The Official DMP Seasonal Drink Draft
December hits different when the seasonal drinks start dropping. Cold mornings. Foggy breath. Cups warm enough to cure at least three kinds of stress. It’s cuffing season for coffee and Santa Cruz shops are out here flirting with every sip in the book. Coffee Conspiracy. Verve Coffee Roasters. 11th Hour Coffee. Cat & Cloud. Four local spots rolling out their holiday menus right on time. We’re talking mint, spice, maple, ginger, and whatever secret magic they hide behind the counter. We tried them, we sipped them, we got sentimental about them. This is the DMP guide to the seasonal drinks carrying Santa Cruz through the holidays.
☺ DMP Favorite Picks
COFFEE CONSPIRACY
Coffee Conspiracy is keeping the holiday energy mysterious this year. One drink. One drop. One very cryptic vibe. Their Top Secret Seasonal Drink lands on Christmas and the only thing we know is the name: the Green Label Series. That is all the intel they are giving and honestly it makes the whole thing feel cooler.
Here is what we can tell you. It is an anaerobic fermented lychee fruit co fermented coffee. Think lychee meeting Sumatra and deciding to start a band. The flavor notes hit with lychee, apple, caramel, and honeydew. Bright. Juicy. Slightly wild. The kind of cup that wakes you up in more ways than one. If you want the most intriguing seasonal drink in Santa Cruz, this is it.
And while it is not seasonal we have to mention The Red Pill because the presentation is too good to ignore.
☺ The Red Pill
A double shot of espresso served with a side of sparkling water, a dark chocolate token, and a tiny red pill that frees your mind. Yes. It is a red Tic Tac and somehow that makes it even better. It feels like coffee theater. A whole ritual in under a minute. The kind of order that makes the person next to you ask what you just got.
VERVE COFFEE ROASTERS
Verve showed up with the holiday classics and the holiday curveballs. Their seasonal menu feels like a playlist you put on when you want to feel festive but also a little fancy.
Gingerbread Latte
This one smells like December the second it hits your hand. Fresh ginger. Molasses. Warm spices. The gluten free gingersnap crumble on top feels like confetti but for your tastebuds.
Spiced Cherry Matcha
Iced only. Bold move for winter but it works. Ceremonial matcha layered with tart cherry and winter spices. It hits sweet, sour, and earthy all at once. Perfect for the folks who refuse to retire their cold drinks no matter the temperature.
☺ Cardamom White Chocolate Mocha
This one feels like winter romance in a cup. Espresso and milk with a house made white chocolate ganache. Cardamom. Pink peppercorn. A tiny touch of sea salt. Sweet but not too sweet. Cozy with a little sparkle.
Not Toddy
Black tea with lemon, whiskey-inspired syrup, and holiday spices in a cozy, zero-proof twist.
11TH HOUR COFFEE
11th Hour showed up with the classics that never miss and the minty twists that keep things interesting. Their seasonal drinks feel like the kind of holiday vibe you reach for when the fog hits and you need something warm to believe in.
Peppermint Mocha
This is the holiday sweatshirt of drinks. Espresso, milk, peppermint, chocolate. Mint hits first, chocolate follows, and suddenly you are shopping for ornaments you do not need. It is sweet. It is safe. It is seasonal serotonin.
Eggnog Cappuccino
A two ingredient power move. Espresso plus steamed eggnog.
Creamy, spicy, and louder than your uncle’s opinions at dinner.
If you want a drink with holiday confidence, this is the one.
☺ Thin Mint Matcha
The minty matcha plot twist.
Matcha, milk, mint syrup, cocoa. Hot or iced depending on your mood swings. It is clean, earthy, chocolatey, then boom. Mint slides in like a Girl Scout with perfect timing. Unexpected but absolutely working.
Cat & Cloud
Cat and Cloud showed up with a whole holiday mood board this season. Their menu feels like someone bottled winter coziness, shook it twice, and handed it to you in a warm cup. Sweet. Spiced. Minty. Sparkly. A little bit of everything.
☺ Almond Stellata Latte
One sip and you are basically home for the holidays. Inspired by the Italian cookie pizzelle. Light. Nutty. Comforting in that specific December way.
Spiced Maple Tonic
Sparkling holiday cheer in a cup. Fizzy. Bright. Sweet with a twist. It tastes like someone put Christmas lights in a drink and somehow made it work.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Pumpkin pie in liquid form. Full fall vibes. The flavor that refuses to leave even though the calendar says winter.
Pumpkin Chai
Pumpkin and chai are better together than pb and j. Warm spices. Cozy energy. The kind of drink that makes you want to knit something even if you do not know how.
Mint Mocha
Clean mouth. Full stomach. Cannot lose. Chocolate and mint teaming up like a holiday power couple.
Mint Matcha
The mean green refreshing machine. Cool. Bright. Winter mint meets earthy matcha and they get along shockingly well.
Cold Foam Add On
Vanilla or PSL. A fluffy little upgrade for anyone who wants their drink to feel like dessert.
Seasonal drink season always hits Santa Cruz in its own way. Some spots go classic. Some go playful. Some go full mystery like Coffee Conspiracy locking their cup in a vault until Christmas morning. Verve came in with flavor confidence. 11th Hour and Cat and Cloud are getting their lineups ready. The whole city is basically one big latte walk right now.
So pick your spot. Pick your sip. Pick the drink that makes your hands warm and your mood better. These menus only stick around for a short stretch and then they disappear like leftover cookies on a Sunday night.