Coffee and chocolate. Two of our favourite words.
Coffee … any size you like it
When it comes to coffee, one size definitely doesn’t fit all. Which is why the arrival of the brand new Vertuo Next range of coffee brewing systems from Nespresso is so exciting. With the touch of a button, you can choose a long coffee in the morning, a cappuccino with lunch, an espresso after dinner. The five size options range from the generous carafe pour-over style (525ml) and mug (230ml), to the gran lungo (150ml), double espresso (80ml) and Espresso (40ml). What’s more, there are also 30 – yes T H I R T Y – exceptional coffee blends, too … with different size capsules for great versatility. Clever Centrifusion technology automatically recognises the coffee variety being brewed and adjusts extraction parameters to create a quality dark full-bodied coffee, finished with a silky and generous crema. There are three systems in the range – Nespresso Vertuo Next, Vertuo Next Premium and Vertuo Next Deluxe, and some stylish and practical accessories … we do fancy the glass cups. Ticking the sustainability boxes, all coffee capsules are made from aluminium (an infinitely recyclable material), Nespresso has invested in its recycling programmes and is committed to making it as simple and convenient as possible for consumers to recycle their used capsules, and these new machines come with a fully recyclable pack made from 99.5 per cent recycled material. You’ll find the new Nespresso Vertuo system (from R3499), coffees and accessories from Friday October 1 at Nespresso boutiques, or online at za.buynespresso.com.
How do we plan on drinking our coffee this October? We’re loving the sound of this Nespresso Cuppa-Ginger. You’ll need to froth up 125ml oat milk in your frother. Pour 5ml Monin Ginger Bread Syrup into your mug, then add your frothed milk. Brew a Nespresso Double Espresso Scuro Vertuo capsule in the Vertuo stystem, and to top off the deliciousness, a sprinkle of crushed gingerbread cookie on the top.
Or what about a Nespresso Custard Pie and Lavender Latte? Pour 100ml milk into your frother, add 10ml Monin Lavender Syrup and froth it all up. Brew a Nespresso Vanilla Custard Pie Vertuo capsule in your Vertuo machine, add the frothed milk conconction, and style it up with some fresh lavender flowers. Pretty and delicious.
Eat chocolate. It’s good for you. (We knew that)
When we want comfort (and oh, boy, do we all need some comfort in our lives), we think chocolate. A naughty, calorie-rich indulgence? Or a treat with benefits? Actually, depending on the chocolate you choose, the latter is correct. The darker the chocolate, the more the benefits. With flavonoids and epicatechin (types of antioxidant found in chocolate), magnesium, and iron, chocolate can help stimulate blood flow, and lower your blood pressure, boost your brain function and help with concentration and alertness, get rid of free radicals which can cause age-related arthritis, aid digestion and, the cocoa polyphenols in chocolate aids in boosting the moods of those who eat it. Participants in a study were both calmer and happier after eating chocolate. Now. How about chocolate with all health benefits … and none of the guilt. If the added sugar in the chocolate bar is removed, the benefits remain the same. Hello Canderel’s 0% Simply Dark. No extra sugar equals no extra calories. If you must have the milk version (which apparently also has the same benefits, just to a lesser extent), there’s also a 0% Magic Bubble aerated chocolate and a 0% Fruit and Nut slab, as well as lovely little 30g bars – dark and minty, wafer, and gorgeous milk. We’ve tried them all … and it’s true. We’re calm, and much happier. Details: Canderel on Facebook and Instagram.
