Coffee Quest #34: 7-Eleven Convenience Store Coffees
No, I'm not engaging in self-destructive behaviours because my familial relationships are on fire. 😎 Why would you say that?
- UCC Aroma Brew Black: UCC was the canned coffee I drank most when I was living in Japan for a bit. The aroma brew black was thin. Very little flavour, but also completely inoffensive. Safe choice.
- UCC Aroma Brew Latte: Sweet. Slight condensed milk notes on the initial hit, and actually rounds out. Not a lot of coffee flavour, but it's convenience store coffee so to be expected. In the heat, this one is very refreshing. Thirty minutes later, I had a stomach ache. This isn't surprising. I'm going to guess it's the processed milk powder being used instead of actual milk - not the first time I've reacted to the stuff.
- Chun Cui He Mandheling: Chun Cui He means "purely drink" or "be pure. just drink (imperative)". Now it does say it's a darker roast, but it doesn't taste like it. And of course it's Mandheling, one of the most popular coffee choices in Taiwan. Indonesia Mandheling is often a bit more earthy and full, but instead, this is just excessively sweet. Doesn't taste like Mandheling, but rather some...fragrance and additive riddled drink that pretends to be what people think coffee is.
- Chun Cui He Sumiyaki: Sumiyaki means charcoal roasted, instead of regular hot air coffee bean roast. The process is meant to give a full-bodied flavour with slight smoky notes. I am not a smoke afficionado; I do not care much for smoked meats. Anyway, everything I'm saying is meaningless, because god. No, there's no smoky notes, there's just--checks ingredients--SUGAR IS THE THIRD INGREDIENT AFTER WATER AND MILK? THEN BUTTER? THEN...COFFEE POWDER. Oh god. What did I buy. Ugh. The aftertaste is...okay. But the smell is way too fake. I did like the Sumiyaki over the Mandheling but this doesn't mean anything. Both are bad.
Avoid the Chun Cui Hes unless you really enjoy sugary drinks. Stick with the UCCs instead.