Christmas sees a flurry of festive-themed beverages hit UK coffee shops as consumers turn to indulgent products to stave off cold winter days . Here are the top 20 on the high street as voted for by the Allegra consumer panel
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Let’s face it; there’s no better place to seek shelter from the seasonal shopping splurge than a coffee shop.
And for operators offering a range of festive seasonal products, Allegra research shows there’s extra reason to be merry. UK consumers surveyed are willing to spend an average of 12.4% more on festive-themed beverages than regular brews.
But indicating that coffee shops are for life, not just for Christmas, only 17% of consumers surveyed said they’d be more likely to visit a coffee shop during the festive period than at any other time of year. So, while seasonal products are likely to increase average ticket sales, the season itself doesn’t appear to be a driver of increased footfall in coffee shops.
And there’s also sobering news for those who wish it could be Christmas every day. More than half of consumers surveyed (54%) disagreed they would buy seasonal beverages all year round if available.
We asked a panel of more than 1,600 UK consumers what their favourite festive-themed coffee shop beverage is. So, without further ado, here are the nation’s top 20 festive refreshments for 2018:
Winner: Winter Roast Coffee – Costa Coffee
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Costa Coffee's seasonal Winter Roast coffee blend won over the majority of consumers surveyed with its notes of winter berries, cocoa and cinnamon
2nd place: Gingerbread Latte – Starbucks
A Christmas institution: Starbucks first launched its gingerbread latte in the US in 2012
3rd place: Hazelnut Praline and Cream Latte – Costa Coffee
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Costa Coffee's hazelnut praline and cream latte (left), and the hot chocolate variety (right)
4. Caramelised orange Hot Chocolate – Costa Coffee
5. Hazelnut Praline and Cream Hot Chocolate – Costa Coffee
6. Belgian Truffle Hot Chocolate – Caffè Nero
For the sweet-toothed: Caffè Nero's Belgian truffle hot chocolate
7. Egg Nog Latte – Starbucks
8. Salted Caramel Latte – Caffè Nero
9. Toffee Nut Latte – Starbucks
10. Millionaire’s Latte – McDonald's
11. Salted Caramel Brownie Hot Chocolate – Starbucks
12. Caramelised Orange Latte – Costa Coffee
13. Christmas Brulée Latte – Starbucks
14. Caramelised Almond Brittle Latte – Caffè Nero
15. Mint Hot Chocolate – Greggs
New for 2018: Greggs' mint hot chocolate
16. Toffee Latte – McDonald's
17. Winter Spiced Hot Chocolate – Caffè Nero
18. Mulled Berry Tea – Coffee#1
If caffeine and sugar aren't your thing: Coffee#1's mulled berry tea
19. Salted Caramel Latte – Greggs
20. Salted Caramel Brownie Cream Frappuccino – Starbucks
