La Colombe Draft Latte

I had some work in the US not too long ago and on the way out I stopped at a Target...and it was awesome. In Canada, it is a huge thing when a new energy drink comes out, but it seems like there is a constant trickle of products south of the border (the Canadian border that is) La Colombe is a brand that is completely new to me so I picked up as many of their products as I could fine. The Draft Latte is the first of the reviews.

Taste

First off, I love the silky smooth texture, color, and frothy top of this beverage. The aroma is nothing to write home about as it resembles any other canned latte/coffee. But the flavor...oh boy! I was expecting a sugary iced coffee, but instead I got a latte with barely any sugar in it. I was not prepared. This taste like something you would get in a coffee shop that knows what they are doing - a shot (actually should be 2) of espresso with steamed milk and no added sugar. There is a hint of sweetness, though. And there are 11 grams of sugar in the can, but there is no actual added sugar so it must come from one of the primary ingredients.

The actual coffee flavor is great too. It is light and smooth and doesn't hit you until the very end. Up until then the flavors are balanced well with the milk. This is great!

Energy

There are 120 mg of "natural caffeine" in the can. I think the company really wants to make sure the consumers knows that there are no chemical additions that boost the caffeine levels.

The effects are like with any latte with little no to sugar. The kick comes in later but there are no jitters or a crash and you get a nice buzz for at least an hour and a half to two hours.

Scores:

Cost - $2.79

Taste - 9/10

Energy - 7/10

Overall - 16/20...one of the better canned coffees on the market

Nescafe Original Iced Coffee Review

About a month ago without any fanfare, Nescafe introduced a couple of iced coffees in cans to the Canadian market. I originally came across these at a WalMart and have yet to see them elsewhere.

Taste

Out of the can, the original Nescafe looks like any other canned iced coffee. The only distinguishing feature is the bolder coffee aroma.

The flavor is watery at first but builds up a tiny bit after a couple of sips. The mouthfeel is thin and doesn't change. Normally the added milk bulks up the mouthfeel, but whatever has been added to this coffee doesn't do a good job.

If you ignore the watery nature of the flavor, the coffee part is very decent. Once the flavors build up a bit, you can tell that the coffee that was used for this drink is of a good calibre. The only problem is that more should have been used.

Energy

There is no mentioning of caffeine content, but I would guess that it falls somewhere in the 80 to 100 mg range. After 15-20 minutes I started to feel awake and even a bit focused despite feeling a wave of jitters coming. Another 10-15 minutes I was feeling rather energized and ready for physical activities. The kick lasted for about 1.5 - 2 hours and finished without any drama.

Scores:
Cost - $2 (promotion)
Taste - 7.5/10
Energy - 6/10

Overall - 13.5/20...has the potential but needs more coffee

Marley One Drop Banana Split Coffee

I was finally able to find a stash of the new Marley One Drop coffees. Every since I saw and tried the new Vanilla Swirl, I have been obsessing over the other new flavors. And now I found it when I walked into a Bulk Barn looking for baking yeast. Awesome stuff!

Taste

Oh man, I cannot describe how good this smells to me and what fond memories this smell brings back. This smells like a mix between banana split (duh), deep fried banana covered in chocolate, chocolate-covered banana ice cream on a stick, and chocolate-covered banana puffs (those might be more European). What I am trying to say is that it definitely smells like what I was expecting.

The taste is well balanced and no particular flavor is dominant, but you can taste them all. The banana flavor is mild but present from the start to the end, while the chocolate comes in just a bit after the banana, but lingers well into the aftertaste. The coffee comes out near the end.

The aftertaste is sweet. This One Drop gets really sweet towards the end and each sip adds another layer of sweetness. So be aware if you are not into sweet stuff. I don't like sweet things all that much, but I really enjoyed it because of the memories it brought back.

Energy

There is no indication as to how much caffeine is in the can, but based on my experience with this one, and the Vanilla Swirl, I would guesstimate that it is around the 100 - 120 mg range.

The effects of this one are the same as the Vanilla Swirl - a delayed uptake, followed by a brief jittery period, followed by 2 hours of energy. For more details, check out the length Vanilla Swirl review.

Scores:
Cost - $2.99
Taste - 9.5/10 (fond memories)
Energy - 7/10

Overall - 16.5/20...tastes great!

Marley One Drop Vanilla Swirl Chocolate Coffee

Following the same release schedule as a few years back (5-6 years), Marley Beverage Co released some coffee drinks as well under the One Drop label. I got this fine can of One Drop Vanilla Swirl Chocolate from a 7-11 near me for $2.99.

Taste

Pour this into a classy clear glass, because it looks classy as f***. The color is light brown and if you shake it a little before opening it, a very nice crema will form on top, which makes this beverage look like something you got from a coffee shop.

This One Drop smells like a sweet iced coffee with notes of vanilla and chocolate...which I guess is exactly as described on the label - vanilla swirl chocolate. It tastes incredibly sweet at first with a crushing wave of sugar, vanilla and milk chocolate. If you were to focus for a moment, you will feel like you are actually eating soft serve vanilla/chocolate ice cream. The coffee flavor comes in right after and introduces mildly bitter notes but they help control the sweetness for a moment, because the finish comes with another wave of sugar and more of the ice cream flavors. The aftertaste is surprisingly delicious with mild vanilla, milk chocolate and coffee notes. Some milk funkness appears for a moment, but it is well under control compared to other milk-based iced coffees.

Energy

There is no clear indication of how much caffeine is in the can and I was not successful finding an answer through the internets, but maybe if you spend more than 10 seconds searching and find the answer, please leave a comment below. I will speculate that the can contains around 100 - 120 mg of caffeine based on the effects.

Compared to other sugary iced coffees, the effects are a bit slower to come, but when they come, expect a 10-15 minute period of focus and a very brief jittery period. Very weird. For me, the caffeine kick was surprisingly clean. I felt more calm, yet and awake for the 2 hours than overcaffeinated and excited as I would have felt with a comparable energy drink. The end was without any drama.

When I first bought this drink, I felt like I would get diabetes and my nerves will be shaken, but I actually really enjoyed the taste and the performance. I would not make this my go-to drink given its sweetness level, but it is definitely one to try.

Scores:
Cost - $2.99
Taste - 9/10
Energy - 7/10

Overall - 16/20...sweet, but rich with a calm kick

Anchor Coffee Cold Brew

I was visiting Windsor last week and went to Anchor Coffee House, a highly recommended coffee shop on the west end. Aside from the easy to miss sign that blended with the rest of the building, the coffee shop was like an oasis in a sea of boring, identical commercial buildings. I tried a couple of coffees there and decided to get a cold brew for the road and for a review. If I remember correctly, the bottles were $5.

Taste

The coffee is very clear and not too dark. In fact it is more dark amber than black. The aroma is heavy on the coffee, but also features other notes like roasted nuts and sweet dried fruits. 

The flavor is mellow at first, but the coffee hits as it travels down the tongue. Subtle notes of sweet dried fruits (yes, some sweetness is present), chocolate and roasted nuts are present, but don't last too long. The finish is surprisingly clean for a coffee, but traces of coffee do linger. Very easy and enjoyable to drink without any of the acids and a lot less of the bitterness hot brewed coffees have.

Energy

It doesn't say how much caffeine is in here, but if it is anything like the cold brews I have made, then it is a ton! I was feeling it very energetic within 20-30 minutes of consuming the bottle. While I was drinking it, I felt focused for a bit until the caffeine kicked into overdrive and I was ready to fly off. That made for fast paced walk to work in the morning. The kick lasted for almost 4 hours and ended without drama.

Scores:

Cost - $5

Taste - 9/10

Energy - 9/10

Overall - 18/20...flavorful and easy to drink, great alternative to regular coffee in the summer

Rumble Supershake Coffee Bean Review

I came across the Rumble Supershake line up at a Bulk Barn near my place. I don't normally go for protein shakes, but the Coffee Bean flavor intrigued me as it had a decent dose of caffeine in it. I sucked it up, paid the $3.99 for the aluminium bottle (or is it a can then?) and went home to give it a shot.

But before I left, I checked the other flavors Bulk Barn had and none of them had caffeine so I didn't get any of the other ones...at least for now.

Taste

First off, follow the steps outlined on the cap - "Shake gently" and "Open slowly". I opened mine quickly and the coffee rich contents exploded all over my hands and bottle.

Rumble's Coffee Bean flavor looks and smells like any caffeinated iced coffee from the major energy players. The flavor is not like the major brands, though. It starts off watery, but starts to build up flavor near the middle. Unfortunately, the flavor never builds up to the intensity I expected. The coffee flavor is very mild and doesn't come out until the aftertaste. Milk and protein dominate the second half of the flavor and turn the mouth feel more into a moderately thick shake with a chalky consistency that sticks to your tongue. The aftertaste has some of the coffee notes, but it also has a bit of the milk raunchiness.

Overall, this Rumble Supershake is very easy to drink with its mild flavor and low sweetness level, but flavor-wise, it doesn't compare well to other caffeinated protein shakes, like Monster's Muscle Coffee shake. It does, however, hide the protein better than Blu Dot.

Energy

There are 111 mg of caffeine, which is a bit more than I expected when I picked it up. Again, this isn't comparable to Monster's Muscle line-up, but the 111 mg is enough for a product with Non GMOs and other goodness.

The effects are fairly quick yet gradual. I felt awake, yet calm and focused within 10 minutes. No jitters for me yal! The caffeine kick came in after another 20 or so minutes and I was pumped. But a happy pumped kind of a thing. I wasn't so overenergized that I wanted to run around which is always a good thing for me. I like products that can deliver this kind of a calm energy.

The kick lasted for around 2.5 hours and ended without drama. Great kick!

Scores:
Cost - $3.99 from Bulk Barn
Taste - 7/10
Energy - 7.8/10

Overall - 14.8/20...mild flavor, but a focused kick

Califia Farms Cold Brew Dirty Chai

I got this bottle from a Target in Michigan near the Canadian border for $2.69.

Taste

The aroma is definitely of chai, but there is also a bit of rum, vanilla and a bit of chocolate. The taste is a bit watery at first, but after a few moments the chai kicks in, followed by some cinnamon giving the cold brew a slightly spicy twist. Almond milk is present in subtle amounts, but surprisingly there are no traces of the coffee anywhere. Even the aftertaste is overpowered by the cinnamon and tea notes.

Except for the cinnamon, I found this beverage to be very mild for most parts. It is very easy to drink, but there isn't as much flavor as the other Califia Farms Cold Brews.

Energy

Though it doesn't state that on the bottle, there are 125 mg of caffeine in the 310 mL serving. I was actually surprised by this as I was expecting the caffeine level to be closer to 100 mg.

The effects are quick, but I think that has a bit to do with the spicy twist. I started to wake up and feel focused within 10 minutes of starting to consume this drink and by the 20 minute mark I was pumped and ready to go. I still felt a tiny bit focused, but for the most parts I was just physically energized.

The effects lasted for almost 3 hours and ended without any drama.

General Comments

This beverage has tons of labels on it - GMO free, Vegan, Gluten Free, BPA free and Carrageenan free. The bottle also contains around 45% of your recommended daily intake of calcium.

Scores:
Cost - $2.69
Taste - 7.5/10
Energy - 7.5/10

Overall - 15/20...the taste is a bit too light, but the kick is OK

Califia Farms Cold Brew Cocoa Noir

I got this bottle from a Target in Michigan, near the Canadian border, for $2.69.

Taste

By far, this flavor has the best aroma out of all the Califia Farms cold brews. Its like I shoved my nose into a frozen McCain Deep 'n' Delicious fudge cake. The taste is not far off, either. You get a rich chocolate flavor right from the start, followed by a complimentary almond milk note and a bit of rum. The sweet chocolate cake flavor and the almond milk actually blend very well together and create an interesting and enjoyable flavor. The finish is where the coffee flavors appear and linger well into the finish.

Very rich and enjoyable.

Energy

There are 105 mg of caffeine in the bottle, which is about the same as a small cup of coffee. The effects become apparent within 10-15 minutes when you start feeling a bit more focused. No jitters here guys! The caffeine starts kicking in after another 20 minutes and gives you around 2 hours of energy without a crash at the end.

Scores
Cost - $2.69
Taste - 9/10
Energy - 7/10

Overall - 16/20...my favorite Califia Farms Cold Brew so far

Califia Farms Cold Brew XX Espresso

I got this bottle of Califia Farms from a Target in Michigan, near the Canadian border, for $2.69.

Taste

This cold brew has an interesting rum/whisky aroma with a hint of sweet chocolate cake. The taste is heavy on the almond milk, pretty much all throughout. When the almond milk is not dominating your tastebuds, you get hints of vanilla, cocoa and just a bit of coffee near the end of the finish. Very subtle rum hints do appear in the aftertaste, but unlike the aroma, they are not present in the taste.

I was surprised this beverage didn't have a strong coffee flavor near the finish, or even less than subtle hints in the aftertaste.

Energy

According to the Califia Farms website, the bottle contains 150 mg of caffeine, which is exactly what you would get from most 473 mL energy drinks. The energy delivery is much smoother though thanks to the lack of jitters and the boost in focus that you get within 10 minutes. The kick lasts for about 3-4 hours and finishes without any drama.

Scores:
Cost - $2.69
Taste - 8/10
Energy - 8.4/10

Overall - 16.4/20...more of an almond milk flavor, but it is smooth and has an excellent kick

Califia Farms Cold Brew Triple Shot

I bought this bottle of Califia Farms at a Target in Michigan, near the Canadian border. Price was $2.69 for the 310 mL bottle.

Taste

Very sweet and interesting aroma with notes of almond milk, rum, sweet chocolate cake and a bit of espresso. The taste starts off with a mild sweet chocolate cake note, followed by the almond milk, then followed by rum which gives the finish a slightly alcoholic feel. Coffee comes in near the finish, but it is intense and is the dominant flavor in the aftertaste. Some raunchiness is also present in the aftertaste from the milk.

I usually don't have a problem with almond milk, but in this case, I think it gives the beverage a slightly chalky mouthfeel near the finish and dries out the aftertaste. However, it does make this coffee very easy to drink.

Energy

The caffeine content is not provided on the bottle, but Califia Farms' website states that there are 170 mg of caffeine in the Triple Shot cold brew. That's actually a very, very respectable amount of caffeine for a 310 mL drink. To put that into context, the caffeine ratio of this beverage is 0.548 mg/mL, while the ratio in a standard 473 mL drink is between 0.317 mg/mL and 0.338 mg/mL.

The kick comes in a few of stages and neither one of them involves jitters. The first stage resulted in clearing my cloudy mind within 10 minutes, while the second stage made me very focused for a good 20-30 minutes before the caffeine fully kicked in and I was feeling physically energized and ready to tackle the day.

The effects lasted for just over 3 hours and finished without a crash.

Scores:
Cost - $2.69
Taste - 8.2/10
Energy - 8.7/10

Overall - 16.9/20...interesting rum flavor with a great and very focused kick

Califia Fams Cold Brew Mocha Mexica

I found this cold brew at a Target in Michigan for $2.69.

Taste

The Mocha Mexica has an interesting chocolate cake aroma with a bit of almonds poking through. The mouthfeel is fairly heavy due to addition of almond milk, but the beverage goes down smoothly. Almond milk and cinnamon are the predominant flavors at first, but give it a few moments and you will be hit with a bit of chili and sweet chocolate. Don't worry, it isn't that spicy. There is just enough chili to give your tongue a tingle and warm the back of your throat a little. However, please note that I do like spicy foods so maybe if you are someone with low tolerance, you shouldn't try this one.

Coffee doesn't come in until the finish and when it comes, it isn't very strong. The finish and aftertaste are dominated by cinnamon and remnants of the sweet chocolate flavors with a bit of funk from the almond milk and a tiny bit of salt.

The cinnamon, chili and sweet chocolate was a very unique and interesting combination. There is a moment right in between the finish and aftertaste where you can taste only chili and cinnamon, which gives this beverage a very interesting clarity.

Energy

There is no caffeine content listed anywhere on the label, but I can tell you that this drink works quickly. I woke up with a foggy mind that was cleared within minutes by the chili/cinnamon combo. While my mind was clearing up, I did look up the caffeine content on the Internet and found through Califia Farms website that there are 110 mg of caffeine in this bottle. Not very much, but still a respectable amount.

Within 10-15 minutes after my mind cleared, I was already feeling pretty energized. I was a bit jittery, but not as much compared to an energy drink. The kick lasted for a couple of hours and just slowly faded away without much drama.

General Comments

This beverage has tons of labels on it - GMO free, Vegan, Gluten Free, BPA free and Carrageenan free. The bottle also contains around 45% of your recommended daily intake of calcium.

Scores:
Cost - $2.69
Taste - 8.8/10
Energy - 7.8/10

Overall - 16.6/20...thick, a bit spicy with a decent kick

Zola Coconut Water Espresso

Zola has been on the Canadian market for years. In fact, one of my very first reviews, more than 6 years ago, was of Zola's Immunity Smoothie. The smoothie was the best tasting product on my blog for years so when I was given a can of their Coconut Water Espresso (or should it be Espresso Coconut Water?), I had very high expectations.

Taste

The contents of this can look like any other iced coffee - medium brown and very muggy. The aroma is also very similar to any other iced coffee with a strong coffee presence. There is no coconut presence, but with a flavor as dominant as coffee, it is easy for the coconut notes to get lost.

The taste is very interesting. I kept drinking and drinking trying to decipher and put it into words, but I found it a bit difficult. OK, so I was expecting coffee to the dominant flavor, but I was greeted by a semi-sweet, very well defined coconut flavor at the start of each sip. That was followed by the tiniest hint of sourness you get from coffee, which was then followed by more coconut, a bit of chocolate and a hint of coffee. The finish is where the coffee finally came out and lingered well into the aftertaste. The aftertaste, itself, is long, a bit dry with a strong coffee presence and a hint of sweetness. Since there is a tiny bit of milk added to it, a bit of the typical iced coffee raunchiness is also present in the aftertaste.

I knew the coffee was there, but I sensed it not through its flavor, but through its other characteristics, like bitterness and sourness and even a tiny bit from its aromas the top of my mouth was exposed to...well until the flavors finally came out in the finish. Very interesting and enjoyable.

The beverage is very smooth and very easy to drink. The sweetness is well balanced and the coffee is more of a supporting character than the main one.

Energy

What, did you not expect this to have any caffeine? Come on, that is literally in the its title. There are 150 mg of caffeine in the can, which is very typical.

"Oh, but the can is so much bigger than other energy drinks...this sucks". Well, my response to this is to read the label. Despite its large appearance, the can contains only 47 mL more volume than your standard energy drink. That's less than 10% more!

So not only are you drinking coconut water that your mom tells you is good for you, but you are also getting jazzed up. The effects are a bit slow to roll out as it took around 15 minutes for me to feel the kick, but the effects are much smoother than your typical sugary energy drink. This drink almost gave me the jitters when it started to kick in, but I didn't really feel like shaking my leg more than once. Once it started to kick in, I felt much more awake and very focused before all the caffeine kicked in and I just felt exhilarated and really into reading a few reports I had on my desk. The kick lasted for a good 3-4 hours and ended without a crash. Excellent kick!

Scores:
Cost - unsure
Taste - 8.8/10
Energy - 8.5/10

Overall - 17.3/20...interesting coconut/coffee combo with a great and focused kick

Starbucks Double Shot Coffee & Protein Vanilla Bean

So Starbucks has gotten into the protein business with their latest canned coffee offering. The 325 mL can contains 20 grams of protein and can be yours for $2.59...but only to you US folks...or at least just to you at the moment. I haven't yet seen this in Canada.

Taste

The coffee looks and smells like coffee that has been well mixed with very heavy cream. A bit of vanilla is present, but it does take some effort to find it. The mouthfeel is very thick and almost feels like a light cream. It starts off like a vanilla ice cream and even has the same creamy texture. Soon after the initial ice cream, slightly sour and bitter coffee notes come. I would say these coffee notes are a little more bitter than other Starbucks offerings I have had. The aftertaste has a bit of a raunchy note to it from the milk and the erythritol, but the vanilla helps to offset it.

You would not have guessed that this was a protein drink by just drinking it. There is no chalkiness or soy-like notes to make you believe that this is anything but straight up coffee and cream.

Energy

There is no mentioning of how much caffeine is in the can, but the Internet tells me that there are 110 mg. More, if you are consuming the plain coffee flavor. The effects are slow, but when they arrive, you will feel more focused and alert without jitters. The caffeine kick is decent and I felt very well energized for a couple of hours before starting to feel fairly normal for someone who had 6 hours of sleep.

Scores:
Cost - $2.59
Taste - 8.2/10
Energy - 7.2/10

Overall - 15.4/20...pretty decent coffee flavor with a nice kick and the added protein benefit

RealBeanz Iced Coffee Mocha

Love the design of this matte shrink-wrapped label. Couldn't help but buy it on the way out of Maryland at a gas station that was being renovated. Just for you folks, I had to jump over construction debris and put my life in jeopardy just to get that bottle and provide valuable insight. I believe the bottle cost me $2.59, but I am not 100% sure since so many things were mixed up during the construction and I was also paying for gas.

Taste

The aroma is kinda funky from the milk, but has a rich chocolate aroma with just hints of coffee lurking below. The taste is much, much better, though. You are blasted right away with a rich, moist, spongy chocolate-cake like flavor which grips your tongue and holds onto it right up until the finish. There is almost no coffee during those few initial stages, but there is just so much chocolate and cream. The coffee notes don't come in until the aftertaste, which is also a bit funky because of the milk...that's just how milk is. The coffee itself is light and doesn't add any bitterness to the flavor. This iced coffee is sweet, but the sweetness is nicely balanced and it never built up to a critical sweetness point where I had to get water to cleanse my palate. Very well done iced coffee.

Energy

The bottle says there are 342 mg of "resistance" ingredients, which include coffee, green tea and calcium. According to the Internet and a bunch of sources, the bottle contains 57 mg of caffeine, which is super, super low for an iced coffee in my opinion. I did feel a buzz, but that was probably a sugar/caffeine combo and it only lasted for a bit less than an hour until I got ready for work.

Love the flavor of this iced coffee, but with the low caffeine content, I think the coffee is best suited as an afternoon booster when you need a bit of pick-me-up but you don't want to be super energized.

Scores:
Cost - $2.59
Taste - 8.8/10
Energy - 5/10

Overall - 13.8/20...fantastic flavor, but lacks the punch

Starbucks S'mores Frappuccino

I bought this new Starbucks concoction from a WalMart in Maryland when I was down there for the weekend. This bottled frappuccino flavor is not yet available in Canada, but judging by how all the others ones have made their way north of the border, it is only a matter of time.

I assume most readers do know what a s'more is, but for those who don't - a s'more is a toasted piece of marshmallow sandwiched between 2 pieces of graham crackers with a slab of chocolate in between...yup...sugar.

Taste

Off the bat the aroma tells you that this is no ordinary frappuccino flavor. Strong notes of burnt vanilla, honey, chocolate and biscuit come out with haste and fill the air around the bottle. Overpowering honey and vanilla are the things I taste first, followed by a chocolate punch, followed by more honey/vanilla sweetness. Yeah, this flavor is super sweet, just like a s'more. There is very little of the coffee flavor, which doesn't fully emerge until the aftertaste when the sweetness dies down a little. There are subtle, slightly bitter hints here and there throughout the flavor, but the sugary notes completely overpower it.

The taste is very sweet, though I liked it. I just can't see myself drinking more than a single bottle of this in a day. Much like I can't eat more than a single s'more. It is just way too sweet.

Energy

There is no caffeine content information on the label, but based on my experience with previous flavors and the kick I got out of this bottle, I would estimate the content to be around 115 mg.

Speaking of a kick, I got the sugar rush (without much jitters surprisingly) within a few minutes. In another 15 minutes I was ready to get out of the house and run around...and I did after I took a quick shower. The kick lasted for around 2.5 hours and there was no crash at the end.

Overall - very interesting flavor that captures the sweet character of the s'more.

Scores:
Cost - $3.19 (I actually cannot recall exactly, but this seems fair)
Taste - 8.8/10
Energy - 7/10

Overall - 15.8/20...so very sweet, but captures the flavor of the s'more

Starbucks Doubleshot Energy Hazelnut Review

It has been so long since I have reviewed a new Starbucks product. The last one was the latest Refresher, back in early 2014, and the one before that was actually an iced coffee was the Vanilla one in mid 2013. Almost 2 years since I had a new iced coffee from Starbucks.

OK, technically, the Hazelnut Doubleshot Energy drink/iced coffee is not new, but it is new to me. Over the years I have tried and reviewed all of the Doubleshot Energy drinks, except the Hazelnut because I had never been able to find it until my trip to Buffalo a few weeks ago. If memory serves me right, I bought the can from a Target for $2.49.

Taste

In the aroma, there are notes of coffee, sweet cream, hazelnut and vanilla ice cream. For a few brief moments it felt like I had stuck my nose in a jar of Nutella. The taste is sweet cream up front, followed by vanilla followed by hazelnuts. The coffee flavors are non-existent until the finish and even then they are very subtle and easy to miss. Right before the finish you also get a very nice, very intense hazelnut twist that last for mere moments, but it just tastes so good sip after sip, after sip.

The aftertaste is a blend of sweet milk and hazelnuts at the start, but with the milk raunchiness come in the subtle coffee flavors. The hazelnuts linger for a while and are present alongside the milk and the coffee hints. Give the aftertaste a minute or so and your mouth will start feeling dry, sticky and very sweet. I had to keep drinking so that my mouth wouldn't dry out. When I was finished with the iced coffee, I had to take a few sips of water to cleanse the sweetness and rehydrate myself.

This Doubleshot Hazelnut is very light and easy to consume quickly.

Energy

The caffeine content is not provided on the can, however, the Internet says that there are 145 mg of caffeine. My previous reviews of older Starbucks Doubleshot beverages confirm this amount. Some even say that it is as high as 146 mg....how about that?

The effects are noticeable within as quickly as 10 minutes. I was starting to gradually, yet quickly feel energized, my lower body felt a bit jittery, and my legs were starting to shake a little. Within another 15 minutes I was wired and ready to get the day started. By that time the jitters had subsided, but were still present. It took another 15 minutes for them to go away completely.

Once out of the house, I got almost 3 hours of decent energy at work and kick ended without a crash. But as I always say, had I had this iced coffee near the end of my day, I probably would have crashed since my body would have no more stored energy to offer.

Scores:
Cost - $2.49 from Target
Taste - 8/10
Energy - 7.4/10

Overall - 15.4/20...smooth, great hazelnut taste, a little too sweet for me, but the kick is nice

Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk Vanilla

The Vanilla flavor is the third and last flavor of the new Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk line of drinks. I also bought a carton of it at a Target near Buffalo for $2.39.

Taste

The Vanilla flavor has the same unappealing brown/beige color as the Caramel flavor I tried a few days ago. However, the aroma oh so inviting with a rich sweet vanilla bouquet reminding me of sweet delicious marshmallows. There are also some coffee notes, but they are lost amidst sweet vanilla.

The flavor is very coffee-forward with the almond milk taking a backseat and the vanilla just adding a sweet twist at the end and lingering notes in the aftertaste. Yes, surprisingly this iced coffee tastes more like coffee than a vanilla beverage and I like it. The vanilla nicely complements the flavor of the coffee without stealing the spotlight. Very nice, indeed.

Like the other Gevalia Iced Coffees I recently had, the Vanilla flavor is incredibly smooth, easy to drink, very enjoyable and very refreshing in the morning. It is a shame these are not available in Canada.

Energy

Like the Mocha, there are 160 mg of caffeine in the carton, which is 5 mg more than the Caramel flavor. The energy effects are the same as with the other Gevalia Iced Coffees, so in an effort to save myself some time, I just copied the Energy write up from another review:

The energy effects are more similar to those of a cup of coffee than an energy drink since there are no added energy ingredients. I felt a sudden rush within 15 minutes and for the first few minutes I felt my legs shake uncontrollably. About another 15-20 minutes later the caffeine was coursing through my veins and I was feeling energetic and even sort of focused when the jitters died down. The effects lasted for 2.5 to 3 hours and I didn't experience a crash. 

Scores:
Cost - $2.39 from Target in Buffalo
Taste - 9.1/10
Energy - 7.3/10

Overall - 16.4/20...smooth and delicious with a great kick

Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk Mocha

The Mocha flavor is the second one in the Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk line up. Like the Caramel one, it was also acquired from Target for $2.39.

Taste

Out of curiosity I had to pour it in a glass to do the color test. Well, it passed. Unlike the Caramel brown/beige color, the Mocha's color is light brown and similar to chocolate milk or a mocha you would buy from a coffee store.

The aroma is a blend of coffee, a touch of almond milk and heavy on the cocoa. The taste is very similar - bold coffee and dark chocolate flavors from the start until finish with the emergence of almond near the end. Complete departure from the subtle coffee flavor of the Caramel one I had yesterday. The aftertaste is a mix of slightly bitter dark chocolate, a hint of coffee and distant almonds. Though the label says that there is only a touch of mocha, I beg to differ. The chocolate flavor is just as bold as the coffee all throughout. The combination of chocolate and coffee make the Mocha flavor less sweet than normal iced coffees so if you are on the market for a sweet iced coffee, try the Caramel one.

Like the Caramel, the Mocha is super easy to drink and goes does quickly. I really liked this flavor because of its bold chocolate and coffee taste.

Energy

Surprisingly this flavor contains an extra 5 mg of caffeine boosting the total to 160 mg. This is the same amount you would get from a standards Rockstar or a Monster, but from only 330 mL.

Even with the extra caffeine, the effects are identical to those of the Caramel flavor so I decided to copy and paste them below instead of having to re-write the entire section:

The energy effects are more similar to those of a cup of coffee than an energy drink since there are no added energy ingredients. I felt a sudden rush within 15 minutes and for the first few minutes I felt my legs shake uncontrollably. About another 15-20 minutes later the caffeine was coursing through my veins and I was feeling energetic and even sort of focused when the jitters died down. The effects lasted for 2.5 to 3 hours and I didn't experience a crash. 

Overall, I really, really enjoyed this iced coffee with its slightly bitter flavor, bold chocolate and coffee taste and a very good kick.

Scores:
Cost - $2.39 from Target
Taste - 9.1/10
Energy - 7.3/10

Overall - 16.4/20...bold coffee and chocolate, great kick

Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk Caramel

As the warm weather comes, it is time to start bringing out the iced coffees, iced teas and everything else that will cool us off and give us a nice caffeine boost. Gevalia Iced Coffees just hit the market in the US with several flavors packaged in neat cardboard containers, which I was able to procure at a Target somewhere in New York state just this past weekend. No word whether or not these will make their way north of the border to our beautiful Canada, yet, but one can always hope.

Taste

First off, do not pour this into a glass. I made this mistake to see what the aroma would be like since I couldn't sense much through the narrow opening on the box, and I regret it. This iced coffee looks like dark beige mud and its color is nowhere near the light brown/caramel color on the package. But looks don't count, eh? It is all about the taste.

Ignoring the color, the aroma is actually very inviting with bold coffee at the front and rich caramel notes all throughout and just a hint of almonds. Very good, indeed. The taste is much more subtle, though. The coffee flavor is very light and I can barely taste it while drinking, the almond milk is also very subtle for most parts, but the caramel is present and noticeable all throughout sweetening up the beverage. The finish is where the flavors truly emerge and you can clearly taste coffee, the almond milk and the caramel. The first few moments are delicious, but after that the aftertaste becomes gets pretty rancid like with any other iced coffee.

The beverage is veeery easy to drink. It goes down even quicker and easier when poured in a glass. When I first tried a "few" sips, half the beverage was gone. It was that smooth.

Energy

The one thing I like about these iced coffees is that the caffeine content is clearly listed on the back - 155 mg in the container. In my opinion this is a very respectable amount for a 330 mL container. That equals 0.47 mg/mL of caffeine, whereas the can of Rockstar I had yesterday clocked in at only 0.34 mg/mL. Not too shabby Gevalia!

The energy effects are more similar to those of a cup of coffee than an energy drink since there are no added energy ingredients. I felt a sudden rush within 15 minutes and for the first few minutes I felt my legs shake uncontrollably. About another 15-20 minutes later the caffeine was coursing through my veins and I was feeling energetic and even sort of focused when the jitters died down. The effects lasted for 2.5 to 3 hours and I didn't experience a crash. Not a bad iced coffee.

Aside from the color, I really liked this iced coffee with its easy drinking nature, decent taste and a great kick. I cannot wait to try the other flavors.

Scores:
Cost - $2.39 from Target
Taste - 8.5/10
Energy - 7.2/10

Overall - 15.7/20...smooth, good taste, great kick

Mt. Rainier Caffe Latte

This is a "review on the run" of a coffee beverage I purchased at Narita airport on the way to Hanoi for about $2. I totally needed this after not sleeping for over 24 hours and drinking well into the morning upon arrival to Hanoi.

The beverage comes in a very sturdy plastic container with a collapsible straw attached to the side. Removing the lid allows access to the tin foil you penetrate to reach the liquid.

Taste

The late has a milky start with a very strong espresso follow up note which lingers well into the finish. The beverage is very lightly sweetened but the sweetness doesn't come until near the finish and lasts for brief moments before the bitter coffee flavor overpowers it.

Energy

I got a nice kick out of the late which can only be compared to a single shot of espresso which lasted for an hour or so. If I knew, I would have bought another one.

Scores:

Cost - $2
Taste - 8/10
Energy - 6/10

Overall - 14/20...great packaged coffee but too small for me