Looking for a cup of cheer? Bartlesville's coffee shops can satisfy your holiday cravings

Amidst all the holiday stressors, including last-minute Christmas shopping, myriad parties and events and hosting relatives from places far distant, one thing that can be guaranteed to bring a little peace is a nice cup of coffee.

If you’re new to Bartlesville, or if you’re a longtime native but haven’t tried every coffee shop Bartlesville has to offer, let us help you find the right coffee shop for the right craving or the right meetup this holiday season.

Before we get into the good stuff, I must be upfront that I am a millennial coffee snob. I like hot coffee, not iced or blended; I like a good pour-over, or French press and flavor notes matter to me.

However, I can enjoy a decadent holiday beverage just like anyone else when I’m running around Christmas shopping or meeting a friend.

This list includes which shops are the most fun to hang out in, where to get the best plain old cup of Joe, where to go when you’re in a hurry and who has holiday and specialty drinks.

Outpost Coffee Co.

I admit I have a personal bias toward our local coffee shops, and I work within walking distance of Outpost and am a frequent customer, as their in-house roasted coffee needs little addition to be delightful.

My usual order is a Prairie Sunrise house coffee to-go with a tiny splash of half and half because Outpost delivers on those subtle flavor notes.

Outpost has a small sampling of slow-bar specialty drinks offered year-round. Of these, the Falls Trail Brew seems to be the most popular. This iced concoction consists of chocolate milk, espresso, and cream and is a decadent treat that is rich but not overly sweet.

Outpost does not offer a seasonal menu, but for a warm hug in a cup, I would recommend a cinnamon mocha, a drink popularized by a friend of mine. Outpost’s cinnamon mocha is my favorite cold-day pick-me-up when I want something a little more festive than a plain coffee.

Outpost tends to be crowded and noisy, so it’s not my first pick for a meeting place to catch up with an old friend, but clearly, others beg to differ as there are a lot of people meeting and working from Outpost daily.

The Joe Coffee app will get you your favorite Outpost drink delivered car side, so it’s a good option when out and about.

Jude’s

In addition to a full coffee bar with a variety of regionally-sourced coffees, such as Topeca Roasters out of Tulsa, Jude’s offers delicious breakfast and lunch options to satisfy almost any dietary restriction or preference.

In fact, it was because of this that Jude’s was called upon to cater to the set of Killers of the Flower Moon during filming in Pawhuska. If their food is good enough for Leo, it’s good enough for me.

My typical coffee order at Jude’s is the dark roast house drip Blue Velvet, which has deep but smooth flavor notes.

Jude’s most popular seasonal drink this year is the peppermint bark brevé, a latte made with white chocolate, peppermint and half and half. This decadent drink is rich and smooth, sweet but not cloying. Another great choice from Jude’s specialty menu is the honey maple latte, available year-round.

Jude’s is my top-recommended meetup spot to visit with old friends and family during the holidays, with a comfortable seating area conducive to extended visits.

Jude’s does have a drive-thru, but it can take a while to prepare drinks and sandwiches, so I find it best to call ahead.

RoSo’s Coffee Truck

Once a pop-up, RoSo’s is now located in front of Gail’s Hairstyling on Nowata Road. Open only on Saturdays and Sundays, RoSo’s has gained a fan following on social media. Unfortunately, RoSo’s holiday hours are limited, so I could not try one of their lattes; however, I have previously sampled their drip coffee and found it to be an enjoyably mellow brew with some bright flavor notes.

According to RoSo’s Facebook page, their next open day will be Saturday, December 31, in case you’re out and about on the morning of New Year’s Eve and want to see what the fuss is all about.

Sooner State Espresso

Located by Murphy’s on the west side, Sooner State offers a variety of exotic latte concoctions. Owner and operator June Lee has been celebrating the holiday by offering a Christmas movie-themed drink each week leading up to Christmas.

She made me an eggnog latte, and I ordered an Uncle Huck latte from the specialty menu. Made with homemade peanut butter, the Uncle Huck was a unique taste treat.

Sooner State was among the speediest of all my coffee shop visits. Drive-thru only, Sooner State Espresso is a good option when shopping downtown or out and about on the west side.

Scooters Drive-Thru

Great for grabbing a fun holiday beverage while you’re out shopping, Scooters Coffee drive-thru has its own version of popular seasonal lattes and great snacks for people on the go.

I tried Scooter’s peppermint mocha, and it was decent, maybe a notch below the Starbucks version, but it had a nice creamy balance to the flavors that made it very drinkable. The Scooters’ line moved fast, so I got right in and out.

I also tried an Americano at Scooter’s, which wasn’t as strong as I would have liked. However, one drink I can heartily recommend at Scooter’s is the honey vanilla latte, which has a mellow sweetness that is not overwhelming. I like mine dusted with cinnamon. Although not an official holiday drink, this latte is definitely warm and cozy.

Starbucks

While Starbucks is not my personal go-to, I see and appreciate its value. Standardizing its coffee drinks and methodology makes Starbucks an outlier in consistency. My choice for Starbucks is usually an Americano or a House drip with a small splash of half and half.

However, for a holiday treat, my Starbucks-loving friends absolutely swear by the iced sugar cookie almond milk latte with the addition of vanilla sweet cream cold foam on top.

In my trial of this drink, I determined that while it is a bit too sweet for me, it tastes like a cup of sheer Christmas. If you are a sweet drink fan, this may be your drink. I am told it could also be ordered hot if that’s your preference, although the sweet cream addition is only available for iced.

The Starbucks drive-thru tends to be busy, but with early morning hours, it’s an excellent place to grab a coffee on your way out of town to see relatives in distant places. For a cup of coffee and a chat, don’t forget the Starbucks café in Eggbert's.

Did I include your favorite holiday beverage? Be sure to comment on the Examiner’s Facebook page with your favorite seasonal brew.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Find the right Bartlesville coffee shop for your holiday cravings