There are coffee purists out there (you know who you are) who think that coffees should not have flavoring added to the beans. I used to be one of them. In a past life, I worked as a barista for a company that sold only different "roasts" of coffees--nothing flavored. But then when I was no making coffee for anyone other than myself, I began to shop around other coffee houses, and try brews that were flavored. Usually what I drink at home is a combination of one part plain roast to three parts flavored roast. I tend not to like quite as much flavoring in my coffee as other folks.
As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received two bags of Godiva's Coffee latest seasonal flavors--Pumpkin Spice, and Caramel Pecan Bark. Every coffee house is featuring a pumpkin coffee drink right now, so I decided to experiment with the Caramel Pecan Bark.
Brewed by itself at full strength, this medium roast coffee is a delight. The packaging describes it as "Rich, smooth caramel and toasted pecans with a creamy Godiva milk chocolate finish." Mixed with steamed milk, it is a perfect way to start the day. The caramel aroma floated out of my cup, and as I sipped the coffee, I noticed the slight hint of chocolate. I decided to enhance the caramel and the chocolate notes of this coffee.
Besides Godiva coffee, I am seriously addicted right now to Godiva tablet chocolate bars. My favorite is the Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel. I have a secret stash of them at home. Every day in my lunch, I pack one square. I can't have two squares or the whole bar lying around because I will sit down and eat it all. This tablet is a thin piece of Godiva milk chocolate with flecks of crisp caramel throughout and a dash of salt along the way. Salted caramel is a very trendy flavor right now in everything from cupcakes to hot drinks. I think the Godiva Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel tablet is the best of them all. So I decided that this tablet and this coffee needed to be blended.
First, I brewed the Godiva Pecan Bark Coffee. Then for a single cup of decadence, I chopped up a square of the Godiva Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel Bar. I put half of it in the bottom of the cup, and added the hot coffee. Then I quickly swirled on whipped cream and Smucker's Caramel Sauce, topping it all off with the rest of the square of chopped caramel bar. This drink was fabulous! And the best part of the gooey bits of caramel from the chocolate tablet at the bottom of the cup.
This is an easy drink to make. The Godiva Pecan Bark Coffee will make your kitchen smell wonderful, and will be a great start to your day. Mix it with the Salted Caramel Bar for a match made, well, in Godiva Heaven. Try it!
Comments