The Good: Easy to prepare, Good scent, Tastes good!
The Bad: Comparatively expensive, Environmental impact of packaging, Dry aftertaste
The Basics: The new Nescafe Memento Caramel Latte flavored beverage is good, but not exceptional.
Sometimes, there are simple delights in being a reviewer; the process of discovery can be as enjoyable as working through a critical interpretation of a product. With Nescafe products, which I would have to admit I am somewhat inherently biased against, there have been some interesting surprised for me. There was the unfortunate surprise with their limited edition Peppermint Mocha instant coffee (reviewed here!) and a pleasant surprise with their new Memento Mocha instant coffee flavor (reviewed here!). With the Caramel Latte, I felt prepared for something delicious as it smelled wonderful when prepared.
But the simple joy of discovery for the Caramel Latte Memento came in the prep. Like a real latte, the Caramel Latte Memento instant coffee beverage developed a slight foam on the top that was just adorable!
Basics
Nescafe Memento Caramel Latte instant coffee is part of Nescafe's new premium instant coffee line and one suspects that the company is trying to compete with the flavors from the International blends instant coffee line. This mix is a newly available flavor. Each package has premeasured tubes of coffee powder which each create an 8 oz. cup of coffee.
The eight count of packets comes in a box of Nescafe Memento and, rather obviously, yields eight cups of premium instant coffee.
Ease Of Preparation
Nescafe Memento Caramel Latte instant coffee mix is exceptionally simple to make. The single serving is the packet and eight oz. of water. There is no measuring of the product involved. This is a very simple beverage to prepare.
The top of the single-serve packet has a perforated edge and one need simply tear open the top, which is quite easy, and pour the contents of the packet into a mug that is at least ten ounces large. Then, simply pour hot water - near boiling, but not actually boiling as boiling water cooks the ingredients as opposed to simply dissolving them - over the powder and stir. Stir the powder until there are no blobs of coffee granules visible in the water. The beverage will have a dark brown color to it.
Taste
The Caramel Latte flavored instant coffee has an aroma that is pure and obvious of caramel. In fact, this does not even hint that the beverage beneath the foam is a coffee drink! The Caramel Latte Memento has a sweet and inviting bouquet that is enough to thrill latte beverages.
The Caramel Latte Memento flavor is sweet and dry and the flavor is mostly that of caramel. The slight milky taste is quickly overwhelmed by the coffee flavor in the drink. The sweet caramel balances nicely against the dry coffee flavor. The sweet taste does not linger very long before the dry flavor of the coffee takes over.
This beverage leaves a very strong, dry aftertaste.
Nutrition
Nescafe Memento Caramel Latte instant coffee is a coffee mix and therefore is entirely lacking in nutritional value. There are probably calories in this drink, but I’ll be honest. I could not find the nutritional information after I got rid of the box of this stuff.
It contains milk and coconut ingredients and may contain soy.
Storage/Cleanup
So long as one gets Nescafe Memento Caramel Latte instant coffee mix in the packet, it ought to stay usable. Visiting my local supermarket, most of the packages of this instant coffee had an expiration date a year away. One assumes it will last quite a while and dissolve appropriately when one attempts to use it. The packets, for those of us who consider the environmental impact of such things, are terribly wasteful and expensive. The foil/plastic wrappers are not recyclable anywhere I've been.
Cleanup is very easy as well. If the product spills while dumping it into the mug, simply wipe it up or brush it up with a dry or damp cloth. If it has already been reconstituted with water into coffee, simply wipe it up. Light fabrics are likely to stain if this gets on them, in which case consult your fabric care guide to clean it up.
Overall
Nescafe Memento Caramel Latte is a good, not great, drink. Worth trying, the Caramel Latte will satisfy most instant coffee drinkers, if not the premium coffee crowd.
For other Nescafe Instant Coffees, please visit my reviews of:
Taster’s Choice French Roast
Taster’s Choice 100% Colombian
Taster’s Choice Decaffeinated
6/10
For other food or drink reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!
© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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