Ashley Jeong (SOH ‘26) is a senior in the School of Health studying Healthcare Management & Policy. She loves photography and movies, and is excited to return to NYC after graduation.
Winter in Georgetown brings its own kind of charm — bundled-up walks to class, icy winds sweeping through campus and warm study sessions indoors with a Corp drink. As a senior who has experienced several Georgetown winters, I’ve learned that finals season, while stressful at times, can also be a chance to slow down and appreciate the small joys that get you through the week. A delicious drink — whether warm or refreshing — has become my go-to companion during long study days, making even the busiest weeks feel more manageable.
Whether you’re cramming for exams or stepping away for a well-deserved study break, these tried-and-true drinks around Georgetown should keep you energized, focused and feeling your best all winter long.
1. Hot Latte from Grace Street Coffee Roasters
Grace Street Coffee is known for its specialty coffee made from freshly roasted, high-quality beans, delivering a rich and smooth experience in every cup. The café is located by the Georgetown waterfront and offers both indoor and outdoor seating, though it is often bustling with customers throughout the day. During finals, it is a perfect spot to visit early in the morning — grab a seat with a hot latte or cold matcha, along with a delicious breakfast burrito or bowl from Monstera, a food vendor that operates alongside Grace Street.
On my visit during study days, I ordered one of their signature drinks, the hot banana foster latte, and it did not disappoint! It had warm, comforting notes of banana and baking spices blended seamlessly with espresso. Their matcha latte is also well-loved, and they offer other unique signature drinks such as the miso soy flat white. It’s clear to see why this local café, with its inventive drink menu and consistently high-quality coffee, is always buzzing with customers.
2. Matcha Latte with Boba from Spot of Tea
Spot of Tea is a popular DC boba shop known for its variety of milk teas, fruit teas and especially its matcha. This spot is also near the Waterfront, and I’ve visited it many times and have even filled out their punch card, which gives you a free drink after 10 orders. Their boba is always fresh and chewy, and while I’ve tried unique drinks like the Blue Jasmine and Hibiscus Mango, their matcha latte remains my favorite.
The Georgetown location offers ample seating, so you can almost always find a spot to study, and they share the space with other vendors, like South Block (an acai bowl spot) and Green Almond Pantry, so you can also easily grab a bite to eat. Most of their drinks are best with ice, so they are a refreshing, sweet treat to accompany your study session or catch-up with a friend.
3. Seasonal Latte from Maman
I recently stopped by Maman for a Tiktok I filmed with Zoe for Georgetown Stories and tried one of their seasonal lattes — the honey butter latte, as pictured! It was warm, flavorful and very sweet with unique tastes of butter mixed in. The café itself has a cozy, rustic charm that feels welcoming and is very popular for its brunch menu. Although it is usually very busy on the weekends, with a short wait, it is possible to snag a spot by the window or grab a seat in the back room that is quieter and perfect for getting some work done or chatting with friends.
4. Hot Chocolate from the Corp
One chilly afternoon on campus, I decided to warm up between classes and catch up on work with a cup of hot chocolate from the Corp, the student-run organization that runs multiple coffee spots across campus. The hot chocolate was rich, smooth and just what I needed — a sweet and comforting drink to melt away the cold and make this focused study session more enjoyable.
Some other Corp drinks that I’ve enjoyed include the Rainbow Fish (a green tea with raspberry syrup) and a plain iced latte. For me, grabbing a cup of hot chocolate and talking with friends or reviewing notes in a corner of campus, whether it be somewhere in Leavey Center, Lau or the HFSC, has become one of my small winter rituals. It’s convenient and feels special to sip a warm drink made by fellow students while soaking in the buzz of campus life around you.
5. Strawberry Matcha from Blank Street Coffee
Another popular spot on M Street is Blank Street, a modern, minimalist cafe with locations around the world. Occasionally, I treat myself to one of their matcha lattes, and it’s always the perfect pick-me-up. They offer seasonal specials, like the Banana Bread Matcha in the fall and the Early Grey Matcha in the winter. Their signature drinks, such as the Strawberry Shortcake Matcha, are my personal favorites, and they also offer other delicious options like the Daydream Latte. While seating is quite limited, there is a couch area and some window seats, so you can often find friends chatting or studying while enjoying their drinks.
