Pop Culture: Coffee Italian soda

Hey kids, it's been a while since I've written one of these. But when I saw the new President's Choice Coffee Italian Soda, I had to try it out.

Do you remember when Coke launched Coca Cola Blak, a mix of Coke and coffee, a while ago?

A bunch of us in the office tried it and it was thumbs down all around. It's since vanished—no surprise there.

But it looks like President's Choice has taken up the challenge with their coffee-flavoured Italian soda.

The initial aroma is of coffee, followed with a sharp, sweet scent. Likewise, the flavour is of coffee, followed quickly by a light carbonation. However, the sweetness of the drink leaves you with a caramel-like aftertaste.

I don't mind it, though I don't think I'll buy it again. Some of my coworkers who tried it thought it was quirky but wouldn't necessarily go out to buy it. Others in the office gagged when they tried it.

Unlike green tea sodas, which seem to have somewhat caught on, I doubt that this one will be a hit.

Bottled or canned cold coffees in general have never really caught on in Canada in the same way that they have in Asia.

I remember Nescafé rolled out a line in the '90s, but they've since vanished from local shelves here in Vancouver.

It seems people here are more inclined to have their coffee-beverages freshly made at a shop, rather than buying it from a vending machine, as is de rigeur in countries like Japan (where you can even get heated cans).

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