Yowazzup? Coffee: Coffee Lover's Journey to Coffee Haven

Marmalade Cafe in Bangsar Village II has established itself for quite sometime. It was only until recently I managed to pay a visit to Marmalade Cafe for a quick dinner with coffee, of course.

Marmalade Cafe’s Flat White

Flat White is nothing extraordinary. The price of MYR 8.00 is a little steep though.

Marmalade Cafe’s Cappuccino

Cappuccino is just lovely even without the sugar, it tastes just right. Cappuccino is priced at MYR 9.00

Verdict: The coffee wasn’t so bad. The coffee art, of course, did add a little something to it which made the coffee tastes nicer. Coffee art is not a new thing — at least, we all know there are many cafes that have baristas who can make great coffee arts and decent coffee.

Cafe Le Passione at Hartamas Shopping Centre may not be your everyday coffee joint but the local folks love this place.

Cafe Le Passione’s Caffe Mocha

Caffe Mocha was love at first sight with the beautiful coffee art but nevertheless, it was nothing extraordinary and somewhat a little pricey for a hot drink at MYR 10.50.

Verdict: Not a bad cafe at all, it’s pretty quiet. However, the location is not ideal and the place is situated on a desolated shopping mall.

Espressamente Illy is a popular Italian cafe worldwide.

Espressamente Illy’s Espresso Shakerato Freddo

Espressamente Illy’s Espresso Shakerato Freddo is a double illy espresso, chilled and shaken with ice & liquid sugar. It is quite strong and not for the fainthearted. Espresso Shakerato Freddo retails at MYR 10.50.

Espressamente Illy’s Greco All’Italiana

Greco All’Italiana is illy’s funky version of an iced cappuccino. No doubt it is better than your regular iced cappuccino as not only it is well-balanced between ice, milk and espresso, it has a little bonus of chocolate powder to top it all. Greco All’Italiana retails at MYR 13.

Espressamente Illy’s Spaghetti Carbonara

While the coffee are great, there are nothing to shout about for the food. Spaghetti Carbonara was not too bad, better than the average cafes that serve pasta but I expect it to be a whole lot better since Espressamente Illy ought to be Italian. Spaghetti Carbonara costs MYR 20.

Verdict: Amazing coffee. I’ll stick to my fave Neve Fondete the next time.

Sangaria Blend Coffee

Sangaria Blend Coffee is a ready-to-drink canned coffee drink from Japan. Sangaria Blend Coffee is like your regular canned coffee with sugar. Nothing special.

Sangaria Blend Coffee retails at MYR 3.30 at Yumiku, Pavilion KL.

Starbucks Via has finally arrived in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. Starbucks Via is an instant coffee first introduced two years ago in the United States.

Starbucks Via in 12 Single-Serve Sachets

Starbucks Via in 3 Single-Serve Sachets

Starbucks Via Italian Roast

Starbucks Via Italian Roast consists of extra bold instant and microground coffee. The first taste, you can’t tell whether it’s brewed coffee or instant coffee as the bold flavor of the microground Arabica coffee hides the fact it’s instant coffee.

However, unlike what most people think, Starbucks Via is instant coffee but it’s not 3-in-1 coffee as there are no sugar or creamers mixed in it, therefore retaining the aromatic flavor of the coffee.

Starbucks Via Colombia is made of medium instant and microground coffee where it is milder in flavor and taste.

To make Starbucks Via coffee, you just need to add 180ml hot water, and perhaps milk, sugar or creamer too as necessary.

Both Starbucks Via Colombia and Italian Roast are originated from Colombia.

In Malaysia, Starbucks Via are available in 3-count (MYR 8.00) or 12-count pack (MYR 28.00), in two flavors — Colombia and Italian Roast in all Starbucks stores.

In Singapore, Starbucks Via are available in 3-count ($3.90) or 12-count pack ($13.90), in Colombia, Italian Roast and Decaf Italian Roast in all Starbucks stores.

Mbuji Cafe has been expanding vastly since we last visited Mbuji Cafe in IOI Mall, Puchong including Tropicana City Mall.

However, Mbuji Cafe at Subang Carrefour is the same old place with very few customers.

Mbuji Cafe’s Irish Creme

Irish Creme was merely an ordinary coffee drink with tons of whip cream on top sprinkled with some chocolate powder. Bad Ass’ Jitter Juice would kick Mbuji’s ass anytime for Irish Creme (no pun intended).

Mbuji Cafe’s Caramello

Caramello, meanwhile was more decent with caramel topping as coffee art and not too sweet.

Verdict: Good coffee but knowing what you order would help you get the good drinks as not all flavors suit everyone.

After a few visits to Coffee Chemistry Cafe in Sunway Giza, I have to admit the service deteriorates each time we visited. When we first visited Coffee Chemistry Cafe, it was different as there weren’t many customers and therefore, the service wasn’t that bad.

Fine Blended Mocha

Fine Blended Mocha was somewhat disappointing, something I can easily do with a blender at home. The taste was mediocre, perhaps it was the amount of ice used.

Iced Cafe Mocha

The same goes for Iced Cafe Mocha where the actual taste of coffee diminished due to the amount of ice used.

Verdict: Great pasta. Mediocre coffee. Poor service. Certainly not a place for good coffee.

Opera is a little cafe next to Whisk in Empire Shopping Gallery.

Cappuccino

Iced Latte

Though the coffee are made from Segafredo Zanetti beans from Italy, the flavors were rather bland.

Banana Temptation

Fancy Cup Cake

Unlike the coffee, the cakes were rather pleasing. However, the cakes were a little pricey at MYR 11.50 for Banana Temptation and MYR 4.50 for the fancy cup cake.

Verdict: There are two ways to concoct a good cup of coffee — first, through very good quality coffee beans; second, through high-end espresso machine. Opera didn’t have either of those.

Coffee Bean’s latest offering are Cookies & Cream, Extreme Cookies & Cream and Ultimate Cookies & Cream Ice-Blended drinks.

Coffee Bean’s Ultimate Cookies & Cream Ice-Blended

Ultimate Cookies & Cream Ice-Blended drink was splendid. If you are a fan of chocolate and Oreo cookies, you’ll love this!

Available at all Coffee Bean Malaysia outlets for a limited time.

Espressamente Illy originates from Italy and is actually a quite popular Italian cafe with 200 cafés in 34 countries worldwide. Despite that, its presence in Malaysia is still quite unknown.

Espressamente Illy @ Bangsar Village

Espressamente Illy is a nice place to chill out

Half & Half

Half & Half which consists of rich liquid chocolate blended with espresso, milk and ice was flavorful and chocolaty and slightly sweet. Retailing at MYR 14, Half & Half is nevertheless worth it.

Neve Fondete

Neve Fondete which translates to "deep snow" in Italian is an iced mocha with a twist. In short though, Neve Fondete is easily the best-ever iced mocha on the planet. It was truly enjoyable with somewhat the perfect amount of sweetness but yet pleasing to satiate. Neve Fondete retails at MYR 14 and that is easily cheaper than Starbucks and most cafes in town.

Verdict: Though Espressamente Illy at Bangsar Village doesn’t serve alcoholic coffee unlike its branch at Pavilion, it still has my vote for top-notch and delicious coffee, easily the best in the region. Espressamente Illy at Bangsar Village is the perfect place to chill out — it has a great ambiance, amazing coffee and great service. Most of all, it serves great coffee at a fraction of a price.