Across the United States, a myriad of soda shops have taken the nation by storm, but Northern Virginia has always been left out. That was the case until Cocos Soda and Sweets opened its doors in 2022. The shop is a small storefront in Vienna, but the sight is hard to miss with the long lines that are always in front of the store.
As I entered, I felt the environment was friendly, and the staff immediately greeted me and took my order. I ordered all my drinks in 16 oz sizes, which means each drink was $3.50. Overall I felt the pricing was certainly fair and even the 44 oz drink didn’t exceed $5.00.
My order was prepared quickly and the staff offered me a box, so I could easily carry the drinks. I enjoyed being able to see where my drinks were being prepared, and the overall atmosphere was very bright and welcoming.
Still, my real curiosity was in the drinks. I came in with high expectations of both flavor and drink quality.
I'll start off with the first, and only, drink to live up to my expectations. The Trestles, made of Dr. Pepper, raspberry puree, coconut cream and coconut syrup was absolute perfection. It is possibly my new favorite drink.
The flavor of the Dr. Pepper was clear, but did not cover the other added flavors. The raspberry added a refreshing touch, which flawlessly balanced out the cherry flavor of the Dr. Pepper. Lastly, the coconut syrup and coconut cream worked wonderfully together, as they added a sweeter touch to the drink and left me with a perfect after-taste.
Everything began to go downhill once I tried the Punch Bowls drink. This lemonade based drink intrigued me, as I never considered the idea of mixing flavors with lemonade. In the end, I wish Coco’s didn’t consider it either. The mango and pineapple syrups did not blend well with this drink and left my taste buds confused.
Each sip contained all three flavors, but not combined. I felt that one second I was punched with lemonade, but then the next a completely different flavor of mango fell on me. The drink was disappointing, and the prospect of washing it out with the next soda made me excited.
Little did I know that the next soda would not help me wash the taste of the Punch Bowls out of my mouth at all. Before I rate this one, it is important to disclose that I’m already a Pepsi hater, but I think even a Pespi lover may agree with my rating on this one. After drinking The Trestles, I assumed the raspberry in this drink would fix it right up and that the vanilla syrup would make it nice and sweet.
Unfortunately, after my first and last sip I was met with an absolutely abominable flavor. The vanilla and raspberry mixed together to add a flavor only comparable to cough syrup. I was absolutely sickened by this flavor, and I would recommend trying any other drink they have with a Pepsi base.
Lastly, I tried the Skeleton, which was made using a base of Sprite. The additional flavors included pineapple syrup, peach puree and coconut cream, which created a unique, but interesting tang. Personally, I was hoping to finally receive a more balanced drink, but I felt the peach outweighed the rest of the flavors.
The Sprite was also completely drowned out by the other flavors. It tasted similar to a tropical smoothie, but without a real punch of flavor anywhere. Instead, it just kept you waiting on the edge of your seat for a taste that never popped up. I would say to just skip this drink, and get a tropical smoothie instead, as it will probably taste better and be much healthier.
Overall, I would give Coco’s 7/10 stars. The atmosphere was truly inviting, and I felt that the staff were very friendly. Though my taste experience wasn’t great, I‘m giving Coco’s the benefit of the doubt, as I’ve heard from others that they have other great drinks and I’m hoping the rest of their menu lines up with what I thought of my first drink.
