A good cup of hot chocolate can warm you up on a cold day. Here’s where to locate the best hot chocolate in the Champaign-Urbana area
There’s one thing that we know for sure: Hot chocolate is NOT just a treat for the kids. Sure, it’s great to know where the best cocoa is around town for those lazy mornings when the grown-ups need a cup of coffee. But we’re going to let you in on a little secret — it’s perfectly OK to splurge for the hot cocoa yourself. Some days just call for a cup of warm chocolate, hot cocoa, or whatever you call it in order to keep a smile on parents and children alike.
As with all of our “best of” food posts, we focus on locally owned restaurants around Champaign-Urbana and beyond, so mugs up and enjoy this delicious tour around Champaign-Urbana. (Recommendations from Chambanamoms staff and Facebook readers.)
Courier Cafe, 111 N. Race St., Urbana: Referred to as the perfect accompaniment to Courier’s delicious breakfast, readers eagerly noted this hot cocoa as a crowd pleaser.
Espresso Royale, multiple locations: All sorts of yummy flavor shots and milk choices available for your hot chocolate order. Friendly baristas have been known to customize the temperature for picky chambanakids (“Hot chocolate, but more like warm chocolate, cuz I don’t like it when it’s hot”)
Geschenk Coffee, Cafe, & Gifts, 228 E. Lincoln St., St Joseph: Make sure to pick up a hot cocoa with your baked goods order. Enjoy a flavor shot of cinnamon, caramel, white chocolate, hazelnut, pumpkin, peppermint, raspberry, or toasted marshmallow, just to name a few.
The Original Pancake House, 1909 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign: “Our kids love Original’s hot chocolate because the mugs are so big. The whipped cream on top is the best! I always sneak a few sips of my daughter’s cocoa and hope she doesn’t notice.”
Hopscotch Bakery + Market, 802 W. John St., Champaign: Try its hot cocoa with house-made marshmallows. “The kids love it because the marshmallows are HUGE and so delicious.”
Industrial Donut, 501 Commerce Dr., Savoy: “In addition to their delicious donuts, they have amazing hot chocolate.” Try it with toasted marshmallow or peppermint for a real treat.
Mad Goat Coffee, 57 E. Main St., Champaign: Satisfied hot chocolate customer below.
Pandamonium Doughnuts, 1105 Windsor Road, Champaign: “With house-made chocolate syrup and whipped cream, we love Pandamonium’s hot and iced mochas … make sure to order without coffee for the kids, but give us grown-ups all the espresso!”
The New Sweet Indulgence, 2149 S. Neil St., Champaign: Offering both white and milk chocolate cocoas, Sweet Indulgence’s cinnamon rolls and scones pair beautifully with its hot beverages.
Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee, food truck: When you need the hot chocolate to come to you, Travelin’ Tom’s hits the spot.
Whisk Coffee and Wine Bar, 1704 Patton Dr., Suite 4, Mahomet: Try its European sipping chocolate, “a rich dessert in a cup with your choice of syrup flavor.” Yes please.
Yo Yo’s Coffee & Tea, 104 S. Lombard St., Mahomet: Yo Yo’s offers a high-quality chocolate mix with steamed milk in order to please the chocolate-loving crowd. As if that wasn’t enough, Yo Yo’s tops its hot cocoa with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Enjoy the beautifully landscaped outdoor seating area or bring your laptop to work inside.
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And if you’re in charge of making it yourself, check out the hot chocolate mix that’s made in-house at Columbia Street Roastery (24 Columbia St., Champaign) at any time of year. Look for special gift packs at the holidays as well.
Consider another treat: local hot chocolate bombs.
Know of someone that we missed and that should be added to this list? Email us. Warm our hearts and let us know what you love about your favorite establishment’s hot chocolate.
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