Winter Menu Launches This Saturday, 11/29 at High Tide Coffee!

Seasonal flavors, cozy mornings, and coastal community vibes from 11/29–01/31.

You can always tell when “winter” slips into coastal Southern California, even if it doesn’t look like the holiday postcards. The mornings get quieter, the air picks up a salty chill, and locals start showing up in soft hoodies with that slow-down energy we only feel this time of year. It’s subtle, sure, but it’s real—and honestly, it’s one of our favorite shifts of the whole season.

That’s why High Tide Coffee’s thoughtfully curated Winter Menu launches this Saturday, 11/29, running through January 31st across Oceanside, San Clemente, and Laguna Niguel. Every drink and bite on this seasonal lineup was crafted to match the way our communities experience winter: warm, easygoing, festive, and rooted in the coastal rhythm we all love.

Winter around here doesn’t come with snowstorms or heavy jackets. It looks more like neighbors lingering on the patio, surfers grabbing something warm after dawn patrol, and families stopping by before holiday errands. The sun’s still shining, the ocean’s still pulling us in, and yet there’s this collective shift toward coziness—just enough to make peppermint, chai, eggnog, and spiced apple feel right at home.

And because we know how meaningful these seasonal rituals are, we built a menu that feels both familiar and fresh, comforting without being too sweet, and playful in all the best ways.

Let’s get into it.

Why We Love a Good Seasonal Menu

Seasonal drinks aren’t just “specials” for us—they’re a marker of time, a signal that something new is happening in our neighborhoods. We see the way Oceanside regulars wait all year for those first notes of peppermint. We watch San Clemente’s early crowd start switching from cold brew to cozy blends. And Laguna Niguel families? They turn seasonal drinks into little traditions, especially on weekend mornings after sports, errands, or dog walks around town.

There’s something grounding about having flavors that match the moment. Even in a warm coastal winter, a hint of cinnamon or rosemary somehow makes the morning feel softer. And because we’re committed to quality in every detail—from espresso to syrups to garnishes—these seasonal drinks hit a little differently. They’re familiar, but elevated. Festive without being over the top.

And that brings us to this year’s stars.

Meet the Season’s New Favorites

✨ Merry Mint Mocha

Organic chocolate. Organic mint. Smooth espresso. Crushed peppermint candy sprinkled right on top. This drink doesn’t try to be subtle—it's cheerful from the first sip. It reminds people of holiday walks through the Tremont Collective in Oceanside or evenings in Downtown San Clemente when the lights start going up. It’s bright, nostalgic, and surprisingly balanced.

✨ Holidate — NEW This Year

This one’s brand new for the season, and it’s already turning heads. Choose espresso or matcha as the base, then layer in organic date syrup, brown sugar, and our house-made rosemary syrup. The rosemary brings this soft herbal warmth that makes the whole drink feel grounded and festive without being heavy. It’s cozy in a quiet, grown-up way—the kind of drink people discover once and come back for all winter long.

✨ Chaider — NEW This Year

Also new to the winter lineup, the Chaider blends chai + apple cider + holiday spices for a drink that lands right between comfort and brightness. It’s warm, aromatic, and a little unexpected in the best way. Perfect for cool coastal mornings, post-surf warmups, or slow weekend strolls through town. This one surprises people—and then quickly becomes a favorite.

✨ The Griswold

Eggnog. Espresso. Vanilla. Cinnamon. Nutmeg. It’s a holiday classic with a High Tide twist, and it’s only available through 12/31. This one feels especially right in Laguna Niguel, where early December mornings tend to feel a little cooler and the family crowds show up ready for something festive. It’s nostalgic without being too sweet, and the spices bring everything together.

✨ Pear Pomegranate Toast

We couldn’t bring in a winter menu without a seasonal bite. This toast is built on local sourdough and layered with:

• Maple-cinnamon cream cheese
  
  
• Fresh pear
  
  
• Pomegranate seeds
  
  
• Lemon zest
  
  

It’s beautiful, bright, and satisfying—like a winter fruit salad meets your favorite bakery toast. Perfect for slow mornings or as a pick-me-up after errands.

What Makes High Tide’s Seasonal Lineup Special?

We know other shops roll out holiday drinks, and honestly, we love seeing seasonal creativity across the region—from Mission Viejo cafés bringing out gingerbread to Laguna Hills spots highlighting spiced teas. It’s good for everyone. But we approach seasonal menus the same way we approach everything else: thoughtfully.

That means

• house-made syrups instead of overly sweet shortcuts
  
  
• organic ingredients wherever possible
  
  
• carefully sourced coffee that keeps flavors clean and balanced
  
  
• recipes created specifically for the way our communities drink
  
  

Sometimes people assume seasonal drinks are automatically sugary or gimmicky, but that’s not how we work. We want you to taste the espresso. We want the spices to be warm but not overpowering. We want you to choose between comfort and brightness depending on your mood. And we want everything to feel like it fits the season without losing the sunny, coastal energy that makes our cafés what they are.

Where and When to Experience the Winter Menu

Everything rolls out Saturday, November 29th, and you’ll find the full lineup at all three High Tide Coffee locations:

• Oceanside – near the water, perfect for breezy morning strolls
  
  
• San Clemente – your go-to spot after surf sessions or Avenida Del Mar errands
  
  
• Laguna Niguel – ideal for family mornings, post-gym visits, or weekend meetups
  
  

The whole menu runs through January 31st, though keep in mind The Griswold ends December 31st.

If you’re in a rush or juggling kids, dogs, or morning plans, you can always order ahead online so your drink’s ready when you arrive. A lot of locals already do this, especially on busy holiday weekends.

Why This Season Matters to Us

Winter here might be mild, but there’s something about this stretch between Thanksgiving and the new year that brings people together in a quieter, more meaningful way. We see neighbors talking a little longer. We see groups gathering around lattes before heading to holiday markets. And this time of year especially, we see college kids coming home, reconnecting with old friends, bringing siblings and parents along, and turning long-standing coffee stops into full-on family meetups. There’s laughter that feels familiar, stories being retold, and a kind of comfort that only comes when everyone’s back in town again.

It’s the kind of energy we opened High Tide Coffee to celebrate—warm, local, connected. And every year, the winter menu becomes part of that seasonal rhythm. A peppermint mocha before school drop-off. One of our brand-new drinks for the year, the Holidate, after work. Another new favorite, the Chaider, on a Saturday walk. A Pear Pomegranate Toast while mapping out December weekends. It all adds up in the best way.

Come Taste Winter, High Tide Style

High Tide Coffee’s thoughtfully curated Winter Menu launches this Saturday, 11/29, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Swing by Oceanside, San Clemente, or Laguna Niguel anytime from 11/29–01/31 and enjoy the flavors that make this coastal season feel so good.

Whether you’re grabbing something quick, meeting a friend, or starting your own small tradition, we’ll have something warm and festive waiting for you.

See you soon—winter’s here, and it tastes pretty great.