This morning I received a free sample of the new Douwe Egberts Cafe Switch pod ,'True Kick' flavour.
What is it?................................................
This is a new idea as far as I know for making coffee simple to make and would possibly be most useful where coffee is drunk occassionally, for instance in an office that does not have a coffee machine or where you do not drink coffee yourself but have the occassional guest who would prefer coffee to whatever else is on offer.You could also take them camping as the milk is added already,to save having to keep milk cold ,they would need to be in a strong box or tin though. This was why I was trying them as we go camping quite often.
I have to admit ,the packaging is a
major bug bear for me. The sample I have tried was sent through the post and arrived in a 4" x 2" x 1" purple cardboard box,containing a plastic (recycleable) sealed sachet,containing a single serving of coffee in a double podded plastic contraption sealed with thick foil. All for one cup of coffee! The pods are on sale in packets of 6 x 36ml servings according to their leaflet. The picture showing what looks like a flattened egg box wrapped in a paper label, presumably containing 6 double podded coffee packets.
What you use your thumbs for!.........................
The sample came with a leaflet proclaiming... 'The delicious Coffee drink your thumbs will love'!
The pods are the secret to your thumbs infatuation. 2 pods,each containing a liquid are joined by little channels . The pods are soft and squishable. You press hard on each pod in turn and can hear a swooshing sound as the liquid rushes between the pods via the channels. Keep pressing until you see that the liquid through the semi transparent plastic ,has become throthy. I put the pods face down on the kitchen worktop and pressed away with my fingers until I saw the throth.
Meanwhile boil a kettle.
The foil cover is easily removed via a little tag. When you have a good throth in your pods, pull off the foil cover and folding the pods together, squeeze the liquid into a cup. Now add the boiling water. Your coffee should have a throthy surface to it.(try saying that fast). There is no need to add milk or sugar.You will discover why when you taste it.
The proof of the pudding....................................
It was obvious on first tasting that there was plenty of sugar already added. Not being a sugar user anymore as far as coffee and tea are concerned the sensation was rather syrupy and nasty. There was also a creamy tongue coating texture to the drink which was a little unpleasant. The taste was strangely of chicory as if it were made with camp coffee (the coffee sold in liquid form in little bottles). This was suprising as the ingredients do not mention chicory (although spice is mentioned) and may be more to do with the cream that is included. My daughter just off to college had a quick sip before she left and said it was quite nice!
The ingredients.(yes I know boring..but some might be interested).....................................................
The downside...................................................
The choice of how and when to sweeten has been taken for you. Not everyone likes cream in their coffee me being one of the dissenters.All 3 flavours contain cream. Looking at the ingredients there is a LOT of sweetener of one sort or another which explains why it tasted so syrupy .
Other flavours............................................................
Tru e Kick(tried by me see above)
Creamy pleasure Has cyclamic acid and sacharine sweeteners and only 54% whole milk. May possibly taste creamier.
White innocence Has cyclamic acid and sacharine sweeteners and only 57% whole milk . May possibly taste milkier.
In conclusion................................................................
We will not be buying these to take camping with us next time. That isn't to say they would be unsuitable for that purpose but we like to choose what we are eating and drinking to a greater degree than is possible with this product. Used in an office setting as the only source of coffee ,I can see people who do not like the flavours feeling their needs are not important enough.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Nice review but I am not much of a coffee coinnisseur
astrababe 16.02.2007 21:59
Have seen these advertised and was curious but don't think I'll bother. Sounds like a lot of work for a cuppa and I prefer to add milk and sugar to my own taste. Good and useful review.
shazzaspannered 09.02.2007 14:12
I had one of these sent to me and it was rubbish! I definitely won't be buying these x
Advantages: Very easy way to make coffee Disadvantages: Costly, lots of waste, a certain need for manual dexterity
sledgenoumea 09.01.2007 (09.01.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Douwe Egberts Cafe Switch
Advantages: Very easy way to make coffee Disadvantages: Costly, lots of waste, a certain need for manual dexterity
sledgenoumea 09.01.2007 (09.01.2007)
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Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Douwe Egberts Cafe Switch
Feb 5th, 2007
very helpful by (97%):
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