Morgenhund roughs it... (Nescafe Cappuccino)

Member Name: Morgenhund

Product:	Nescafe Cappuccino
Date:	20/08/02 (199 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap, easy to make

Disadvantages: scummy froth, not that great a taste

Life in Schloß Morgenhund isn't all smoked salmon, fresh bagels delivered daily, English Rose tea, filter coffee and an espresso machine - occasionally I have to slum it too. When I am particularly busy the kettle gets used a lot - not for coffee as I still find it just as easy to load up the coffee machine, but when I haven't got time to go out for a Cappuccino in one of the nearby Kaffeehäuser I have to make do with Nestlé cappuccino. Incidentally, the frothed milk cappuccino so frequently consumed in Britain is called a Melange, with a Viennese cappuccino being served with cream... But I digress.

Generally instant cappuccino is a bit of a disappointment, with the espresso-like crema (technical term for the "froth") often being like a sludge, and the coffee really very weak and washed out - and milky, but then again the overriding majority of the mixture you chuck in is actually a milk powder colour, so that is probably to be expected. Serving suggestions suggest from the tin, that you used four heaped teaspoons of the powder per cup (note cup not mug - a small mug and you might just get away with it, but a normal sized mug will give you a watery drink that looks like the water you dip your paintbrush in at primary school. Another thing to remember is that you should actually let the water you have boiled cool slightly - to about 80°C as boiling water tends to lend an unwanted scorched/burnt taste which doesn't do the drink any favours.

If you buy the sachet version (10 sachets of 12.5g each, there are individual sachets of chocolate powder to sprinkle over the top, although if you go for the large tin, then there is no chocolate powder included, although you can by a chocolate powder dispenser, although I tend to sieve a teaspoon of drinking chocolate powder on to the top if I can be bothered. More often than not I don't bother, because the crema is sludgy as it is and therefore I don't really see what a difference
a sprinkling of chocolate powder will actually make... If you like your cappuccino sweet then make sure you don't get the unsweetened versions (same price, similar packing) unless you also have sugar on tap - they are really quite bitter otherwise.

Pricewise you obviously save hands down over going out for ten cappuccinos (or should that be cappuccini?) with 10 sachets costing EUR 2.79 (approx GBP 1.80) or a 250 gram tin (makes approx 22 cups according to the tin) weighing in at EUR 3.59 (approx GBP 2.30) here in Vienna. If you get through a lot of this stuff, then you're best of getting the tins because you get twice as much for only 50 pence more (Vienna prices), and presumably the prices would be similar in Britain. Compare this to going out for 10 cappuccinos in cafés here and whilst you have more enjoyment than if you make the stuff at home, and you'll have no change from close to 20 quid!

The packaging is nothing to write home about, but then again a non-exclusive product shouldn't be exclusively packaged really, should it?

All in all these are an adequate standby, especially where you are under time pressure, and want something quick, but otherwise I would far rather recommend purchasing an aero latte (milk frother) available at Whittards or similar types of places and frothing your milk instead and using a ground coffee and taking the time over it, and hanging the expense and time saving advantage of these sachets / tins of powder.

Summary: