Halloween candy is barely out of the bowl and the coffee chains have already moved on to Christmas.
This week, three of the biggest names in caffeine are rolling out their holiday menus, one after another. The Pumpkin Spice crowd had a good run. The peppermint people are taking over now.
So grab your reusable cup and buckle up. Here's what's new, what's coming back and which dates to circle.
The Calendar Cheat Sheet
Here's the order they're showing up in:
- Sunday, Nov. 1: Dutch Bros holiday menu (already out)
- Wednesday, Nov. 4: Dunkin' holiday menu and new holiday packaging
- Thursday, Nov. 5: Starbucks holiday menu and merch
- Tuesday, Nov. 10: Starbucks Glass Bearista Cold Cup Surprise Boxes
- Tuesday, Nov. 17: Starbucks Red Cup Day
That's a lot of drive-thru trips in two and a half weeks. Pace yourself.
Dutch Bros Got There First
Dutch Bros didn't wait around. Its holiday lineup landed November 1 at more than 1,225 locations, while supplies last.
The two new drinks are Merry Magic, a fruity mix of blackberry, peach and cherry topped with holiday candy, and Sprinkle Cookie, a sugar cookie-style drink topped with Soft Top and holly sprinkles.
The Hazelnut Truffle and Candy Cane drinks are also back. And for the first time, Dutch Bros has a holiday-themed food item: a tree-shaped Holiday Sugar Cookie Cake Pop dipped in white chocolate.
A tiny cake pop shaped like a Christmas tree? That's adorable. Somebody's going to buy six of them for an office party.
Dunkin' Brings Cookie Butter Back
Dunkin' launches its holiday menu Wednesday, and it's leaning on two fan favorites. Parade reports that 10 holiday drinks are on the way.
Cookie Butter is back in six drinks, including lattes, hot chocolate, matcha, chai and iced coffee. Toasted White Chocolate comes back in four, including two lattes, a shaken espresso and a raspberry matcha.
The cups are getting a makeover too. Meet the Donutcracker, a new character that gives the classic nutcracker sprinkles and Dunkin's pink-and-orange colors. You'll see it on holiday cups, donut boxes and Munchkins boxes.
Dunkin' is also rolling out an Avengers: Doomsday menu with Marvel Studios on the same day. Superheroes and sugar cookies, all in one drive-thru line.
Starbucks Goes Tiramisu
Starbucks brings its holiday menu back Thursday. The big newcomer is the Tiramisu Velvet Latte, inspired by the classic Italian dessert. There's also a new apple refresher with pomegranate pearls.
The usual favorites are back: the Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Sugar Cookie Latte and Gingerbread Chai.
One drink is missing, though. The Chestnut Praline Latte isn't part of the announced lineup, and plenty of fans have noticed.
On the food side, the new items are a Bearista Cake Pop, a Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese and a new recipe for the Turkey & Stuffing Sandwich. The Cranberry Bliss Bar, Snowman Cookie and Sugar Plum Cheese Danish are back too.
Red Cup Day and the Bearista Comeback
Mark your calendar: Red Cup Day is Tuesday, Nov. 17. Buy a handcrafted holiday drink at a participating store and you'll get a collectible reusable holiday cup, while supplies last.
Starbucks hasn't shown this year's cup design yet. The new Winter Wonderland merch collection launches the same day.
Then there's the Bearista, the bear-shaped glass cup that sold out within its first day last year. This time Starbucks is releasing a Glass Bearista Cold Cup Surprise Box collection with mystery bear designs on Nov. 10. The original Bearista returns to select cafés on Dec. 1.
Mystery boxes. For coffee cups. We've officially entered the collectible era of caffeine.
Austin's Take
I respect Dutch Bros for skipping the line and launching on November 1. No waiting for Thanksgiving here, just straight to candy-topped energy drinks. That's the kind of confidence I like.
Still, the Tiramisu Velvet Latte is the one I'm most curious about. Dessert-inspired coffee is a bold move, and if it works, it could be a new favorite. I also have a feeling Chestnut Praline fans are going to stay loud until it comes back.
So which team are you on this season: Dutch Bros, Dunkin' or Starbucks? And what's the one holiday drink you'd stand in a long line for? Tell me in the comments!
Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay
