Collegetown Bagel’s spring drink menu dropped, and my friends and I treated it like a group project. Everyone claimed a drink, took a sip of their order and walked us through the flavor of the beverage before assigning it a rating. Drinks got passed around for second opinions before we were comfortable with locking in our scores. Hopefully, our collaborative review session of caffeine and sugar informs your next CTB run.
Green Tea Guava Lemonade
Nusaiba Afra ’28 tried the first drink in our lineup. She decided to order it frozen, as a slushy. At first, it felt promising. “Fresh, tropical and not too sweet,” she said. “You could almost picture yourself on a beach somewhere.” However, Afra said that the flavor faded after that initial burst. The guava tasted a little too “raw,” and by the end, it tasted like sugar water. There was no complexity to the drink, and she said it would not be something she would go for again. Afra rated the lemonade a 5/10, and commented that she was being “generous” with the rating. Not off to a great start.
Strawberry Shortcake Matcha
Next up, Aisha Arshad ’27 tried our second drink from the menu — the Strawberry Shortcake Matcha. After her first sip, Arshad reacted critically: “Did they forget the strawberry?” She said that the matcha completely took over and that there was no visual cue or taste that strawberry was even added in the drink. On top of that, the drink was not mixed well, leaving behind little “matcha clumps” — an undelightful thing to digest. The drink was creamy, but not well-executed, which is why Arshad rated it a 6.5/10. People from the group subsequently sipped on her order and agreed with her take.
IthacaCues Punch
Aareeb Jamil ’28 took on the third menu item, the IthacaCues Punch, and unfortunately, it was also not a big hit. He contended that there was a “slight kombucha vibe,” but not in a good way. It was more like a funky aftertaste that lingered longer than it should have. The raspberry and blackberry flavors were lost in the chaos of the aftertaste. One person in our group described it as a drink that would be “good if you like feet” — not exactly a selling point. Jamil rated it a 6/10 — again, being generous.
Cookie Butter Chai
The Cookie Butter Chai was reviewed by yours truly. My first impression of the drink was that it was a dessert with an identity crisis that ended up a beverage. It was very sweet, almost condensed milk level sweet. You do get some hints of cinnamon and clove later on, but these flavors creep in very subtly. This drink misses the punch of a traditional bold chai spice. If this chai were less sugary and more spiced, I believe this drink could have been really good. Right now, though, it’s diabetes in a cup: 6/10.
Fresh Fruit Lemonade
I reviewed the following drink as well. This lemonade played it safe, which worked to its benefit. There was nothing wrong with it, but nothing wowed me either. The strawberry flavor comes through just fine, and the balance of sweet and tart is good. It does the job of a perfectly, adequate lemonade: 7.5/10.
Mocha Magic Frappe
Rafael Barrios ’27 reviewed the Mocha Magic Frappe. Barrios contended that this drink also had a bit of an identity issue. Flavor-wise, it’s enjoyable. Chocolate is strong and coffee is there, but Barrios said that the drink was simply “not a frappe,” and that it was too “liquid-y.” The vanilla ice cream barely came through, which felt like a missed opportunity. If it were thicker and actually frozen, this drink could’ve been in business: 5.5/10.
Salted Caramel Pistachio Latte
Isabella Celis ’27 reviewed the Salted Caramel Pistachio Latte, and finally, we found something that was a standout beverage. The first sip was strong in a good way: You can taste both caramel and pistachio, the sweetness is balanced and not overpowering. The only thing to note is it has four shots of espresso, so make sure to manage expectations on the caffeine. Additionally, Celis commented that the latte was not “served at the optimal temperature,” and it could have been served a bit hotter. Still, a very solid 8.5/10.
Coquito
Isabella Celis ’27 also ordered the Coquito, which ended up being the highest-ranking beverage of the menu. She said that the drink tasted like a “caramel macchiato,” with a brown sugar crunch flavor creeping in. Celis said that the flavors felt “complete.” We had others try the drink, and the group admitted that her order was the best of all the other drinks. Thus, we rated the Coquito a 10/10.
Dubai Breve
Finally, Sarvin Bhagwagar ’28 had the Dubai Breve, which was a hidden gem. The pistachio is present, and he commented that there was also a “stronger cocoa flavor than expected.” It smelled incredible, which increased the overall experience according to Bhagwagar. The Dubai Breve was not overly creamy and not too heavy — just smooth and simple, in a good way. Bhagwagar recommends it iced and rated it a 9/10.
Overall, CTB’s spring menu is a bit all over the place. Some drinks feel like they are still figuring themselves out, but the hits are definitely worth your buck. If you are going, order the Dubai Breve, the Salted Caramel Pistachio Latte or the Coquito. I’d skip the punch, unless you are feeling bold.
Sahil Raut is a junior in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He can be reached at ssr247@cornell.edu.
