With flip flops and sundresses traded for sweaters and boots, it’s time to find out about two coffee locations that will keep you warm and cozy during this chilly Houston winter.

85C Bakery, 9750 Bellaire Blvd., is a newbie to the Houston landscape, but what began as a Taiwanese bakery quickly spread to the U.S, and Houston was chosen as the location of the 1000^th global store opening. The Houston flagship location opened in July 2017 to much fanfare and lines around the block that lasted for weeks. Although there are a few locations to choose from now, the Bellaire location is definitely the flagship with a larger seating area and seemingly more pastry options available.

“85C Bakery is very chef-driven, with true passion put into everything from the drinks to the pastries. And, it is all made inhouse,” said Bellaire location manager, Michael Post.

The most popular drink on the menu is the Sea Salt Coffee and one taste will give you a clear idea why. It combines sweet and savory flavors into the perfect drink. There is a debate about how to drink it – many say the best way is mix the salty cream and coffee, but the purists like to keep it all separate with the salty cream on top. The fan-favorite is an espresso-based Americano coffee with cream whipped with sea salt. Pair up any drink with a pastry from the 85C bakery menu and you’ve got yourself the perfect way to spend a winter morning, afternoon or evening. Don’t forget to take the kids – they’ll fall in love with the drink menu, too. (Banana hot chocolate, anyone?)

Wouldn’t it be great to get a splendid cup of coffee while supporting a worthwhile cause? A 2^nd Cup, 1111 E. 11^th Street, provides that opportunity. With locally brewed small-batch specialty coffee from Boomtown Coffee—and a great location in the Houston Heights—all proceeds go to supporting survivors of human trafficking.

“I found out about human trafficking while I was teaching school and I was immediately drawn to the cause. I wanted to combine my love for great coffee and supporting this cause and that is how A 2^nd Cup came to be,” said Erica Raggett, founder and President of A 2^nd Cup. “We get a mix of people coming in and that is the way we like it. Some come in because of the great coffee and learn about our cause once they are here; and some come in because they already know about it and want show support or learn more.”

A 2^nd Cup is known for their lattes. Served with milk or milk alternatives, it is the most popular drink on the menu. You can even take their lattes a step further and order a specialty latte which is served with additional flavors. Secret Squirrel Latte is served with amaretto and hazelnut, while and Sweet Toff Latte is served with mocha and English toffee. Add a house-made pastry to your drink order or even a cute t-shirt and rest assured that you are not only getting a wintery treat, but you are helping to support a great cause.

Gabi De la Rosa lives in Houston with her husband and three children. You can usually find her at a great local restaurant or out exploring HTX with her family. • Cover photo courtesy 85C Bakery Cafe, where the most popular coffee on the menu is the Sea Salt Caramel Coffee.