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The Five Best Overpriced (but Delicious) Holiday Coffee Drinks Found in Airports

November 24, 2010 at 2:13 PM | by | Comments (0)

We know firsthand how stressful and aggravating holiday travel can be, so we thought we’d give you a few options where you can just relax for a minute and savor the tastes of the holiday season. Just be sure to bring a little bit of extra cash, as although they’re tasty, here’s our five picks for the best of overpriced coffee drinks this holiday season:

· Caribou Coffee's Spicy Milk Chocolate Mocha:
If you haven’t been to Caribou Coffee before then the airport is a great place to test them out for the first time. Besides the usual lattes and other caffeine creations, they have three special drinks for the season of overindulgence. Ho Ho Mint White Mocha and Dark Chocolate Mocha are both special for the season, but we’d encourage you to pick the Spicy Milk Chocolate Mocha. It’s a little different thanks to a little extra something—ancho chile powder—and it’s only $2 on Mondays.

Unfortunately, the $2 promotion is probably not available at the airport, so you’ll have to look for the deal at a local strip mall. Some of our favorite pricey Caribou Coffees can be found at Minneapolis/St. Paul International where they’re kind of ubiquitous—try locations in the mall section of the airport as well as near gates E6, F1, and G4. If you’re flying through Denver or Detroit, you’ll also have no trouble finding a caffeine buzz.

· The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's Winter Dream Tea Latte:
This coffee shop has been around longer than most, but all that means is that they’ve had plenty of time to perfect their holiday offerings. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has more than just coffee as their name suggests, so taking a sip of a Winter Dream Tea Latte might raise your holiday spirits as you’re waiting for your flight. If you need something a little more fully leaded, there’s always the Gingerbread Cookie Latte, or the Red Velvet Hot Cocoa.

Detroit-Metro has two locations within the McNamara Terminal. There’s one in Concourse A—that’s the long one with the train—near gate A60. Once you’ve collected your baggage and are awaiting the family to get you, there’s a location before security where you can by the family a round. They’ve got a pretty decent overseas base as well, just in case your holiday plans take you abroad. Sip a taste of home in Mumbai as well as Terminals 1 and 2 within the Changi Airport in Singapore.

· Starbucks Coffee's Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino:
If you’ve haven’t had a Gingerbread Latte yet you’re probably living under a rock, or you’re just one of those that’s too cool for Starbucks. Whatever—we say that Starbucks makes decent coffee, and it’s everywhere, so we really have no qualms with the mega chain. That’s why we’re always on the hunt for the holiday red cups filled with Peppermint Mochas or Eggnog Lattes. If you really want a treat, try a Peppermint Mocha in Frappuccino form—despite it being like more than $5 and a billion calories—it’s pretty freaking tasty. The Caramel Brulee Latte is also an option, but our taste buds say pass on this one.

Just turn around and you can probably find a Starbucks at any major airport, so no worries if you’re on the hunt for something to make you feel all warm and cozy. Some of our favorite airport Starbucks include Detroit-Metro where you can take in view of that funky fountain. St. Louis-Lambert has a nice Starbucks right in the middle of the A gates within Terminal 1, and we were surprised to find plenty of comfortable chairs and plugs to charge up for the flight. Raleigh-Durham’s Starbucks is also pretty decent within Terminal 2, as it has good runway views, quiet seating, and it’s right after you get frisked by the TSA.

· Peet’s Coffee & Tea's Eggnog Latte:
Similar to Starbucks, Peet’s has a Peppermint Mocha, a Gingerbread Latte, and an Eggnog Latte, so they lose a few points for creativity; however, we’re sure the large sizes are still just as expensive as any other coffee shop. They also have a holiday blend of beans, so maybe a regular cup of joe might be the best option if Peet’s is the only option.

Get your Peet’s fix at many airports across the country, but the west coast is where you can find the most of them. San Francisco International has several locations, and Terminal 3 is where you can find a couple of them. Just down the 101 there’s another Peet’s within the San Jose International Airport, and for those connecting through Houston on Continental pick up a cup in Terminals B and C.

· Seattle’s Best Coffee's Sugar and Spice Latte:
They might be owned by Starbucks, but Seattle’s Best Coffee still has its own identify when it comes to spreading overpriced holiday cheer in the form of lattes. The Peppermint Mocha Trio and Gingerbread Latte are solid options, but they’re pretty similar to what you can find elsewhere. That’s why we suggest the brown sugar, cinnamon, and clove flavors found inside the Sugar and Spice Latte.

Seattle’s Best Coffee can now be found at places like Burger King and Subway, but you’ll only get a weird look if you’re looking for a holiday beverage at one of these fast food joints. Shockingly, Sea-Tac Airport has locations within the Main Terminal, Concourse D, as well as the South Satellite. Find another location if you’re passing through Denver near Gate B24, or a couple locations—the Food Court and near gate C120—at beautiful Newark Liberty International.

If you have a better spot to grab a holiday drink—no matter its cost—be sure to let us know about it in the comments below.

[Photos: blueeyedbride & Jaunted & merelyme13]

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