The Great Hot Chocolate Survey

[machogrande]

It was a tad chilly this morning and as much as I hate to admit it it seems that summer is heading for the horizon.

It's not all bad news though - with the colder weather comes the start of Hot Chocolate Season, and so I have decided to put my personal wellbeing to one side and (purely in the interests of scientific research you understand) I have

Comments

[roseberrysdream]

I feel an expensive trip to the dentist coming up...
I'm off to London today, so I may take the Pepsi challenge on a couple of choccys while I am there...

[machogrande]

Yes, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do. Might save me a couple of fillings if we spread the survey around. :)

Morgan Spurlock has nothing on this.

[machogrande]

Oh, and remember to take a photo of the cup too!

[machogrande]

Oh(2), and I went to the dentist on Monday night. So I have a full 6 months before I have to go again. Plenty of time to get my teeth back into shape after this!

[roseberrysdream]

[machogrande]

Never heard of Cooks! However £1.70 for a medium isn't bad value - unless, as you say, they don't fill it up all the way. I'm meeting my Mum for lunch today in Debenhams, so I will try one of theirs and report back later.

[machogrande]

Pret-a-Manger Hot Chocolate
Taste: 8. Deep, chocolatey flavour. Very nice indeed. Also if you have one in-store rather than to takeaway, you get chocolate flakes sprinkled on top in the shape of the pret 'star logo'. Groovy baby.
Cup design: 7. Basic plain, white cup but with the pret logo, a picture of a coffee bean and a pret passion fact printed on it. This particular pret passion fact was #95 and it basically compared the pret-a-manger coffee machines to a Ferrari 250 GT and the pret-a-manger staff to Ferrari mechanics. But I like that sort of shit. Only got a small serviette to hold the hot cup with though, rather than the far superior cardboard surround that a lot of places give you.
Value for money: £1.65 for a relatively decent sized serving. Plus the taste was great too. A triumphant 8.
Overall: 23/30

[machogrande]

[roseberrysdream]

Classic Hot Chocolate,Starbucks, Mespil Road, Dublin

Taste: Very choccy-like. Had optional cream topping added, gave it a great smooth taste. 9
Cup design: See for yourself. Classic mug. 9
Value for money: €3.50. Works out to around £2.60-£2.80. Not cheap, but plentiful portions for the price. 8
Overall: 26/30

[machogrande]

ah, but can you take the mug with you? If not I'm afraid this particular entry is disqualified as the cup the hot chocolate is in must be takeaway-able.

So far it does seem that the starbucks ones are slightly ahead of the game though - they are a bit more expensive but you get a little more for your money.

I am travelling up to London tomorrow so I will try one from the AMT stand at Reading station. Last time I had one of those from Maidenhead I thought it was the best hot choccie I'd ever had. I'll post the review tomorrow.

[roseberrysdream]

Spoilsport.

[machogrande]

AMT Hot Chocolate, Reading Station

Taste: Nice. Deep, chocolatey flavour. 7.
Cup design: Cool colours, groovy logo. 7
Value for money: £1.75 for a good tasting, good sized cup of chocolately goodness to warm you up on those cold mornings waiting on the platform. 8.
Overall: 22/30

[machogrande]

Starbucks Classic Hot Chocolate
Taste: Not bad, but lacking in 'something'. Maybe it needed an extra shot of something to give it a kick. 7.
Cup design: Very nice. A seasonal red with the green starbucks logo, a slogan on the rear-side and graphics of a winter scene around the bottom. A triumphant 8.
Value for money: Not entirely sure how much it was because it was bought for me (along with a giant M&S cookie ... MMMMM ...) but I think it was around £2.70-£2.80ish - but the serving size was hooooge! I'm torn between giving it a 7 or an 8 because while there is a lot there for the money, it isn't the best taste. I'm going for a 7 because the plastic top split meaning I had to slurp it without. Shoddy workmanship. 7.
Overall: 22/30