When the wind gets whippy and the snow begins to flutter, there’s nothing quite like a cup of creamy, velvety hot cocoa to warm the soul. So we set out on a hunt for the best of the best.
But before we share some of the best spots to grab a nostalgic mug of chocolate bliss, did you know that the terms hot cocoa and hot chocolate are two different drinks?
It’s true. Despite the fact that most people use the names interchangeably, they’re actually pretty different. And since this list includes hot cocoa, hot chocolate and drinking chocolate, we thought it would be interesting to clarify.
Hot cocoa is a term for what most of us grew up drinking: a hot drink made from sugar, dry milk powder and cocoa powder that can be prepared simply by mixing it with water (though using hot milk is always worth the extra effort).
Hot chocolate, on the other hand, is actually made from melted or grated chocolate which is mixed with hot milk. Depending on the quality of chocolate that’s used, hot chocolate almost always has a creamier texture and a richer mouthfeel than hot cocoa.
And then there’s drinking chocolate, which takes things to an entirely new level. Most commonly, you’ll find it made with equal parts high-quality melted or grated chocolate and frothed heavy cream. But a slightly less rich version can be achieved by mixing a higher ratio of grated or melted chocolate with a lesser amount of hot milk.
You’ll find a little bit of everything on this alphabetical list, including a number of venues where you can take your hot cocoa to the next level with a shot (or two) of alcohol.
Straight up
1. Blüm Coffee Garden
4930 W. Loomis Rd., Greenfield, (414) 282-4220
blumcoffeegarden.com
The Blüm Coffee Garden is an experience in and of itself. Located beneath the glass dome at Bluemel's Garden & Landscape Center, the quaint coffee shop is like none other, filled with plants and beautiful brick hardscapes.
They also make a pretty delicious cup of hot cocoa. The standard cup is smooth and creamy with plenty of whipped cream on top. You can also embellish your cup with any number of flavor shots including raspberry, coconut, mocha and caramel. I order mine with an extra boost of chocolate and a shot of espresso!
2. Goddess & the Baker
340 High St., Brookfield, (262) 505-6560
goddessandthebaker.com
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When in Brookfield, Goddess and the Baker is a beautifully appointed stop for uniquely delicious lattes, well-executed treats and satisfying meals that run the gamut from downright healthy to indulgent.
On the indulgent side you’ll find their hot chocolate – made with steamed milk. It's smooth and creamy with just enough chocolate flavor. Should you choose, you can also dress it up a bit with flavor shots like vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate, strawberry or peppermint!
3. Joy Ice Cream Social
8334 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, (414) 373-0172
joyicecreamsocial.com
Joy Ice Cream Social is a cool stop in the summer when the patio fills quickly with families enjoying the neighborhood ice cream shop's selection of Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream flavors. But it's also a great spot for hot drinks during the winter months. Their hot chocolate is made with whole milk and premium dark chocolate sauce (it's also available with non-dairy oat milk). You can fancy that up by ordering it as a hot chocolate float (poured over ice cream) or as bruléed hot chocolate with caramelized marshmallow fluff on top!
But why stop at one? Indulge in the hot chocolate flight at Joy Ice Cream Social. Each flight includes four hot chocolate minis (traditional, gingerbread, peppermint and caramel brulee) and guests’ choice of three mini ice cream tastings.
4. La Finca Coffeehouse
3558 E Sivyer Ave., Saint Francis, (414) 394-0722
lafinca.cafe
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There’s so much to love about La Finca Coffeehouse, from its welcoming vibe and menu of fantastic Mexican fare (try the breakfast tacos) to its coffee drinks, which are made with coffee from their family farm in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Another delight is their Mexican hot chocolate, which is made with Abuelita chocolate, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and steamed milk. It’s smooth, creamy and just sweet enough with a touch of warming cinnamon and a slight kick from the capsaicin.
If you could use a bit of caffeine, order the Mexican Mocha. It’s a similar build with two shots of espresso to boot. If you arrive before it runs out, I’d highly recommend their housemade champurrado made with Ibarra chocolate, cinnamon, star anise, piloncillo, oat milk and masa. It’s traditional, delicious and dairy-free.
5. Le Reve Patisserie & Cafe
7610 Harwood Ave., (414) 778-3333
lerevecafe.com
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If the thought of a trip to France isn't in the cards, you can always choose the next best thing: a trip to Wauwatosa's Le Reve Patisserie & Cafe, where buttery housemade croissants taste perfectly decadent enjoyed alongside an indulgent cup of house hot chocolate.
That's because Le Reve knows the secret to excellent hot chocolate: high-quality chocolate paired with rich, high-fat milk. In their case, Valrhona chocolate is grated into warmed whole milk creating a rich, chocolate drink that's worth lingering over.
6. Rochambo Coffee & Tea House
1317 E. Brady St., (414) 291-0095
rochambo.com
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Rochambo has been a classic stop on Brady Street since 1995, not only for a cup of exceptional, thoughtfully sourced coffee or tea, but also a liberal dose of community. And there’s good reason behind its longevity. Not only do they whip up a delicious cortado and the best(!) Irish coffee in the city, they also keep folks’ interest with uniquely delicious offerings.
Their Bhakti chai chocolate is no exception. Made with exceptional ingredients, this mash-up of chai and Indulgence Chocolatiers dark chocolate hot cocoa is a stellar example of how top-notch elements can come together to create an exceptional beverage experience.
Chai and chocolate are natural companions. You get all the richness of the cocoa, plus warming spices from the chai. In Rochambo’s case, you also get the exceptional pop of freshly pressed ginger, which takes this otherwise average looking cup of hot cocoa to another level altogether. Oh – did I mention it’s topped with fresh whipped cream and a bit more cocoa and sea salt on top? Truly exceptional.
7. Tabal Chocolate
7515 Harwood Ave., Wauwatosa, (414) 585-9996
tabalchocolate.com
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A trip to Tabal’s Wauwatosa shop is always a treat. Not only will you find their retail chocolate bars, but also shelves filled with new creations, a full case of handmade chocolates and ingredients like cocoa nibs and chocolate hazelnut spread (better than Nutella) to enhance your cooking and beverage making. There’s gelato and coffee. They also have a lovely selection of gift-worthy items as well.
Among their offerings is housemade drinking chocolate, which – like all of their products – is a bean-to-bar product, offers the intensely complex flavor of single origin cacao beans, which possess not only a base of classic chocolate flavor, but a strong fruitiness as well.
Even better, you can stop in and sample their house hot chocolate or sipping chocolate (smaller cup, but more intense flavor). Both are delicious when made with full-fat dairy, as I’d make them at home.
But you can order up cups made with coconut milk at the shop, and that’s a completely different experience. You still get the rich flavor of the chocolate, first and foremost; but the mouthfeel is slightly different. It’s creamy, but slightly thinner and the coconut milk seems to underscore the innate fruitiness of the chocolate even more.
Spiked
8. County Clare
1234 N. Astor St., (414) 272-5273
countyclare-inn.com
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There aren’t many places more cozy than the “snug” at County Clare Pub, where the atmosphere is as congenial as you’d expect from an Irish bar. I’ve consumed a number of Irish whiskeys and Guinnesses there. But, it wasn’t until recently that I tried their truly delicious spiked hot cocoa.
Terry’s Hot Chocolate is the name of the drink, which is flavored with orange vodka, Irish cream, and hot chocolate. Topped with fresh whipped cream, the drink comes together nicely with a flavor that’s reminiscent of the chocolate oranges that ruled the 1990s. I’m guessing the drink is named after that nostalgic treat, and – although you don’t get to experience the fun of “whacking and unwrapping it” – it’s a delicious indulgence just the same.
9. Nomad Coffee Bar
1668 N. Warren Ave., (414) 224-8111
nomadcoffeebar.com
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Nomad Coffee Bar is a relative newcomer to the scene, but it’s an apt sister-venue to the soccer-themed Nomad World Pub, which pays homage to the pub’s early days in the 1990s when it was a full-on coffeehouse during the daytime and a soccer bar in the evening.
The covered, heated deck makes it a pleasant spot to grab breakfast or lunch, even during the colder months. And, well, it’s a downright scene during special events, particularly World Cup festivities during which cups of coffee are essential to get even the hardcore football fans through the sometimes very early morning games.
But I’m here to talk about their hot cocoa, which stands up against many others in the city thanks to its thoughtful construction with Omanhene hot cocoa, a brand that was birthed in Milwaukee and which pioneered the first, single-bean, processed-at-origin, all-natural (non-alkalized) cocoa powder featured in a powdered hot cocoa drink mix.
It’s delicious on its own, with a rich, full body and a lovely fruity aftertaste that’s reminiscent of raspberries; the whipped cream on top helps to pull everything together and enhance its mouthfeel. At Nomad Coffee, you can order “Bend it Hot Cocoa” to which you can add a shot of any number of liqueurs or spirits. In this case, I might opt for Chambord to underscore those raspberry notes. But the butterscotch schnapps I tried with my cup last week was pretty darned amazing as well.
Your choices for shots include a laundry list of spirits: Absolut, Aperol, Aquavit, Baileys, Bulleit bourbon or rye, butterscotch schnapps, Calico Jack, Campari, Cazadores, Chambord, Disaronno Amaretto, Dr Mcgillicuddy’s Menthol, Espolon, Fernet Branca, Frangelico, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, Goslings Rum, Jameson, Kahlua, Malort, Rumchata, white Sambuca, Sqrrl, Tuaca, Mezcal
10. Vintage Grounds Coffeehouse
S74 W16825 Janesville Rd., Muskego, (414) 422-0556
vintagegrounds.com
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Vintage Grounds is one of those spots you’d never guess was in a strip mall. It’s cozy and quaint with a cute little lounge area and fireplace and lots of (surprise) vintage tables and decor. It’s a great spot to grab a cup of coffee or something to eat from their menu which features all-day breakfast, sandwiches and salads.
The coffee shop also has a liquor license, so you can add a shot of liqueur or spirits to any drink, resulting in the potential for Irish Cream lattes and… bourbon spiked hot cocoa, which is what I chose to order on my most recent trip.
I don’t think I’ve ever added bourbon to hot cocoa before, but if you’ve ever enjoyed a cup of cabin coffee, this little dandy has a similar impact. Sweet caramel notes mix with creamy chocolate and cream and about two sips in, you’ll feel that deep warming sensation that makes you forget how cold it is outside.
Hot chocolate comes in a 16-ounce pour. Meanwhile, your options for adding a shot include: Full spectrum CBD; spirits (whiskey, bourbon, rum, vodka, brandy); liqueur (schnapps, Kahlúa, Irish cream).
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
