The holidays are here (Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away!) and for anyone who already owns a Nespresso machine, this means only one thing when it comes to coffee: a new seasonal variation to enjoy!
Earlier this year Nespresso Club Members were asked to vote between three flavors: the fruity & chocolaty Cioccorosso, minty fresh Liminto and a spicy Masala Chai. Recently it was announced that the winner was Masala Chai by a landslide and earlier this week the variation became available at Nespresso flagship stores in New York, Miami, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The brand’s boutique-in-shop locations will also be carrying the limited edition coffee, along of course with the club itself.
Masala Chai is a fun seasonal variation that seems to fit perfectly with the holidays. The flavor profile features a warm spicy flavor thanks to clove, star aniseed and cinnamon notes. Personally I can see those flavors playing perfectly off of a piece of perfectly spiced pumpkin pie.Whipped cream anyone?
Nespresso offers 12 levels of intensity across its spectrum of Grand Crus and the 2013 Holiday Variation will most likely appeal to the majority of coffee drinkers, sitting comfortably at an intensity level of six.
Should you be curious how the other variations did in voting throughout the world, you can actually check out just how many votes were cast for each one on the Nespresso site. It is actually quite interesting to see where each Grand Cru was most popular: Mexico loved Liminto, Italy loved Cioccorosso, South Africa loved Masala Chai and the list goes on.
While I would personally tell you that the new Masala Chai is perhaps best enjoyed with a little frothed milk and sprinkle of your favorite sweetener (okay, that is the way I prefer it), as with all of the Nespresso Grand Cru coffees, a few added ingredients and a little imagination can go a long way in creating a little masterpiece in a cup. But I won’t make you work too hard. Here’s a recipe to try as soon as you brew your first one:
Ginger Espresso Macchiato
Preparation Time: 7 minutes
Tools needed: Aeroccino or steam nozzle; 1 Espresso Cup
Ingredients:
- 1 capsule of Masala Chai Grand Cru
- 1 teaspoon of sweet condensed milk
- 1.7 fluid ounces of milk
- 1 teaspoon of ginger powder
Put the condensed milk at the bottom of the cup. Pour a Masala Chai espresso.
Make milk froth by pouring the milk and the ginger powder in the Aeroccino.
Pour milk froth on top of the coffee.
Serve hot.
Don't have a Nespresso machine yet? Well stay tuned because we are about to give another one away, along with a sleeve Masala Chai!
