Jordan Myrick
Justine Sterling
Ariana Losch
Hot beverages are the best way to really drink in the cozy. Sure, there are those year-round iced coffee people, but you just can’t beat a hot mug of something tasty on a cool morning. What’s in your mug? Whether it’s hot cocoa, coffee, or tea, we found the best brands of the best hot drinks in our many, many taste tests.
Gird your tongue, we scalded our mouths on more than one occasion taste testing many, many cups of cozy drinks in order to bring you the very best warm drinks you should be buying. Stock your tea drawer. Fill your coffee cabinet. And make sure you’re doing so with the best hot beverages.
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- Nestle Rich Milk Chocolate Hot Chocolate Cocoa Mix
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Hot chocolate is one of the best hot drinks out there. And this is the best hot chocolate mix by far. It is so rich and creamy and chocolatey. It is the only hot chocolate mix we tried that still tastes like it was made with milk even when you make it with water! That’s really saying something. This is the type of hot chocolate you want to slurp up all winter long. —Jordan Myrick
Read the full ranking of the best hot chocolate mix
Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs
- Twin Peaks Original Pour Over 100% Colombian Coffee
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Twin Peaks makes an instant pour over coffee that is roasty, toasty, and just strong enough. Unlike a lot of other instant coffee, this stuff tastes more like fancy third-wave coffee than diner coffee. And it’s ready in seconds. If you start your morning with a cup of joe and very little time, this is the best hot beverage for you. —Justine Sterling
Read the full ranking of the best instant coffee
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Great Value 100% Arabica Colombian Ground Coffee
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These K Cups took the top spot in our ranking of the best Walmart coffee pods. The coffee is a little bit fruity (but not crazy acidic), it’s round and earthy, and it’s bold, so it can stand up to some milk and sugar or creamer. Sporked’s Gwynedd Stuart wrote that it was “much better than a lot of the more expensive K Cup coffee” and this one’s cheap as heck. —Justine Sterling
Read the full ranking of the best Walmart coffee pods
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Jade Leaf Organic Ceremonial Matcha Teahouse Edition
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This is barista-level matcha powder (and it does require a little bit of barista-level handling, but it’s worth it). You have to stir the matcha powder with cold water first before adding hot water to avoid any clumps. The result is a delicate, lightly grassy, creamy finish that’s barely bitter at all. Anyone who wants to try making matcha at home should really check this out! —Ariana Losch
Read our full review of the best Matcha powder
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Barissimo Midnight Blend
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Aldi shoppers (and non-Aldi shoppers, frankly) need to know about this hidden gem of a dark roast brew in the coffee aisle. It’s incredibly rich and robust but still quite smooth, with a profile of toasted nuts and slightly smoky tobacco that you can taste with every sip. For less than $7.50 a bag, this is a steal, too. —Ariana Losch
Read our full review of the best Aldi coffee
Credit: Merc / Aldi
- Organic Fair Trade Wake Up Blend Ground Coffee
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Trader Joe’s has such a huge selection of coffee, but there is one that reigns supreme. The best Trader Joe’s coffee is the Organic Fair Trader Wake Up Blend Ground Coffee. It’s lightly fruity and not acidic. Skip all the other coffees. This is the TJ’s coffee to buy. —Jordan Myrick
Read the full ranking of the best Trader Joe’s coffee
Credit: Liv Averett
- Lipton Black Tea Bags
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Lipton makes some of the best tea bags out there (specifically the best black tea). I know there are fancier and more unique options, but these Lipton black tea bags are perfect in every way. The tea tastes great, they come in gigantic boxes, and the price point is low. Plus, you can find them almost anywhere! If you’re stocking a tea drawer to make the best cozy drinks, this tea is an absolute must-buy. —Jordan Myrick
Read the full ranking of the best black tea
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- 365 Organic Green Tea
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Whole Foods 365 brand organic green tea bags are the best tea bags when it comes to green tea. It’s a complex green tea that isn’t bitter at all, which we love. This tea is one of the best hot beverages, but it’s also really good iced. Who doesn’t love a multipurpose product? —Jordan Myrick
Read the full ranking of the best green tea
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Bigelow Vanilla Chai Black Tea
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This is the best chai tea bags brand you can buy in grocery stores across the U.S. Can you get better chai at an Indian restaurant or grocery store? Yes. If you don’t have access to one of those, however, this will definitely do in a pinch, especially if you’re also a fan of vanilla. —Jordan Myrick
Read the full ranking of the best tea bags
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Yogi Honey Lavender Stress Relief Soothing Serenity Blend
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Add this Serenity Blend from Yogi to your tin of stress-relief teas, because it’s basically aromatherapy in a cup. If you’re afraid the lavender is too floral, don’t be. This is honeyed, mildly floral tea that’s fragrant but not overpowering in any way. We made the person on our team who dislikes lavender the most try it, and they still loved it! You will, too. —Ariana Losch
Read the full ranking of the best herbal tea
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Tejava Black Tea
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If you’ve moved beyond tea bags and into tea pods, then these are the best tea K Cups to buy. The tea tastes fresh and rich and floral—like really great black tea, as it should. If you’re getting your hot beverages from a Keurig, you need to stock up on these tea pods. They make tea so good, you won’t even need honey. —Justine Sterling
Read the full ranking of the best Keurig tea pods
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Peet’s Ground Pumpkin Spice Coffee
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“C’mon, you guys really like this pumpkin spice flavored coffee?” YES! We really did. “You’re not just saying that because it’s trendy and you had to try it?” Nope. I mean, we did have to try it because pumpkin spice is trendy, but we all unilaterally agreed that this is enjoyable. The bright light roast mixed with the full gamut of pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove) blends really beautifully. It’s cozy and unique. You can only find this ground coffee around fall, so if you’re curious, better try it soon! —Ariana Losch
Read the full ranking of the best pumpkin spice coffee
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Harney & Sons English Breakfast Tea
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Harney & Sons really nailed it with their English breakfast tea. It’s smooth and robust, made with a brisk black tea that’s surprisingly not bitter, making it just as good on its own as it is with milk and sugar. Plus, it comes in an adorable tin that you can repurpose for something else once you’re done. (A favorite hobby of mine.) —Ariana Losch
Read our full review of the best English Breakfast tea
Credit: Merc / World Market
Best Hot Chocolate Mix
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Instant Coffee
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
Best Walmart Coffee Pods
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
Best Matcha Powder
Rating:
9.5/10
Sporks
Best Aldi Coffee
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Trader Joe’s Coffee
Rating:
8.5/10
Sporks
Best Black Tea
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Green Tea
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Chai
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Herbal Tea
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Tea Pods
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Pumpkin Coffee
Rating:
9.5/10
Sporks
Best English Breakfast Tea
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Looking for a tea you didn’t see on this list? Check our our full roundup of all the best tea bags.
Danny Palumbo
Gwynedd Stuart
Jessica Block
Sporked Staff
