Homemade Java Chip Frappuccino

Look at those crushed morsels at the bottom!

I found myself with a cold cup of coffee one day because I forgot to drink the cup that hubby brewed that morning. I could have zapped it in the microwave, but I did something better - I made Java Chip Frappuccino. It saved me a trip to Starbucks, and about $5 (since I have all the ingredients at hand!).

I got the recipe here, I just halved the amount to make 2 instead of four servings. Tweaked, of course, to suit my taste. Enjoy!


What you need:

2 cups freshly brewed coffee (I used Italian Roast)
3 tablespoons dark chocolate syrup + more for drizzling
2 tablespoons dark chocolate morsels
1 cup crushed ice
whipped cream


What to do: 

Put crushed ice in blender. Add coffee, 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup, and chocolate morels. Blend until thick and icy. Transfer to a glass and top with whipped cream. Drizzle with more chocolate syrup. 

view from the top

Tips, Tricks and Tweaks: 

1. Do not use hot coffee in this recipe. It will instantly melt the crushed ice.
2. Make sure you blend it well - and scoop out all those chocolate morsels that would get stuck on the blades of your blender.
3. Add more ice if you want a thicker frap.

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Saturday Morning Espresso

Oh Saturday - you are special for a number of reasons: we get to sleep in, eat breakfast without rushing, and best of all, enjoy our french press coffee.

Not that we don't enjoy drip coffee - it's a fast and great alternative, especially on weekday mornings when we don't have the luxury of time. But the french press, although more labor intensive, remains our favorite as it yields a more robust and full flavored cup o' joe. The lack of a paper filter, the fresh grind of the coffee beans, and the aromatic oils extracted from a long steep, are just some of the differences that make this so much better than most other brewing methods.         

It is very good, especially the few last sips, when you can actually feel the fine coffee grounds in your tongue, and taste the essential oils. 

A word of warning, though. I have read that consuming too much french press coffee elevates the level of an amino acid in the bloodstream, which has been associated with increased risk of heart disease. But if you're a once-a-week drinker like us, I think you'd be fine.

So for now... I'll take one last long, slow sip... savoring the taste before I swallow... and begin counting down the time until the next brew.

Come to momma, cup o' joe!

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Product Review: Godiva Coffee (Chocolate Truffle)

Hubby surprised me with a package of this Godiva Chocolate Truffle Coffee one evening, and I felt like the happiest woman in the world. That was, until I tasted it. The package looked so promising, the thought of silky coffee and smooth chocolate together was so inviting... but after a few sips, I had to re-evaluate. Here are my two cents worth.


What I liked:

• Creamy coffee.
• The price was ok. It was around $7 for a 12-ounce pack. Starbucks price range.

What I didn't like:

• The smell was overpowering. It was delightful at first, when you kinda' get a whiff from the packet, but after one night in our cupboard, the whole cupboard just smelled like it - in a pungent kind of way. We actually had to take the jar out because we thought it might make our other coffee beans taste like chocolate truffle. NOT a good thing to happen.
• I thought that it would be a deep, dark roast. Instead, it was lighter and sweeter than I expected.
• Truffle was not a word that came to mind when I had it. More of a creamy undertone, not chocolatey.
  

The Verdict:

I would say that the Godiva Chocolate Truffle Coffee is more of a dessert coffee than a breakfast coffee. Or maybe I am just getting old and leaning toward the natural coffee varieties. You know... as you get old, you get boring. Hahaha. Kidding aside, some people might love this product, but it was just OK for me. Would I recommend this to a friend? Sure. For my coffee-lover friends. Would I buy it again? I will give the other flavors a try. I have read other online reviews which said that the Hazelnut Cream variety was better.

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Product Review: Bailey's Non-Alcoholic Creamer

We were watching TV one evening when an advertisement for Bailey's Non-Alcoholic Coffee Creamer went on. They repeated the words "non-alcoholic" so many times that son asked, "so some people put alcohol in their coffee?"

I didn't really plan on buying this product, but it was BOGO ($2.50 for 2) at our local grocery store, and I had a dollar-off coupon. So since it is only $0.75 apiece due to the promotion and the coupon, I thought it was a good deal and got two bottles.

I got the Caramel and the Irish Cream variety. I am doing a review for the latter, but watch out for my Caramel review sometime this week month.


What I liked:

• Tastes very rich and creamy.
• Only 40 calories per tablespoon.
• Very, very good taste. So Irish Cream-ish. ;-)
  
• The flavor is not overpowering - just the perfect addition to your coffee.

What I didn't like:

• Number one ingredient is sugar. Then water, cream, corn syrup, natural and artificial flavor, sodium caseinate, mono and diglycerides, and others that I can't even pronounce. No wonder it tastes so good - it is loaded with sugar and other sweeteners.
• I did say that it is 40 calories a tablespoon. But who can use just one? It tastes so good, I want to pour half the bottle on my coffee. Multiply the calories... ugh.

The Verdict:

Bailey's Non-Alcoholic Coffee Creamer (Irish Cream flavor) is really very good, and would make your morning joe a delicious coffee experience. However, I am not really a big fan of all the sugar and chemical ingredients that make it taste very good. I think I will pass up on this one, and go back to good ole fashioned milk. Would I recommend this product to a friend? Sure, if my friend is after good Irish Cream taste. Would I buy this product again? Probably not.

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Product Review: Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee

Starbucks recently launched their first instant coffee, called Starbucks Via Ready Brew. Via means "road" in Italian, so this is perfect for people on the go who are looking for an instant caffeine fix. After sampling the Colombia Medium Roast variety, here is my ten cents (used to be two cents before inflation) worth of comments.

What I liked:

- Tastes good. In a blind taste test, you probably couldn't tell that it was instant, especially if you just drink Starbucks brand every once in a while. But it is good compared to other instant coffee brands that I have tried.
- The coffee is pleasantly strong with a hint of bitterness, especially if you follow the ratio of the coffee to water on the packet.
- The dark, rich aroma is unmistakably Starbucks. (Mmmmm!)
- A packet is small and convenient - you can put it in your purse, pocket, etc!
- Perfect for people on the go. VIA. Hmmmm....
- Reasonably priced. Around $3.50 for 3 packets.

What I didn't like:

- Black - not so good. But if you add cream or sugar, it gets better.
- They don't sell it in bigger bags or jars.
- No lingering coffee aftertaste. (This could be a plus for some, though)

The verdict:

I'm not saying that it's the next best thing since sliced bread, but for instant coffee, I think VIA is good. Actually, better than other instant coffee brands that I've had. The sachet-type packet is perfect for travelers or daily commuters that don't have time to sit down and eat their breakfast - the "grab and go" types. It still has the same Starbucks taste, minus the hassle of preparing filters, coffee maker settings, etc.

Coffee purists and meticulous drinkers might not enjoy it, but for occasional drinkers like me, I don't mind the Via. Instant coffee = instant satisfaction of coffee cravings. :-)

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