Celebrate the season with these holiday drinks at Jersey Shore shops, roasteries

Gabriela L. Laracca, Asbury Park Press
Updated ·4 min read

Step aside Pumpkin Spice because Santa Clause isn't the only one coming to town.

Holiday sips like peppermint mocha, chai and gingerbread lattes have just hit the scene at various Jersey Shore cafes and roasteries.

Here are a few to choose from to help you celebrate the most wonderful time of the year:

Cafe Volan, Asbury Park

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Cafe Volan's seasonal special is cozy enough to warm your soul this season.

Try the gingerbread latte, made with homemade gingerbread syrup. The secret to this delicious brew? Locally-roasted beans, from Maiden Coffee Roasters in Neptune.

Go: Steinbach Building, 510 Bangs Ave.; 732-455-3399, cafevolan.com.

Coffee Corral, Red Bank and Long Branch

Coffee Corral's Holiday Express Blend coffee, which donates partial proceeds to local charity Holiday Express.
Coffee Corral's Holiday Express Blend coffee, which donates partial proceeds to local charity Holiday Express.

There are a couple of wild lattes and hot seasonal coffees running around in this corral.

Try the Holiday Express Blend (regular or decaf, and by cup or bag), a medium roast coffee with sweet and citrusy notes like grapefruit, orange and caramel. Ten percent of proceeds go to local-charity Holiday Express, which strives to give back to those in need during the season.

Also try lattes like the Pecan Pie Dirty Chai (with pecan and vanilla extracts, brown sugar, chai, espresso and oat milk); Sweet Potato Pie (with sweet potato, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, espresso and almond milk); Fraser Fir Matcha (with Juniper berry, peppermint extract, matcha and oat milk); Gingerbread mocha (with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, honey, mocha and espresso); and Winter cold brew (with maple syrup and vanilla extract).

Go: For Red Bank, 177 Dr. James Parker Blvd.; 732-741-2326. For Long Branch, 300 2nd Ave.; 732-759-8895, coffeecorral.net.

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Coffee Surf Co., Red Bank and Belmar

These vibey coffee shops don't just have holiday drinks, they've got the decorations and mood down pat, too.

Try winter specials like the gingerbread dirty chai, peppermint white mocha, white chocolate coconut, marshmallow peppermint, dulce de leche, and honey vanilla — all available iced or hot.

Go: For Red Bank, 362 Broad St.; 732-861-3031. For Belmar, 803 Ocean Ave. North; 732-456-5326; coffeesurfco.com.

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How You Brewin, Surf City

An iced gingerbread latte from How You Brewin in Surf City.
An iced gingerbread latte from How You Brewin in Surf City.

How You Brewin has plenty of holiday drinks in-store. In fact, they revved up at the beginning of November.

For the remainder of the month, try the maple spice white mocha (with maple spice and white chocolate), gingerbread latte, Vermont maple nut cold brew, caramel apple cider (hot or iced), as well as apple cider donut and gingerbread flavored seasonal hot coffees (decaf available).

The Gingerbread varieties will be the only carry-overs into December, but otherwise, they've got a clean slate of Christmas-themed sips, including the Merry Mint Mocha (peppermint and chocolate), peppermint bark cold brew, and a special "Christmas Blend" seasonal hot coffee.

Go: 8 Long Beach Blvd.; 609-494-2003, howyoubrewin.com.

The Local Market & Kitchen, Ship Bottom

An iced peppermint mocha latte from The Local Market & Kitchen in Ship Bottom.
An iced peppermint mocha latte from The Local Market & Kitchen in Ship Bottom.

You can always count on The Local for over-the-top lattes, towering with whipped cream and fun toppings.

Come December, they're kicking off the holiday season with a classic Peppermint Mocha Latte (with peppermint and mocha flavoring), an eggnog latte (made with actual eggnog and espresso), and the sugar cookie-flavored Snowball latte. Every selection will be topped with surprise goodies.

Go: 604 Central Ave.; 609-342-0061, localmarketlbi.com.

Taylor Sam's, Brick

Peppermint hot chocolate from Taylor Sam's in Brick.
Peppermint hot chocolate from Taylor Sam's in Brick.

Whether you like tea, coffee or hot chocolate, this popular breakfast hub has it all.

For coffee lovers, try the Gingerbread Latte (with homemade ginger syrup, steamed milk, espresso, whipped cream, caramel and a fresh gingerbread cookie), or if you're more of a tea-sipper, try the Eggnog Chai (with creamy eggnog, spiced chai, steamed milk, cinnamon stick, and a nutmeg sprinkle). If you want the best of both worlds, add a shot of espresso.

Also try the classic peppermint hot chocolate (infused with peppermint, Hershey's chocolate syrup, whipped cream and crushed candy cane).

Go: 1643 Route 88, 732-458-7267, taylorsams.com.

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Rook Coffee, multiple locations

Rook Coffee's limited edition gingerbread style cold brew.
Rook Coffee's limited edition gingerbread style cold brew.

This local chain is bringing back popular favorites, as well as new sips.

As always, they'll have the hot gingerbread style (a rich, dark brew with a blend of seasonal gingerbread-inspired spices). If you want to try something new, get the gingerbread cold brew.

Another returning favorite is the mocha mint style cold brew (a dark-roasted cold brew with milk chocolate and a hint of mint).

Go: rookcoffee.com.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore Christmas coffee, drinks at local shops, roasteries