As the weather cools and the trees turn before losing their leaves, I find myself seeking new comforts for the changing season. One of those comforts is hot chocolate. Being a coffee drinker, my mornings usually begin with a cup of joe. But as the days grow darker and winds bring chill in the middle of the day, I crave the warmth of coffee without so much caffeine. Hot chocolate is my answer.

I’ve been through any number of boxed powder versions of hot chocolate that can be used with milk or water. Eventually, I learned to make my own using cocoa powder. There’s no comparison between the two. We here in the Deli at ONF know that as well, which is why we make our own dark chocolate syrup from all natural ingredients. If you like our mochas, we use the same syrup for our hot chocolates.

All of our specialty coffee drinks are made with syrups crafted in the Deli. Our selections include mocha, white chocolate mocha, spiced pumpkin, cinnamon, almond, hazelnut, mint, lavender, and vanilla. Any of these can be combined to make whatever special flavor you desire. One of our staff favorites is mocha and vanilla, which we call the milkshake mocha. And if you’re looking for the comfort of a non-coffee drink, like a hot chocolate, any of these flavors can be used to make a sweet, warm afternoon treat. Choose from whole organic milk, fat-free organic milk or organic soy milk. We’ll top it off with all natural whipped cream. What better way to welcome the new season?

-Kevin, Deli