December is finally here, and while we restlessly await the final bell on Dec. 19 telling us we can go home, the baristas of Houston are busy.

This year, hundreds of coffee shops tailored their holiday menu to welcome the festive season. And in this season of giving, they gave us coffee-addicts a lot to work with. From the viral Starbucks Bearista cup to Dunkin Donuts’ holiday storybook packaging, the halls were surely decked.

These are my top five drinks for this holiday season. Whether you like your coffee hot or cold, bitter or sweet or don’t like coffee at all, there is something for everyone.

5: Starbucks Gingerbread Chai

The Starbucks Gingerbread Chai is my go-to when I’m not in the mood for a heavy coffee. As I’ve mentioned before, I drink authentic chai everyday, so my standards are always pretty high with Western coffee shops.

Starbucks’s chai itself is pretty mediocre, but the gingerbread chai is unique — the cardamom and clove flavors complement the gingerbread exceptionally well. Especially if you drink it with oatmilk, like I do, those cozy, earthy notes are absolutely delicious.

Gingerbread hasn’t always been my favorite holiday treat, mainly because of its hard texture, but I think the flavor itself screams Christmas and was begging to be put in a chai. The gingerbread essence is very prominent but doesn’t drown out the other chai spices in the drink.

I like drinking this iced and with a vanilla sweet cold foam, but it’s just as holiday-coded if you prefer it warm. Although my relationship with Starbucks has been a bit off-and-on, I have to give credit where it’s due and say this drink is up on my coffee wishlist this year.

4: La La Land French Toast Latte

This drink is for the people who are stuck in fall during the holiday season. I have to admit, I have been that person. Technically, this drink isn’t on La La Land’s holiday menu, but when I first tried it, I swear I heard sleigh bells. It gives the essence of November, when Autumn is coming to a close and Christmas is just around the corner.

I like drinking this coffee hot–the maple syrup, cinnamon and warm coffee mixture is the perfect combination for a cozy vibe. It’s like the coffee is wrapping yourself in a warm knitted blanket beside the fireplace. I also order it salted, because adding a little bit balances out the extremely sweet maple syrup flavor. However, if you have a huge sweet tooth, feel free to omit the salt.

The only stipulation to this drink is that the coffee flavor itself, a dark roast, is very prominent. If you don’t like the taste of pure coffee, I’m not sure this drink is for you. It can be a little bitter and acidic, which I like, but beware that it’s not just a cup of a caffeinated milkshake.

Overall, the French Toast Latte is a comforting drink to the fall-loving coffee-drinkers.

3: Coffee Fellows Snickerdoodle Shaken Espresso

There’s no joy like coming home to a warm house filled with the aroma of freshly-baked snickerdoodles..

Technically, the Snickerdoodle Shaken Espresso isn’t even on a select holiday menu, but this is when I order it the most. Coffee Fellows’s espresso in general is rich, pure and a great kick of caffeine. Infused in snickerdoodle-flavored syrup, cinnamon, and milk (or my choice, oatmilk), this coffee is like if watching Christmas movies by the fireplace could be poured into a cup.

The only caveat to this coffee is that it is exceptionally sweet. I wouldn’t recommend it to those who prefer a darker or more bitter coffee.

Runner-up: Dutch Bros Hazelnut Truffle Mocha

Yes, I would wait half an hour in the seemingly neverending drive-through line at Dutch Bros just for this drink. Honestly, I wish Dutch Bros had this on their menu year round.

The Dutch Bros Hazelnut Truffle Mocha is chocolate-lover heaven. Christmas and chocolate go together like two turtle doves, and this drink is Exhibit A.

The coffee is made with espresso with a base of chocolate milk and infused with hazelnut syrup, topped with whipped cream. I drink the cold brew version, but the freeze is also really tasty, especially when Houston weather is stuck in summer. Because I order this drink with oatmilk instead of chocolate milk, I ask for chocolate syrup infused.

The only note I have is that by the end of this drink, I feel a little shaky from the combination of all the sugar and caffeine. I consider it a fun Christmas treat rather than an everyday coffee. You can also order it hot, but personally, I don’t think it tastes as good. If you’re hoping it’s like hot chocolate, your dreams might be dashed.

Overall, this drink is the star atop the tree of the season.

Winner: La La Land Sugar Cookie Latte

This drink is my all-time-favorite coffee during the holiday season. La La Land is one of my favorite coffee shops ever, so it’s really no surprise that I stop by when the weather is colder and the holiday season is in full swing.

Even though I like my coffee at any temperature, I prefer this drink iced. It’s a simple latte that can either be brewed with espresso (my pick), matcha or decaf, infused with sugar cookie flavored syrup and topped with whipped cream and holiday sprinkles.

When I first heard this concoction of notes, I was startled. I could already imagine the disgustingly overly-sweet taste that would linger and give me a headache. Fortunately, it was just the opposite. I think the bitter flavors of espresso, or matcha, for that matter, really balance out the sugar cookie flavor. The coffee is very rich but doesn’t overpower the sugar cookie, and the whipped cream ties it all together,making it creamier and lighter.

This may be a hot take, but I prefer La La Land’s sugar cookie latte over Starbucks’s any day.

If you’re in the mood for some coffee to wake you up with that festive flavor, or a matcha with a hint of calming Christmas joy, this drink is 100% for you.

Whatever you celebrate this holiday season, Houston’s coffee shops are ready to make your winter a little warmer.