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It's Monday so we all know what that means! Yes indeed the 'spotlight' is back on Hotel Chocolat - apologies I know it's too early in the week for cheesey puns :D Dipping in to the new 'Spotlight On' range again, today I'm posting my review of these Coffee Truffles. I'm starting to think Hotel Chocolat may have just designed this new line of boxed chocolates entirely around my own favourite flavour combinations, as they have managed to cover off my two favourite ones in what is only a line consisting of eight variants. The Salted Caramels I tried a few weeks ago were flawlessly executed - I was expecting similar things here.As I mentioned in the last 'Spotlight On' review the range is line priced at £13.00 a box. These truffles were formatted a little differently to the Salted Caramels as they came in a 165.0g box consisting of 14 truffles. Suffice to say, between myself and my Old Man this was more than enough for us to spread our taste testing over a week - generally consuming them alongside our post meal coffees. In fear of me boring you all with my repetition, I needn't say anything more about the packaging and presentation other than it was again heralded as mega classy by one and all.
These truffles came described as 'Cappuccino balanced with the flavours of deep tasting, super smooth, milk chocolate truffle'. On the face of things they looked a lot like some of the chocolates from previous Hotel Chocolat selections. In terms of aromas these truffles emanated strong roasted coffee scents as soon as they outer cellophane wrapper was removed - boy did they smell sensational. Each piece was suitably edible in two bites - best served from the fridge. The outer chocolate was a bit of a halfway house between dark and milk - I would hazard a guess at a 50.0% cocoa recipe!? Whatever, it created a delightful cracking sound when bitten in to and then proceeded to melt like a dream when left on the tongue before transitioning to the even softer filling which lay inside. Flavour wise the coffee element was evident from the outset, with a strong roasted bean influence beautifully combining with the rich, fresh tasting cocoa flavours immediately. The inner filling did little to progress the taste aside from adding supplementary cream tones, though it's sensational mouth feel creation was not to be denied - glorious.
Overall I was expecting great things from Hotel Chocolat again and I thankfully wasn't denied. These truffles were both delicious and satisfying - you can't really ask for anything more than that. The chocolate was unsurprisingly of an outstanding quality, whilst the coffee element was integrated seamlessly to create flowing smooth truffle experience. For my taste the coffee influence was just about the perfect strength - a little richer than your average cappuccino/latte experience but not overly so like an excessive espresso shot which undoubtedly would have masked the contribution of the chocolate. With this americano like coffee strength, this ultimately made for some of the best tasting coffee chocolates I've tried. I can't recommend them enough to fans of this particular flavour genre. Another gold star for the book of Hotel Chocolat.
9.2 out of 10
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55 comments:
That photo is just sexual. I'm loving it.
If you ever get bored of reviewing all these marvelous chocolates I hope you know you can hand the reigns over to me ;)
Knowing your tastes Hotel Chocolat + Coffee was never going to fail was it :) lol It wouldn't be the same for me.
That spotlight on line looks the business. Im not down with these coffee flavoured ones but some of the others look like they could be wicked. The midnight mints have been drooling lol.
I wish I had the money to be buying half these Hotel Chocolat treats you keep cropping up with. The ratings from them for the past month have been outstanding, I've got my fingers crossed they do some end of season type sale that they do for Christmas etc. Can you ask your contacts if they are doing one of them please.
I don't mind coffee flavoured chocolates but I prefer the ones that are white chocolate with the milder chocolate coffee centres. More often than not the companies call them silly names like cappuccino or latte truffles. The cappuccino chocolate in the Thorntons continental box is the sort of one I'm talking about.
A couple of these with a frophy cappuccino would be fab.
I bought THE!!! nicest chocolate ever this weekend and I got it from all places Tesco lol. They are now doing their famous caramel bar in a dark chocolate instead of the usual milk.
It's part of the excellence line-up btw. I know you like lindt dark chocolate and caramel so I can't see a reason why together they shouldn't.
If we get any idiots posting today saying Jim is positively influenced to writing good HC reviews I think I will take my shoe off and beat them with it :) I don't doubt for one minute that these reviews are his own, I've not ever tried something thats come recommended and been left disappointed.
9.2??? Really? ....... REALLY?
Need I remind you we are owed a Hotel Chocolate competition Jim? You said you would do one at Easter but we never got it. You didn't just keep the prizes for yourself did you ;)
JIm do you think you could have rated them even higher if they had proper 80% dark chocolate shells? You say the are only like the stronger milk chocolate on the outside at the moment. Sounds to me like they have the potential to be even better don't you think.
Hey J
I weren't too off with my prediction huh!? You better be hoping I called the 2-1 Man U result right for tonight lol. I couldn't believe how rubbish arsenal were against us lol. They were so bad, Wenger has a big job sorting those guys out and I'm not even sure he is capable of doing it. QPR beating Everton was a right turn up for the books though huh!? I did not predict that at all. I thought that was a home win written all over it.
Seeing todays review it's cool to see you are being able to enjoy your chocolates as much as you are lately. I would of thought you might be getting bored with it lol. 9.2/10 for these would suggest to me otherwise lol
Cheers
N
These were one of the chocolates they had us trying in the tasting club a few years ago.
I remember them being every bit as lush as you describe them. Defo one for coffee lovers and the like.
After you showed us those salted caramels last week I ordered a pack of eton mess. BEST.DECISION.EVER. They were so so soooooo worth it. I don't mind paying a little more for better quality chocolates now. If you had told me a year ago I would be paying £14 for chocolates I would have said take a running jump lmao.
These new chocolates look so smart. Do you think they are going to do one with pralines in? I hope they do, all they need is plain hazelnut praline, nothing fancy!
You are starting to hand out these astronomical scores pretty willy nilly Jim. Is it because these chocolates are genuinely worth it or are you acting with vested interests? Ive not ever had any hotel chocolates so Im not in a position to cross examine you ;)
Have you given up on the summer range now then J? There were still a few slabs and choccie things you never fully got around to doing. If you can sneak in a review of the banana slab before they take them all down that would be amazing love.
Dx
These are probs heaven for someone who likes their coffee chocolates but for me (and probably a good deal others) they aren't anything to get excited about.
What I do think is cool is the whole idea of the 'Spotlight on' stuff. Half the time you get an assortment of chocolates you end of up finding out you just want a few of them anyways. Picking out peoples faves and creating whole packs of them is a cool idea.
This is some incredibly high scoring from HC. You must have been sent the best of their best because I've not seen any brand ever score this high review after review. The only thing similar we've had is that period where Nestle made some crap american chocolates consistently badly and was getting consistent rubbish scores lol.
Congrats for picking out the least appealing Hotel Chocolat product ever for me ;)
Just the thought of coffee in dark chocolate sends shivers down my spine. I hate bitter foods so much and these would have to be the king of them.
What was the original inspiration for starting this site? I wish I had thought of it now :( Getting to try all the new hotel chocolat things before we do is just ridic.
This will go without saying for people but the Eton Mess chocs come with an A++++++ rating from me and my partner.
We scoffed a whole pack of them sat in front of a movie Saturday night. We felt guilty but it was so worth it.
Cool site you have here. Even if your are a skanky manc LOL joking.
For once I'm more turned green with sickness and not envy on a Hotel Chocolat Monday. I never get the whole coffee and chocolate combination. Ever since coffee cremes used to be in the Roses tins I've hated them paired together. Nowt for me here today I'm afraid :(
Epic photos again today J. I love the way you almost take us inside those chocolates so we can see all the gubbins in the middle. No other site gets them looking as consistently drool inducing as you manage to.
Its still beyond me how a company like HC can survive with the economy like it is. There can't be too many people out there that can afford to pay ten+ pounds for boxes of chocolates at a time.
I don't doubt they make good choc, I just think that demand has to be well down at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if they came out saying they were having financial difficulity soon.
What do you think of this idea Jim? Coffee caramel flavoured hotel chocolat chocolates. Is that your idea of el paradiso?
I think if we ever see them try that we might have a new CM leader on our hands.
Jim have you seen this story about HC's halloween stuff.
http://www.fdin.org.uk/2011/08/hotel-chocolat-unveils-halloween-range/
It all looks very much the same from last years doesn't it.
My interest in todays review lasted as long as 'Hotel Chocolat .....' .... sadly you lost me at the 'Coffee Truffles' bit. NO SALE man! NO SALE.
People who are doubting these are going to be nice need to pull their heads out their rear ends. If you haven't tried the chocolate you can hardly comment on whether this guy is telling the truth or not. Jim's never let me down when I've ever bought chocs hes recommended. I've no reason to start thinking any differently now.
I share your passion for coffee chocolates jim so I'm very very interested in these now mate. We have very good taste you know lol.
I think I've worked out the winning Chocolate Mission formula. It's going to be 85% dark chocolate shells with sea salted caramel coffee truffle centres. Sadly I think the day they get made it will be the end of mission.
Whaddya say Jim?
You think I'm right?
All I can say is good luck beating Spurs tonight Jim. Beat those summers so they are bottom of the league please.
Jim do us all a favour and strike up a deal with HC for a prize draw or something dude.
They seem to be giving you all these samples but they've stopped doing any of these competitions that you used to run for them.
Come on HC share the love around here.
Thank god you didn't rate these the highest ever. I can see they got close but it would have been silly to have such a polarising flavour as the top chocolate ever.
No nom nom nom from me today thank you chocolate man. Coffee chocolates sit in my incredibly short list of chocolates I despise. You can't please us all I guess, just make sure you pick out something with broader appeal next week :P
Wow im amazed. I always thought there was no one in the world who liked coffee chocolates. Lol sorry im just recalling my childhood with the dreaded coffee creams.
How you calling the cricket then Jim? You think we are going to be able to take the wickets m8?
If you average Hotel Chocolate for the last two weeks you get 9.3!
I'm pretty sure no one can claim to have done that before.
Hey hun, lovely review here of something I have no interest in whatsoever ;) You nearly managed to convince me by the end that even I might like these, but its the eton mess and rum truffles that catch my eye from the spotlight on boxes.
Rxxx
Hahahaha! I know you've had some annoying people saying your hotel chocolat reviews are predictable but I would have bet my house on you giving these over a 9 before seeing the post.
I love coffee chocolates as well. I wish they served them at restaurants at the end of the mea rather than mint chocolates.
Hi All
Thanks for the feedback on the review today .... well most of it :D Some of you have been a little nasty .... please I stress if you don't have anything nice to say please don't say it. Constructive criticism is very welcome but please keep it to yourselves if the feedback is just malicious.
Anyway .... moving on! These were rather damn good I have to say. Well worthy of the 9.2, I firmly stand by that.
STEVEN - I will ask them for you and get back to you on that next week.
MARTIN - Haha I bought that bar myself this weekend. I will get a review up soon enough.
MYSTERIO - Yes really.
GOLDEN - I wouldn't like to say yes or no. I would like HC to make them and then let me make comment.
NIGEL - Fingers crossed with United tonight. We often beat Spurs at home so I'm hoping for more of the same tonight.
FRANCESCA - It would seem a natural fit for them to make some plain pralines. I would of thought they would be along soon.
ERIC - Acting with vested interests? We don't need to go over this all again do we? I have no affiliation with any company.
DAISY - I have a few more reviews of some of their summer bits coming up.
ANON - The story behind the site is in my About me page chap.
ANDREW - I think that is a mighty fine idea you have there :D I would love to see that happen.
SAM - I updated that to the news page yesterday. Take a look I have to update it with more stories later.
OLLIE - Have you been talking with Andrew haha! As I said I think that is a great idea.
XEN - I will ask them about a competition but I can't promise anything at the moment.
JUSTIN - We did it in the end didn't we :D Well done England 4-0 series win! Who would have guessed that.
BJ - I think mint chocolates are more popular and common to peoples tastes. I would prefer coffee ones though I'm with you on that.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed intelligently today.
JIM
Eugh coffee. I'm not surprised by the rating mind. Im starting to think you like your coffee a little too much. Are you a caffeine addict?
I think they would be better suited to a stronger chocolate, espec if the coffee flavours are as strong as you say. If they thought it would overpower the coffee too much they could of just intensifed it to an espresso powered truffle filling.
One of these days I'm sure you will have us all in for a big surprise when you launch a scathing attack on HC. It might not happen in the near future but one day it just has to lol.
I'm sure these are nice enough but I personally would prefer they be white chocolate instead of the stronger milk type.
Are you ever going to give Hotel Chocolate a bad rating. Seeing them get nine out of ten and more all the time makes me think you are working for them or something. Who do you work for?
Why havent you called Hotel Chocolat out for making a lot of their chocolate truffles look the same.
You look back at old reviews and you will see that they make loads of these rectangular shaped ones. If these guys are supposed to be the best out there they should consider making some new designs or something. People are going to pick up on it eventually.
Jim you do bring all these negative comments about you being Hotel Chocolat biased on yourself by remaining a man of mystery. If you came out and did a post on who you are and what you do you could clear up matters like that instantly. Just a thought.
Sweet idea making some dedicated chocolate boxes for their more popular ones. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see them do one for their marzipan chocolates soon. If you ask me their marzipan is as good as anyones, and their choc .... well that just goes without saying.
Whats with all the anonymous posters always asking about competitions? What a bunch of freeloaders, they can't be here to read the reviews if they don't even sign up to blogger. What a sad way to go about reading sites just searching for freebies.
Goodness me these people are good at making chocolate :-) You ae like their one man tasting panel, they must value your opinion v v highly to send you as much choc as they do.
Fair enough I think we all knew you were going to like these bad boys lol.
If I can make one small request of you Jim can I ask that you update your leaderboards page. I have seen a few people saying it recently because its a little out of date now mate. You need to add the salted caramel to 2nd position as a starter for ten.
PHILLIP - I do like a cup of tea to get me started in the morning but no I don't have any great love for caffeine.
JULES - A few people have said that today haven't they.
HANNAH - For the last time .... I can confirm I do not work for Hotel Chocolat. Sorry if that comes across as rude but I do have to say this a lot.
TEL - I get your point. They might want to start working on a few new designs I agree.
TRICKY - It's something I am considering doing. Maintaining some aire of mystery is quite appealing though :D
KIERAN - I will hopefully get the chance to do this soon. You guys might be able to tell I'm very very busy with the day job at the moment. All in good times chaps.
Thanks everyone
JIM
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