Whether you’re working or schooling from home, you look forward to your routinely snoops in your kitchen refrigerator, or even start brewing your third cup of coffee. But what if I told you that I have something new to offer you – something you wouldn’t be able to hold back for; something that combines the best of both worlds and gives you a mix you can’t help but fall in love with? Ladies and gents, I present to you, Häagen-Dazs’ new Barista Collection!
This Barista Collection has two delicious flavours: a brand new Salted Caramel Cappuccino (in pint and sandwich form!) and the dearly missed Brownie Macchiato (in pint form).
I know it sounds like a crazy amount of coffee, but fret not, non-coffee lovers! I assure you that the coffee very tastefully complements the flavours in ways that will make you forget all about your grudges against the beverage.
Returning with a new tagline, ‘Take A Coffee Break’, Häagen-Dazs has got your back! Life (and coffee breaks) is too short to choose between coffee and ice cream. So, why hold back? Have them both!
The cool flavours in this newest collection strangely deliver a sense of warmth and contentment to your heart. So which one do you think will best suit your fancy? I’ve got you covered, but first!
Warning: The following review will contain tantalising photographs and explicitly delicious descriptions that will hit you with the most intense coffee or ice cream cravings. So do standby with a packet of tissues should you unconsciously find yourself salivating, and be prepared with a delicious snack to distract the craving pangs!
With that, let’s begin!
First up, say hello to Häagen-Dazs’ newest flavour on the block: Salted Caramel Cappuccino! This comes in two refreshing variations – the pint (S$14.45) and a crispy sandwich (S$6.70).
Salted caramel is a comforting flavour that hits close to home. So when this household-favourite meets the coffee and ice cream realms, it’s just magic. The finest Brazilian Coffee beans are roasted to absolute perfection for that essence of coffee. That smooth and decadent ice cream steals your heart with just its appearance, but when you actually have the first taste, all you can think of is ‘Wow’.
I loved how the flavours complement each other to build such a dynamic taste. The cappuccino tastefully toned down the lingering sweetness from the salted caramel, and the scrumptious bits of chocolate chips add another dimension to the experience with the crunchiness. But, all in all, I just felt that the chocolate chips added a little too much sweetness. But to all the sweet tooths out there, it’s your time to shine!
Also, remember what I said about #TakeACoffeeBreak? Well, Häagen-Dazs invites you to be your own barista and brew your very own Salted Caramel Coffee Shake! Add two scoops of this Salted Caramel Cappuccino ice cream into a blender, add 200ml of milk and blend till it’s all mixed up in there. Serve your mix in a glass, and over it, pour a shot of espresso. Take your aesthetic Instagram pictures and post them using the hashtags, and you’re good to go! Throwback to #LoveTheMix!
Häagen-Dazs also brings something new to the table with their Salted Caramel Cappuccino Crispy Sandwich! It lives true to its name as the ice cream sits in a chocolate cage between two thin wafers. It’s truly a sensory experience – you first feast your eyes upon this intriguing beauty, then as you finally proceed to take a bite, you feel the wafers shattering between your teeth with its sound filling your ears. You then close your eyes and detect the flavours partying in your mouth, and nod approvingly.
A warning I wish I received would be that it can get quite messy! The wafers are very thin and brittle and leave crumbs all around. Also, be sure to freeze your ice cream well beforehand, because if the melting starts, so does the clock! I had to rush my treat simply because the ice cream started melting quickly and ran down my fingers. I wouldn’t mind getting down and dirty for ice cream, but what should have been a relaxing coffee break turned into a stressful ice cream showdown with myself!
Nonetheless, it’s absolutely delicious, and the wafers work so well to cut the sweetness. The chocolate layer was rather sweet, but all in all, every element added to the flavour and experience!
Finally, we celebrate the return of a huge favourite, the Brownie Macchiato (S$14.45)! It is made from the finest Robusta coffee beans grown in Brazil, which promise that rich coffee flavour, beautifully complemented by an all-time favourite dessert – brownies! Can brownies with coffee ever go wrong? Never! It’s a timeless pairing made in heaven.
This flavour really tastes the way it sounds. It literally feels like coffee with brownies in ice cream form. The taste of coffee is certainly stronger in this one, but I felt that it all worked together so beautifully. The brownie chunks add so much flavour and texture and instantly put you in a good mood. Of course, you could also try concocting your own mix by adding a shot of espresso and whatnot!
Of the three treats, if I just had to choose my favourite, I would say it’s the Brownie Macchiato! The perfect sweetness, the perfect touch of coffee, and the perfect size and amount of brownie chunks. This truly resonated #TakeACoffeeBreak to me!
But hey, there’s so much more in store for you! The Barista Collection is not limited to just pints and sandwiches. You can now enjoy some delightful treats at Häagen-Dazs Cafes too – Salted Caramel Kopi Shake (S$7.90), Triple Kopi Croissant (S$8.50), and Brownie Affogato (S$11.90). All available only for a limited time, from August to September! The Häagen-Dazs Cafes are located at Westgate, Hilton Walkway, Plaza Singapura and Funan. Now that vaccinated persons can hang out in groups of five; you can even share the Coffee Dream Cake (S$78)! All this while stocks last, so run, don’t walk!
Häagen-Dazs has presented to you an array of treats for your ‘pick me up’ during your next coffee break. To me, all these treats scream comfort and contentment; it’s like that ‘Ah, I’m home’ feeling. Warm and fuzzy vibes (even though you can get a brain freeze!) all around. And the best part? You can get them everywhere – at all leading supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, and even on e-retail platforms like Redmart and Pandamart. True comfort stems from convenience, and it doesn’t get more convenient than this!
You deserve a good coffee break. You deserve at least that moment to yourself, to enjoy what you love. Your coffee breaks are your time to shine. So now of all times, don’t hold back. Do what you love, and eat what you love!
Photos by Darren Chiong of the DANAMIC Team.
