Tesco Latte Macchiato Sachets

The subtleties of the various milky coffee drinks is fairly lost on me (and I think most people). The Wikipedia article goes to pains to point out that latte macciato is very different to caffè latte but doesn't go on to explain that it is similar to flat white, and is not hugely different to a cappuccino. What they all are is espresso and milk. If I drink a coffee made with Brazilian beans that will taste very different to one made with African beans, yet they are both coffee. And adding milk or cream or sugar, and how much, is individual choice and preference, but not a completely fucking different style of coffee. It's the coffee beans and how they are treated that defines your coffee, not the layers of milk and coffee or the pretty patterns of foam on top. Get real people!

Of course when it comes to instant coffees, none of this nonsense applies anyway. It's all the same fucking thing. It's instant coffee powder and instant milk powder in a sachet.

This Tesco Latte Macchiato is quite dry with a powdery coffee/chocolate flavour. It's not hugely different to the Cappuccino, and neither are much fun. If we're to have these instant creamy coffees, let them be fun - let them be creamy and reasonably sweet. After all, if we wanted a proper coffee we'd make one.


Date: Nov 2018    Score: 3

***

Tesco tea and coffee

Creamy instant coffees

Tesco Cappuccino Sachets

Tesco have introduced a new range of instant creamy coffees in attractive packets. I have a bunch of them, and this is the first I have tried. The sachets are foil, and are a little hard to tear as there appears to be no pre-prepared slot. I was about to get out the scissors when I did manage it, but it didn't tear easily or cleanly, and I can see the potential for things to go wrong, and for milk and coffee powder to end up all over the place!

The drink is pleasantly coffee flavoured. Not too sweet, and not too creamy. Quite likeable, though not as much fun as some of the highly flavoured ones that Nescafe do.



Date: Nov 2018    Score: 4

***

Tesco tea and coffee

Frothy coffee

Pukka Lemon, Ginger & Manuka Honey

All the Pukka teas I've had I have enjoyed, yet I'm still put off by the price. This was half price at £1.50 so a bargain for Pukka teas.

Manuka honey has claims of health properties which are disputed - though 1 in 5 jars sold as manuka honey is fake due to the high demand (and prices) for the honey.

I love it. Refreshing, spicy, sweet, and hugely attractive. It's damn gorgeous.


Date: Oct 2018   Score: 9

Pukka teas

Kenco Iced Latte Salted Caramel

The idea behind this instant creamy coffee is that it can be drunk cold - add either cold water or cold milk, plus some ice cubes if you wish. But it can also be made with hot water, and it provides a very luscious creamy coffee.

Yeah, very yummy. There's some awareness of coffee in the background, but mostly it's a sweet milky drink. I really like it!


Score: 7

Creamy instant coffees

Lidl Knightsbridge Apple & Pear

This is going to become a regular in our house. This is gently sweet, clean and refreshing. It's a lively flavour which brings joy with it.


Date: Jan 2019   Score: 8

This is very tasty. Cool and refreshing with distinct flavours of sweet pear and crisp apple.


Date: Sept 2018    Score: 7

Lidl Tea & Coffee

Kenco Barista Edition Cappuccino Unsweetened taste

This one is quite drinkable. It's a standard creamy instant coffee, but it's not as sweet as most, and there's some awareness of the coffee flavour. It's not fussy or fancy - it just does a job. I'd be OK drinking this again. Not excited, but OK.


Score: 5

Kenco 2 in 1

This tastes like a weak instant coffee made with powdered milk. It's less fun than the other creamy instant coffees - though the stated aim is to provide a convenient manner for people to make an instant coffee, so fun isn't really part of the equation. There are suggestions for taking a pack to work or on holiday. It's fairly pointless to use this to make coffee at home as there's little difference between spooning in some instant coffee and adding a dash of fresh milk as there is in opening up a pouch. You're hardly saving that much time and effort for the extra cost.

This is not an epic fail so much as a weary flounce.


Date: Sept 2018   Score: 3