The holiday season isn’t complete without a festive drink in hand, and Starbucks and Dutch Bros are two of the best spots to grab an iced coffee. Many people count down the days till they can grab their holiday treats; and for some, it’s not the holidays without a Christmas drink in hand.But how do their seasonal mochas compare? I put Starbucks’ Iced Peppermint Mocha head-to-head with Dutch Bros’ Iced Candy Cane Mocha to see which drink delivers the best holiday mocha. Surprisingly, there was a clear winner.

Let’s start with the looks. Starbucks played it safe and simple with their Iced Peppermint Mocha. The drink had a rich, deep brown color topped with whipped cream and chocolate chip sprinkles, but the plain white cup and green straw didn’t scream Christmas at all. The drink also had a strong coffee smell. It felt like something you could order any time of year, which was not what I was looking for. 

On the other hand, Dutch Bros went all out with the holiday theme. Their Iced Candy Cane Mocha came in a bright, striped cup with a holiday message. The soft top was fluffy and light, topped with crushed candy canes that gave it the perfect Christmas feel. The mocha smelled sweet, and pepper-minty from the candy cane. Even the red straw came in a Christmas tree wrapper. I would purchase this drink year-round if I could. 

Now for the most important part: the flavor. The Starbucks drink hit hard with peppermint. Maybe a little too hard. The mint was so overpowering that it reminded me of mouthwash, leaving the mocha flavor barely noticeable. This drink was worse than I expected, it was a chore to finish. 

Dutch Bros, however, struck the perfect balance. Their Iced Candy Cane Mocha was smooth, creamy, and had just the right mix of peppermint and mocha. The candy cane flavor was present without being overwhelming, and it made drinking the whole thing very easy. A quick family taste test sealed the deal: all four members voted the Dutch Bros drink their favorite.