Finding the best hot apple cider around Columbia’s campus

As finals loom overheard and the holiday season approaches, we all need a festive pick-me-up, and what better way is there to do that than with a nice, warm cup of apple cider? A fall and winter classic, the ideal cup of apple cider perfectly balances the flavors of warm spices and sweet apple juice, making it a delicious seasonal treat. Spectrum reviewed the apple cider that can be found on and around campus so you know where to best spend your precious study breaks.

Chokolat Patisserie and Culture Tea Bar offers a range of teas, pastries, and coffees. Located on Broadway between 123rd and La Salle streets, just north of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Chokolat Patisserie joined the cohort of cafés adapting to the colder season with their hot apple cider.

Served in a hefty cup, Chokolat Patisserie’s hot apple cider can be drunk right away. The sweet apple flavor is there, but like many hot apple ciders available near campus, any detectable spice is outweighed by the overwhelming flavor of apple juice.

Rating: 3/5

Sandwiched between Dig and Tom’s Diner on Broadway and 113th Street, Oren’s Coffee also introduced apple cider as part of its extensive seasonal menu. An unassuming storefront opens up into a specialty coffee shop, serving a range of coffees and hot drinks.

A small cup of apple cider greets customers with the enticing smell of fresh honeycrisp apples. It's possible to take your first sip straight away without getting burnt, which is a nice surprise. The sweet yet tart apple flavors are strong and delicious, but there’s a distinct lack of spice. If you’re looking for apple cider that is closer to high-quality hot apple juice than anything else, Oren’s is the place to go. But if you are expecting a complex spice blend with a side of apple, you will be disappointed.

Rating: 3/5

One of Columbia’s resident coffee shops, Joe Coffee, has introduced seasonal drinks, including spiced cider. Both the Dodge and Pulitzer locations on campus offer a small spiced cider for $3.76. This was the sweetest of the hot apple ciders we tested––the first sip bursts with sweetness and spice. However, subsequent sips ultimately lacked the flavors of cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a quick and portable sweet treat between exams, Joe Coffee is the place to go.

If you need a caffeine boost but still want to keep up with the season, Joe Coffee also offers an unusual spiced cider latte. While the combination of espresso, oat milk, caramel, and spiced apple cider enhances the holiday spirit, the strange combination of apple juice and coffee is somewhat unpalatable.

Rating: 3.5/5

Located just a 15-minute walk away from campus on 125th Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard, I Like it Black is a small coffee shop with a large array of drinks and coffee beans on offer. They have a unique seasonal menu which features spiced hot chocolate and mochas, pumpkin pie vanilla chai, and—of course—spiced cider.

This spiced cider stands out from the rest. It features classic spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, and the sweetness of the apple is balanced out by a hint of citrus. The addition of turmeric gives the cider its iconic color and unique spice blend. I Like it Black offers an unconventional twist on a winter classic, balancing a deep blend of spices with a summer flavor that warms you up from the inside out.

Rating: 4/5

Famed Columbia hangout, the Hungarian Pastry Shop, often comes to mind when thinking about cafés in Morningside Heights. Located on 111th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, Hungarian is a local favorite for good reason and is particularly known for its delicious coffee and wide array of baked goods.

The café’s spiced apple cider is no exception to the quality of its other offerings. The drink’s dominant flavors are apple and cinnamon, paying homage to a classic pairing. The cinnamon that is both in the drink and sprinkled decoratively on top balances out the sweet flavor of apple in a simple yet effective way. If you are feeling hungry, the warm apple strudel serves as a delicious complement.

Rating: 4.5/5

Columbia students are surely familiar with the farmers market that lines Broadway between 114th and 116th streets every Thursday and Sunday. Since the beginning of fall, Samascott Orchards has graced the Columbia Greenmarket, offering a range of products including an impressive assortment of apples, baked goods, and spiced apple cider.

Served out of a steaming vat for $2.50 a cup, Samascott Orchards’ apple cider is one of the best in the area. The perfectly balanced sweetness of apple and warm spices is only missing a touch of tartness; nonetheless, the drink is reminiscent of apple picking and fall festivities.

Rating: 5/5