Caffe Nero’s Christmas pistachio hot chocolate (Image: Rebecca Koncienzcy)
In my view, Caffe Nero is a hidden gem when compared to its rivals. I believe its cakes surpass those of Costa, its sandwiches outdo Starbucks, and it serves a robust coffee.
So, the prospect of sampling their new Christmas range, particularly the pistachio hot chocolate, filled me with anticipation.
On a chilly Sunday morning, Caffe Nero provided the ideal refuge from the cold.
Settling into a snug corner, we ordered the pistachio hot chocolate, caramelised pistachio latte, the festive feast panini, brie, bacon and cranberry panini, and the profiterole cheesecake.
As a pistachio lover, I’m already a big fan of Caffe Nero’s chocolate and pistachio mousse cake, which is my usual choice.
The arrival of the hot chocolate, adorned with sprinkles of nuts, was a delight. Scooping them out with the cream to reach the chocolate below was enjoyable, but that’s where I hit a snag.
The bacon, brie and cranberry panini and the festive feast at Nero (Image: Rebecca Koncienzcy)
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While I adore the sweet, almond-like flavour of pistachio, the syrup in my hot chocolate was overly sweet for my liking.
The chocolate itself had a good taste, although it wasn’t the thickest hot chocolate I’ve experienced, reports .
Initially, it was delightful, but soon became somewhat cloying, and I regretted pairing it with the profiterole cheesecake.
My husband echoed my sentiments about his latte, describing it as initially unique but eventually too sweet to finish.
However, this could just be our personal tastes, as the pistachio hot chocolate has returned due to its popularity last year.
Caffe Nero is one of my favourite cafes (Image: Getty)
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The paninis were a delightful festive treat for lunchtime. The brie, bacon and cranberry combination is a classic and it’s perfect for a break from Christmas shopping.
The bread was wonderfully crunchy without being too hard, and the salty bacon was perfectly balanced by the soft, creamy brie and sweet cranberry.
Even my four year old loved it, which is high praise considering his usual preference for what we call the ‘beige diet’.
The festive feast panini was packed with Christmas flavours, featuring delicious stuffing, moist turkey and cranberry.
My husband did mention he would have liked more filling – but who wouldn’t want more Christmas turkey?
The profiterole cheesecake was also a hit. The choux pastry was light and the cheesecake was creamy without being heavy.
While it won’t replace the chocolate and pistachio mousse cake for me, it was a good alternative.
It’s great for a coffee shop date during the festive season.
Caffè Nero Christmas menu includes:
- Winter Blend coffee
- Tiramisu Latte
- Caramelised Pistachio Latte (priced around £5.35)
- Pistachio Hot Chocolate (£5.35)
- Millionaires Hot Chocolate (£5.35)
- Italian Porchetta Focaccia (£6.80)
- Festive Feast Panini (£5.65)
- Brie, Bacon & Cranberry Panini (£5.70)
- Pigs Under Blankets Panini
- Vegan Festive Feast Panini
- Profiterole Cheesecake (£4.75)
- Black Forest Chouxnut (£4.75)
- White Chocolate & Gingerbread Cake (£4.75)
- White Chocolate & Gingerbread Cookie (£2.95)
- Festive Gingerbread Santa
- Classic Mince Pie (£3.15)
- Luxury Amaretto Mince Pie