for this cup of hot chocolate, but it was good for being “free.” There was also a hint of some kind of tea in the hot chocolate, which for me is a big no. They use real milk though, which grants it a couple extra points. Hot chocolate is always a good time when done well, so find a place you like and use the cold weather as an excuse to treat yourself. If you don’t feel like actually going out and buying it, just buy a thing of milk and chocolate and make it yourself! Images via.
