The latest forecast as of Thursday morning reads -10 C, which basically translates into horrifically cold. Walking through Beijing during the winter can be like entering a scene out of your favorite post-apocalyptic, dystopian movie.

"There is nothing about Beijing that shouts Christmas," said Eugene Ng, a recent Beijing transplant from Singapore. "Each year in Singapore, there's a theme. There are light displays down the main shopping district, huge Christmas trees in shopping malls. It's really merry - but not in Beijing," Ng said.

Ng may be right about the dismal, mistletoe-free, non-commercialized Christmas surroundings at large that Beijing offers, but the holiday spirit means finding joy in the small stuff. One special, weather-defying ingredient will bring an extra spring back into your gait and will slosh out your inner Scrooge.

This magical elixir is coffee: a portable, liquid heater, giving strength to the wind-blown, delicate limbs of the Christmas hero or heroine. Here is a guide to getting the ultimate Christmas experience from Beijing's greatest legal mind, body and holiday stimulant.

1.  The vessel

One of the greatest things about seasonal drinks is the pretty cup it comes in. Make sure to hit up an establishment where the liquid gold is carried in an appropriately seasonal-themed chalice; otherwise, the endeavor is quite pointless. Metro Beijing is not affiliated with any coffee establishment, though it promotes any cup that has a jolly snowman printed against a cheerful red background, and Starbucks has this one on lock down.

"They ran out of the paper Christmas cups at the Starbucks in Jianwai SOHO. Can you believe that [expletive]," said a bitter British-born Beijing resident who wished to vent their bah-humbugs anonymously. 

Never underestimate the joy a pretty transporter of coffee can provide. It can transform any ordinary, bland office desk into a wintry wonderland.

2. Warning: Contents may be jolly

Those hoping to break out of the cheerless grime of the nine-to-five can add variety to their day through the myriad of options provided by holiday coffee specials. Cast off your basic drip! 'Tis the season!

"I feel the holidays are a time when it is permissible to do things to your coffee that you would not do at other times of the year," said Elisabeth Ramsey, an American living in Beijing. "I don't usually put sugar in my coffee but the holidays are a time to go wild," she added.

Her choice yuletide ingredients include whipped cream, flavorings and crunchy candy toppings daintily sprinkled atop the whipped cream.

Ramsey swears by the Toffee Nut Latte from Starbucks, one of three special Christmas signature drinks offered. (At the risk of running an advertisement, the other two are Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha and Peppermint Signature Chocolate. Mmm...)

Others prefer coffee with a little extra something; German-born Max Wang fancies brandy or whisky. 

"Spanish or Irish coffee would make a fine addition to any coffee establishment's signature drinks during the winter season," he said. "In fact, I'm sure you'll find that it'll easily appease the typical Monday morning blues."

For like-minded thinkers, a flask would come in handy.

D. Chen, a Canadian living in Beijing, dreams of a decadent chocolate affair.

"It would be heavenly to have a Godiva cocoa coffee blend with dark chocolate morsels, complete with heavy cream and candy cane sprinkles," Chen said.

To capture the pure commercial essence of the holidays, Chen would drink this concoction while shopping online.

Others have ideas on even more grandiose ideas of turning the coffee into more of a meal. 

 "I would love a dark chocolate latte topped with strawberries and something green," said Ng, the Singaporean. He proposed perhaps crumbling a green gingerbread man on top.

3. Deck the halls  

Coffee shops often have proper holiday decorations, such as a plastic Christmas tree complete with ornaments. Anywhere else, a fake tree would be a bit of a downer compared to its live, pine-smelling counterpart, but in Beijing it's a welcome sight.

Don't waste money buying from a place that is not blasting cheesy tunes; Esquires Coffee plays carols on loop.

Though the repetitious Christmas tunes are almost completely exhausted in the West come December, they are rare and welcomed for homesick expats.

4. Avoid Scrooges

This includes anyone who is a Christmas-hating tea drinker or coffee denouncer. (Although as long as the offender does not launch into a long tirade about how unhealthy your caffeine habit is or how bitter coffee tastes, it is acceptable to befriend them.)

5. Make nice with a barista

Are you looking for an extra chocolaty mocha? A specific whipped-cream-to-coffee ratio? Or maybe, you'd like your beverage double cupped - so you can use the second cup for hot water. (Not very green, but in the spirit of excess, we won't tell.)

There is one way to get your high maintenance needs met, and that is through a sycophantic, saccharine smile.

Zhang Na, a barista at the Starbucks at the Winterless Plaza in Guomao, happily obliged this reporter's request for an extra this-and-that, and gestured to the plethora of syrups lining the counter.

"Just let me know what you want and how much," she said.

If only everything in life came that easy.