Sunday, October 2, 2011

Breakfast with Godiva Pumpkin Spice Coffee


In New England we are spoiled with pumpkin flavored everything in the fall, including coffee. Not every provider does it well, and the pumpkin/spice flavors vary in how they come across from subtle and similar to pumpkin pie, to over the top and exceedingly artificial tasting. 

It was then with much excitement that I received the Godiva coffee sampler as part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program, and that it included a package of Pumpkin Spice coffee! One I’ve never tried.

I kept it simple and paired it with orange and nutmeg spiced pancakes and maple bacon, trying to pull in all the Autumn flavors from New England, I guess.

The coffee smells fantastic when brewing, a common thread with all of this style that I’ve tried. The pumpkin and spice flavors are well pronounced, somewhere in the middle of the spectrum in my experience. We like our coffee strong but are careful with flavored coffees not to tip the ratio of coffee to water too high and concentrate the flavors beyond drinkability. We could have amped our first batch up just a little bit, because the coffee itself was on the thin side for us, but well flavored.


With the pancakes and bacon the coffee definitely asserted the pumpkin flavor, melding nicely with the orange liqueur and nutmeg flavors on the pancakes. The maple bacon and maple syrup added in that earthy aroma and rooty flavor everyone loves sp much from maple. The recipe for the pancakes can be found below. It is a simple Bisquick based recipe, something easy for a lazy Sunday morning!


Our experience was positive, but I’ll say it this way. We’ve had Godiva chocolate products many times and they are what I associate with the company and brand. The nip-sized bottles of chocolate liqueurs to make cocktails in and snap have been particularly handy. Dried chocolate powders for baking and to make cocoa, check. Candies to feed a craving, been there too. They’ve parlayed chocolate into coffee, flavors we’ve not had yet, but I would imagine it works quite well.  There was nothing wrong with this coffee, but I firmly believe it is a departure from their core product line and has a niche to fill seasonally, something that may work well enough to keep at it. I’d still reach for a chocolate flavored offering from Godiva first.

Cheers!

Jason



Orange/Nutmeg Pancakes

1 cup Bisquick Lite
2/3 skim milk
¼ cup egg substitute
1 tbsp Triple-Sec
1/4 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp fresh grated nutmeg

Mix all ingredients well  and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Fry on a griddle covered with non-stick spray until golden brown on each side.

Disclosure of Material Connection: As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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