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Kcal ??? Fat ??? Fat(sats) ??? Carbs ???After a somewhat lengthy absence Zotter is now back on the ChocolateMission radar. My latest reviews will come in a timely manner for you all to hear the latest bunch of flavours being generated at Mr Zotter's Austrian madhouse in time for Christmas. The latest bunch of bars he has sent along aren't festive themed in the slightest, though I can imagine they would make great gifts given the bizarre flavour combinations that the brand continually comes up with. With that said, the Zotter Strong Coffee chocolate I tried today is probably one of the more sensible sounding offerings I have reviewed from them in a long time. Described as 'Noble bitter chocolate filled with strong coffee cream' it certainly had me licking my lips in anticipation.
Like the majority of Zotter's Handscooped bars this came in a 70.0g form that I consumed across a few different after dinner coffee sessions. Last time I checked the wrappers were supposed to communicate some sort of humour - unless I'm totally missing something this was more just an artsy looking deal. It has been mentioned in previous Zotter reviews that the bars often look a bit similar and unexciting. This darkly coloured truffle filled chocolate didn't exactly provide any counter evidence against this, however the rich coffee scents provided a more than appetising insight to taste which was nice distraction.
If you look back in the archives at my previous reviews of coffee flavoured chocolates you will see that the sentence 'this could have been better if the coffee element was stronger' is a line that is very commonly featured. What with Zotter promising me Strong Coffee in the name of the product I was never going to settle for anything less - another weakly flavoured bar would not only have been disappointing, but it would also have been a total lie. Thankfully the rather meagre sounding 2% coffee powder stood up to the test and managed to establish itself on the taste quite prominently despite the strength of the 70% cocoa dark chocolate. The flavour path of this bar went through three main stages, with the bar establishing a fruity, cocoa led taste from the outset. Upon uncovering the soft feeling truffle below, the bar then progressed flavour wise with a rich set of fresh roasted coffee taking over. As the last of the chocolate melted away the initial fruityness returned and left a minor note of sweet whiskey in the mouth. Despite the sweetness being greater than I expected, I still felt like this was a very rich tasting chocolate and I was more than happy just consuming the bar in small portions each sitting.
Overall this Zotter Strong Coffee bar wasn't my favourite coffee flavoured chocolate I have ever tried before, but it was decent attempt at the combination and like most Zotter chocolates it certainly deviated from what I expected. The raisin like fruit flavours established were a surprise addition to the taste, so the level of sweetness was considerably higher than I thought they were going to be. In hindsight I can see the sense in producing the bar like this as I'm pretty sure that the average person may have found the experience excessively bitter without it. Reflecting back on this bar, although it has still deservedly scored very well on the rating system, I'm unsure as to whether I would buy it again given that I'm aware of better alternatives out there. At least I didn't have to write yet another review complaining about the underpowered coffee taste.
8.3 out of 10
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35 comments:
Even though I wouldn't buy any cofee falvoured chocolates myself, I was interested to see what you had to say about this bar after reading the title of today review. Even though you think there are better ones out there, Zotter at least keep their promise about the strong coffee flavour. ;-)
I haven't tried a lot from their range (and not always being too impressed when I have), but the other day I had the Mitzi Blue Fruchthase which has a wonderful strawberry flavour which tastes rather natural and not so horribly artificial as strawberry flavoured stuff often does.
This one isn't my sort of thing at all but I'm glad to see that you have some more Zotter chocs to review soon. I'm expecting some crazier flavours than this one was, lol I hope you don't disappoint.
When I saw the headline of the post I thought this was going to be a nailed on nine out of ten. I know you like zotter and I know you like coffee so I thought there was only ever going to be one result.
Did you feel let down or did you just not think it was the best coffee chocolate you have had?
A few weeks ago I was looking at zotters website and they have changed it from the the crappy one they used to have.
They now give you a well good place you can buy their chocolates called chocolate cafe. According to zotters website they have 96 different flavours
http://www.chocolate-cafe.co.uk/
Rxxx
Thanks for the review Jim. You are right about the chocolates looking similar all the time, I think they should sort that out so their bars look more unique and stuff.
As someone who has never seen one in person they all look exactly the same in your photos. Sometimes I think you just reuse your old ones lol.
Whatever happened to the ketchup and peanuts review that you promised us? I swear you said ages ago that you would be posting it soon.
I took a look at their flavours again the other day, they sure have some mental ones don't they.
Jim giving a chocolate with coffee in it a good rating? Well I never thought I would see this ;) lol I'm only joking Jim, we all have our favourite things.
This isn't a chocolate that interests me much but if I gave it too my dad who loves coffee I'm sure he would love it. It sounds all a bit too bitter to me.
Zotter are weird. They made this one bar once called chicken curry. I don't think they do it any longer.... I wonder why lol.
I don't wish to be rude but this sort of flavour is just as bad for me as any marmite chocolate would be lol. Theres just something about coffee that I honestly can't stand. I don't get why people love it so much, it tastes like dishwater and makes your breath smell. It's horrid stuff.
I must try some of this Zotter chocolate soon you always give it such high marks.
Do you know if they sell any of their chocolates in any stores? I never like buying choc off the internet. I always assume its going to turn up damaged and battered.
This looks nice Jim. Its not a flavour of chocolate I would like but I knew you were going to think it was good as soon as I saw it.
Our predictions weren't too clever were they lol. I did watch the Man U vs City match last night and I thought it was the worst game I have seen all season. It was soooooooo boring it was unreal. I want that 90 minutes of my life back now.
Typically how much do zotter chocolates cost? I have never seen them on sale anywhere so I wouldn't have a clue how much something like this would cost.
If I was to have a guess I would take a stab at 1.50 to 2 pounds? I think thats fair for something this size.
Thankfully the rather meagre sounding 2% coffee powder stood up to the test and managed to establish itself on the taste quite prominently despite the strength of the 70% cocoa dark chocolate. The flavour path of this bar went through three main stages, with the bar establishing a fruity, cocoa led taste from the outset. Upon uncovering the soft feeling truffle below, the bar then progressed flavour wise with a rich set of fresh roasted coffee taking over. As the last of the chocolate melted away the initial fruityness returned and left a minor note of sweet whiskey in the mouth.
This sounds very different to what I expected. Do you think this MR Zotter fella you speak of likes his grog :-)
It's not a flavour that interests me but each to their own and all that.
This sounds delicious. On your advice I tried searching for the Lindt coffee intense the other day but I couldn't find it anywhere.
I have tried a few different places now but it seems to have vanished :( Has anyone bought it recently? I would just try this but the lindt one got a higher rating off jim.
Coffee and chocolate is always a good thing in my mind. Thanks for the review Jim if I ever see it I will buy one.
I think its good to see that zotter don't always try and make stupid flavours and do try to make more sensible ones. Not everyone is ever going to buy a fish guts and peanuts flavour lol. It makes sense for them to make some plainer flavoured things like this.
If you are thinking of reviewing some of their odder varieties can I ask you try their pistachio bar. I'm getting a bit obsessed with pistachios at the mo and I want to find a really nice chocolate bar with them in. If anyone has other suggestions I'm very open to them.
I always think it's amazing that they can make something taste so strongly of coffee with only like two percent coffee in the ingredients. It does make you scratch your head how they can call something 'strong coffee' when it makes up such a small fraction of the product.
I don't like the idea of it having whiskey in it. As someone who doesn't drink do they bother listing on the wrapper that it contain alcohol?
From what I can see it doesn't pass mention to it on the front. If I was to buy it in the shop and not see the fact it has alcohol in it until I left the shop with it and looked at the back in closer detail (or worse tasting it) it would be very annoyed. Am I wrong?
Ewwwwwww you know coffee and chocolate isn't something I like.
This is random but does Zotter make white chocolate? I dont think I have ever seen you review a white choc made by them.
Dx
This looks very yummy I wish I had some to go with my coffee right now.
Does it give you a caffeine boost? I have been thinking recently how cool it would be to find a chocolate that has caffeine in it. It would be so cool if there was a chocolate that gave you instant energy as well as great taste.
I would normally say anything with booze in sounds great but I think this is my exception. For starters Im not a coffee drinker and secondly I hate whiskey. Lol add in that I dont like dark chocolate and I think its best that I steer clear of this one lol.
This would have annoyed me if I had bought it myself. I hate things not tasting like I think they are going to. They should have provided a more accurate description if it was the whiskey that was the strongest taste. Jim have you got a facebook page?
YAWWWWWWN it was only a matter of time before you were back on the coffee chocolates I knew it.
Lol we can allow you one a month I guess.
The coffee didn't have me interested but if it's Irish coffee then that is something different altogether :)
I've only just noticed that Zotter is Austrian and not German. Is zotter the most famous brand in Austria or is just made there?
I wonder what the austrian people think that some of these flavours are as crazy as we all do. Surely they can't think that bacon with chocoalte is normal.
@ John - in Edinburgh a shop selling Fair trade products (food, clothes etc.) stocks Zotter. Maybe if you have such a shop in your area try that.
@Rachel
Thanks for posting that chocolate cafe link they stock loads of the flavours. Great find.
@Andrew
It looks like all the zotter chocolates are priced the same for £3. I would say that is well expensive but if you can pick and choose the right ones it could be acceptable.
Just coffee? I would have expected something a bit more out there from these guys? Maybe coffee with snake eyes? or coffee with beetroot =] I dont remember the last time I saw something made by zotter and didn't think they were on acid when they dreamt it up lol.
Knowing how much you like coffee I thought this would get a good rating :)
It sounds delicious to me, even though I'm not usually a big fan of coffee chocolates. I'd love to check Zotter out if I ever see them in the shops.
Off-topic but I presume you'll be having plenty of christmas Hotel Chocolat reviews? I'm curious as to what that one on the side banner is, the white chocolate with the red coloured centre.
Btw I got my tasting box last week and some were great, some not so much. The caramel cheesecake and the various nut flavoured ones were delicious.
We're really pleased to see that so many people are enjoying our chocolate. We realise that many of you are having difficulty finding a local stockist but we are doing our best to convince more retailers to sell our chocolate. We will be at the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC, in Birmingham, 24th-28th November(Stand number D50). We would love to see you all there.
Hiya Jim.
this wouldn't be the kind of chocolate bar I would ever buy for myself but I always like to see anything from zotter so it was fun seeing. In your opinion what is the craziest most unique bar that those guys make? I want to buy my sis someting uber cool for her birthday. Lol I dont mind how disgusting it sounds, its just a joke present.
Thanks
Em
What's going on? First a Japanese KitKat that's relatively normal and now a Zotter bar which is fairly normal flavoured too, it's unheard of! :D Thanks for another fab review. This is something I'd maybe try as I'm starting to get accustomed to coffee chocolate. However, it's not on the top of my list. The bar looks great but the packaging does nothing for me. I'd probably by-pass it on a shelf.
This sounds delicious but I would have to share with my husband. He has a nack for sniffing out anything related to chocolate and coffee. The annoying thing is that he says he doesn't like chocolate, that never seems to stop him nicking mine.
Hi Everyone.
Zotter is indeed back on the ChocolateMission radar. I thought I would start off with the most sensible thing that he sent along this time :D
It's great seeing that Keith from Zotter himself has taken the time to read the review and your comments :D It's always great when a manufacture does that.
Anne - Re: Mitzi Blue Fruchthase
That sounds really nice. Most manufactures have a hard time making strawberry flavoured things not taste fake and artifical. I will make sure it's on my Zotter wishlist.
David - Re: Crazier Flavours
Believe me he sent some very obscure products for me to try. They will be up in the coming weeks.
Nick - RE: Did you feel let down or did you just not think it was the best coffee chocolate you have had?
Like I said in the review it was more a case of the latter. It wasn't disappointing in any sense.
Rachel - Re: Chocolate Cafe
Well spotted that is a really good find. If anyone is interested in buying some Zotter bars that looks like a decent place to be looking. Nice one Rachel.
Kim - Re: 'they all look exactly the same in your photos. Sometimes I think you just reuse your old ones lol.'
I probably could do but I honestly don't :D Its not a big issue for me but it would be nice to see them change it up a bit.
Golden - Re: 'Whatever happened to the ketchup and peanuts review that you promised us?'
It never got delivered to me I'm afraid chap. Let me see if I can get them to try send another.
Henry / Rachel / Anon / Lucy / Colin - Re: Coffee in general
I wasn't all that fond of coffee myself until recently. As you can tell by reviews I have developed quite a taste for the stuff in recent times :D Its all down to personal taste at the end of the day. We all enjoy different stuff.
John - Re:'Do you know if they sell any of their chocolates in any stores? I never like buying choc off the internet. I always assume its going to turn up damaged and battered.'
There have been some sensible suggestions today you might want to look at. I very very rarely have issues with recieving chocolate through the post. Generally everything turns up fine.
Nigel - Re: Predictions
Haha neither of us did well on the predictions last night. The Manchester Derby was about as entertaining as watching paint dry. It was awfully dull wasn't it.
Andrew - Re:'Typically how much do zotter chocolates cost?'
They look like they retail for about £3.00 each.
Katie - Re: Do you think this MR Zotter fella you speak of likes his grog :-)
I don't like to speculate but a lot of his bars have alcohol in haha :D That isn't a bad thing.
Mark - Re: I tried searching for the Lindt coffee intense the other day but I couldn't find it anywhere
Shockingly they have delisted it from the UK by the looks of things. They certainly aren't stocking it in any of the major multiples anymore. They have replaced it with the touch of salt bar.
Ryan - Re: can I ask you try their pistachio bar
If they send it then yes I can :D
Brian - Re: I don't like the idea of it having whiskey in it. As someone who doesn't drink do they bother listing on the wrapper that it contain alcohol?
I get your point, it would be an annoying revelation to make if you didn't realise it had alcohol in it until you bought it. They could perhaps make it more explicit on the front of the wrapper.
Daisy - Re: Zotter white chocolate
I'm pretty sure they do. They are more reknowned for their milk and dark chocolate bars though if you look at their range.
Paul - Re:'Does it give you a caffeine boost?'
I can't report it does to be honest. You probably wouldn't get that with just 2.0% coffee in there :D
Frank - Re: Jim have you got a facebook page?
Yep take a look on the right hand sidebar.
Kevin - Re: 'Is zotter the most famous brand in Austria or is just made there?'
I wouldn't of thought it is their most famous brand, but yeah I think they must be pretty popular. You would have to ask an Austrian native I guess :D
James - Re:'Just coffee? I would have expected something a bit more out there from these guys? Maybe coffee with snake eyes? or coffee with beetroot =]'
Both of those sound horrible but I wouldn't put it past Zotter making them :D Some of the flavour combinations are as crazy as they come.
Phil - Re: Your Comment
Honestly Phil I say this about a load of brands but I think you would love trying Zotter. Their bars are a real experience and the quality of the chocolate is superb.
In regards to that chocolate, its not one I have come across yet. Let me take a look at the selection boxs I have been sent tonight. I will get back to you on that.
Caramel cheesecake does sound a little bit too good. I'm not surprised to hear it tasted great.
Keith - Re: Your Comment
Hey Keith thanks for getting in touch and reading my review. Indeed a lot of people on this website are very curious about your range - I hope you start broadening your distribution so you can cater for more of them.
I unfortunately wont be making that event, but I'm sure it would be a cracking show for anyone that is thinking of going.
Emma - Re:'In your opinion what is the craziest most unique bar that those guys make?'
If you look on the Chocolate Cafe website you can judge for yourself :D I personally think that any of the bacon ones will likely be a nice present. All the ones I have tried have tasted very nice as well which is always a bonus.
Thanks for the comments today everyone. Tomorrow I have fast tracked a review up the the queue after I got several requests off people to review it this week. Be sure to log on to see what it is :D
JIM
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