What prompted this was James Hoffman’s latest video, on coffee-flavoured ice-cream …. sort-of.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHPn77jpt2w

But it made me think about things coffee-flavoured. There’s an exception or two but generally, I don’t like things with coffee flavour. Not coffee cake, not coffee ice-cream, and so on. Exceptions? Well, Tiramisu if, and this is a very big “if” indeed, it’s a good one. Which, to date, I’ve yet to find in a UK shop/supermarket, and rarely, in restaurants. In restaurants in Italy, sure. but here? Not so much. no.

But generally, coffee flavoured whatever is a personal no-go area. Yet I (obviously) love coffee, or why join a coffee forum?

You’ll have to watch that JH video to see quite what made me think, but the question going through my mind is …. does using coffee as an ingredient change the taste of the coffee and, maybe, is that why I love coffee but generally, not coffee-flavoured things?

So do you, coffee-lovers all, like coffee cake, coffee ice-cream, etc and, if you (like me) generally don’t, have you found any really good exceptions to that rule like my fondness for really good Tiramisu?

    CoffeePhilE I’m definitely a coffee-flavour-holic. Ice-cream, chocolate, cake, desserts - bring it on! They do have to be good, though.

    I trust Hoffman, but I think he is kind of missing the point: yes, coffee ice-cream typically is a ‘cappuccino’ ice cream because it contains dairy. However, that’s what ice-cream is also supposed to taste of… cream. And an “ice-cream” made with thickeners and a little cocoa butter is not an ice cream. It’s a coffee sherbet with a bit of fat.

    BTW, on tiramisu - I found the one by Bontá Divina to be the best of the ready made lot; I think it’s available in Sainsbury’s and Tesco. I still prefer what I make myself, but I don’t always have time (it’s quick to make, but then it has to sit in the fridge for a day).

        CoffeePhilE JH’s video is a sheer coincidence as far as we are concerned.

        My MIL is here during the last few months, as we wanted to give her a change of place after she had recently lost her husband of 62 years. She is a vegetarian and won’t even eat egg (including pastries, cakes, etc). We are also vegetarians but egg is ok.

        These days, everything is vegan if egg comes into play. We took her to my daughter’s home in London on last Sunday. She surprised us all with vegan coffee ice cream. It was delicious.

        The short answer is we like coffee in ice cream, smoothies, chocolates, and so on. Gin and Tonic on Espresso is on the agenda. Unfortunately, it has to wait until mid October, thanks to my MIL. 🤣

          CoyoteOldMan BTW, on tiramisu - I found the one by Bontá Divina to be the best of the ready made lot; I think it’s available in Sainsbury’s and Tesco. I still prefer what I make myself, but I don’t always have time (it’s quick to make, but then it has to sit in the fridge for a day).

          Thanks for that. Not sure if I’ve tried that one. I’ll check it out next time I go shopping. Oh, and 100% on the making it yourself point, and on not always having the time, energy or inclination. It’s true of most things, too. Like bread. I very rarely eat mass-market bread these days. It’ll either be artisan (at a price) or preferably, home brew where I both know what went in it, and can choose ingredient quality. If I have the time, etc.

            I’m with the OP. Generally no to coffee flavoured stuff, apart from a well made tiramisu.

            Irish coffee cake, prunes poached in coffee and brandy with ½ / ½ cream yoghurt streaked with muscavado,

            coffee sponge and tiramisu.

            Love coffee and walnut cake - when it’s made with espresso…

            My brother loves coffee and walnut cake. Personally, not fond of the coffee cake and walnuts are probably my least favourite nut. He’s pretty much the only one of the family that does like coffee/walnut cake. Weird. Unless the postman …. nope, not going there.

            5 months later

            Tiramasu is really easy to make, for those lovers of it! The most difficult part is making good espresso, which you lot are experts at. It’s a cheap and easy dessert to make.

            I use this recipe and my friends and dates rave about it: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/235867/sopranos-style-tiramisu/

            Only modifications are I use a little extra Amaretto and it definitely needs 2-3 shots of espresso to properly do the Savoiardi fingers. Generally better to use cocoa powder as opposed to grated chocolate too.

            I like coffee flavoured desserts, including icecream, as long as they taste like good coffee somewhat.

              capuchin One time-saving tip with that recipe: if you have a good electric mixer, you don’t need to whip the cream in a separate bowl; it will go fluffy even if added to the mascarpone/liqueur/sugar mix. Just start slow when adding it, or you will end up redecorating your kitchen “Sopranos style”.

                capuchin

                This is well timed, I just bought the ingredients to make tiramisu. I’ll just have a moan about volumetric and imperial measurements!!

                  @CoyoteOldMan The reason I prefer to do them separately is that the cream should ideally be beaten by hand, so it forms little hillocks and doesn’t actually get whipped up! I found that adding it all in at once whipped it up too much for my liking. As you say though, it should work unless you go fast lol