Coffee Bliss with Nespresso Citiz + Milk Review

The Nespresso Citiz + Milk is an automatic and programmable single cup machine. It has dedicated space for coffee preparation and an integrated milk frothing device to prepare cappuccinos and lattes. The Nespresso maker is made in Italy and assembled in Switzerland. Sold! Well, that's all I need to know! I purchased my Nespresso maker 4 weeks ago through Bloomingdales.com and since then I have not purchased one cup of coffee outside the home. Not to say that I never will again, but that is how satisfied I am with my Nespresso maker. Satisfied is probably not a good descriptive word, it is more like coffee bliss.

For all the yearning I have for Europe, this is one thing that soothes the pain of being at home. Those cold rainy days when I dream of sitting at a cafe in Paris, I can appease myself by sipping on my delectable coffee right in my living room.

I also enjoy serving my fancy coffee and espresso to my dinner guests as well as my overnight guests. With nice presentation the coffee creates a feeling of warmth and indulgence. I delight in watching my guests take their first sip always with a look of disbelief. Particularly guests who have been to Europe are surprised with how similar the taste mimics their favorite cafe in their preferred European city.

Enjoying an intense cup of coffee, espresso or a latte at home is just another day in my European Style Life.

Some of my favorite coffee flavors are:

Chestnut Cream (seasonal)

The unique aromas of chestnut cream coat the mellow flavour of the Livanto Grand Cru. A delicate marriage, infused with the flavours of autumn.

Apricot (seasonal)

The juiciness and sweetness of sun-ripened apricots, give a fresh and silky flavour to the Livanto Grand Cru. A sensory marriage that brings a sunny touch to the heart of winter.

Arpeggio

Arpeggio receives its distinctive character and full body from a blend of Central and South American Arabicas. The long roasting develops each origin to produce an intense bouquet, combining roasted, woody, and cocoa notes.

Roma

A subtle balance between strength, depth and finesse, Roma is distinguished by its woody and roasted notes. Central and South American Arabicas combined with Robusta are lightly roasted to preserve the delicate aroma of the blend. Roma is the ideal coffee for those looking for an espresso that is short, but mild.

Cosi

A blend of East African, Central and South American Arabicas, lightly roasted to preserve the fragile citrus note, creates the personality of Cosi. Its light body helps reveal a refreshing lemony note.

Decaffeinato Intenso

Decaffeinato Intenso is a strong espresso with a dense body and subtle notes of cocoa and toasted cereals. The marriage of South American Arabicas with a touch of Robusta undergoes a short, intense roast, which intensifies the flavours, and highlights the strength of the blend.

Vivalto Lungo

A complex yet balanced marriage between South American Arabicas cultivated at high altitude, such as “Cerrado” from Brazil, and an East African Arabica. Vivalto Lungo combines roasted and subtle floral notes. Split roasting of the beans enhances the character of each origin.

Finezzo Lungo

This light and thirst-quenching Lungo expresses a floral bouquet of jasmine, orange blossom and bergamot. A lightly roasted blend of floral East African Arabicas and aromatic Arabicas from South and Central America, Finezzo Lungo is lifted by a touch of acidity.

McDonald's Ice Coffee - Sugar Free and 0 Calories

With gas prices continuously going up many of us are revaluating our everyday purchases. I wonder, do I really need that $4.00 Ice Coffee? Is it worth driving out of my way to get one? The simple answer is “yes”! Here is an economical way to get your java fix. After sampling two “fast food” options for Ice Coffee, here is what I found.

I decided to try the Ice Coffee at McDonalds after receiving a coupon in the mail for a free Ice Coffee. While I normally stay away from fast food restaurants, who can resist the opportunity to try a new product for free? So off I went to the nearest McDonalds on my way to work. I had four choices and two different sizes to choose from. Flavors are regular, hazelnut, vanilla, and sugar free vanilla. Sizes are medium (16oz) and large (20oz). I selected the medium sugar free vanilla Ice Coffee. McDonald's medium Ice Coffee goes for $1.89. Not a bad bargain.

Now comes the most important part, the taste test. Straw in and first taste...Yum! Delightful. Love at first sip. And since I chose the sugar free vanilla, my Ice Coffee has zero calories. Another win! Voila, finally an affordable cup of coffee with great taste.

I later decided to try the rival’s Ice Coffee at Jack-in-the-Box. They sell their small coffee for $1.79 (12oz) and $1.99 (16oz). I figured that if McDonalds could get it right then there is no reason why Jack-in-the-Box couldn’t get it right either. So again I tried another fast food Ice Coffee as I passed over the local Starbucks.

I received my Ice Coffee and took my first sip. Wow, this was far from good. I asked the employee for 5 creams and 1 equal. I arrived at work and attempted to “fix” my coffee. First, I added in the cream and then ½ a packet of Equal. Yikes! Still terrible. Determined not to waste my money I tried adding flavored creamer. No improvement. The Ice Coffee was still bitter. I reached the conclusion that my $1.79 was not worth the trouble and dumped it out. Another lesson learned.

All in all, I recommend the Ice Coffee from McDonalds. It is a lot of bang for your buck. Also, I enjoyed the drink so much that I decided to bring in a few extra for my co-workers, priced at $1.89, I can afford to do that. They too love the Ice Coffee. Enjoying “Ice Coffee” on a hot summer day is maybe one of the least common things that I could do in a European Style Life. But who am I fooling? I am American and I love ice!