The Search for Cappuccino

Coffee has been around for centuries. But was not the coffee we know today. It has developed over the years. Long ago the beans were chewed and eaten, then taken as wine, then roasted and brewed. Coffee now has become an evolution of what it was before. Coffee making and drinking has become an art, a profession and is continually changing. There are so many types of coffee. One of the most famous is a cappuccino.

What is a cappuccino? A cappuccino is an espresso shot mixed with steamed milk and topped with foam. It is a simple drink yet it is loved by so many. I chose to do a review on this drink because my step mother loves cappuccino. She loves it so much that she is very particular about the quality of the drink, especially the foam and the espresso shot. So because of this I set out to find a good cup of cappuccino.

To begin my search I started in Figaro. I ordered a small cappuccino. It was eight ounces for 85 pesos. When the drink arrived I was amazed at the presentation of the coffee, it was beautifully presented. The foam was well made and had a brown area and a white area that they blended nicely with swirls. To top of the foam they added a garnish of chocolate syrup in a flowery design. The coffee had a milky and slightly sweet aroma. The first thing I tasted was the foam which had a light chocolate flavor due to the garnish. The coffee itself was very creamy and rich, which was quite heavy for me. Aside from this the coffee itself was not strong and could hardly be tasted, this was because they used whole cream fresh milk and did not make a lot of foam. When I finished my drink I felt full.

The next coffee shop I went to was Seattle’s Best Coffee. Their small cappuccino was eight ounces as well but 90 pesos. The presentation was not as creative as Figaro’s but it was also made well. It was very simple but it had a homey look to it. The aroma was milky but with more hints of coffee, you could really smell the roasty aroma. The foam had a very milky flavor which was richer than Figaro’s. it also had more foam. The drink itself was very flavorful. The coffee could really be tasted and not overpowered by the milk. It was not as creamy as Figaro’s which gave it a stronger coffee flavor. Low fat milk was used instead of whole fresh milk. The drink was not heavy and did not fill me up. I enjoyed the coffee.

The last coffee shop I went to was Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Their small size cappuccino was only six ounces and was 110 pesos. Big difference compared to the previous two! They presented the drink well in a unique way. There was no garnish but the foam was very thick and there was a lot of it! There was more foam than the liquid milk and espresso. There was a mild coffee flavor in the foam that was soothing. When I drank the drink itself I noticed that the flavors were very present. The coffee flavor was not hindered at all, there was little milk but the foam kept it creamy. I could really taste the roast of the coffee, even after I was done.

Of the three coffee shops I enjoyed coffee bean the most! You really get value for you money’s worth because although it is more expensive and actually smaller in ounces the flavor is just so much richer. It has a more powerful flavor than the other two shops. I am a coffee drinker and I base my coffee on the strength and flavor of the espresso. And coffee bean gave me the cappuccino I was looking for.