Sofitel unveils some special sweet treats

Sometime it is the little things that define an enjoyable hotel stay. 

Sofitel, a pioneer of French luxury hospitality, has just unveiled a global collaboration with Nespresso running from September until November 26 at 20 selected Sofitel properties worldwide. 

A new bespoke croissant and coffee combo is being delivered through the Please Disturb experience, a fun in-room taster. 

Building on the international success of La Haute Croissanterie by Sofitel, the limited-edition collab stars the café-croissant combo. 

Each pairing features freshly baked pastries meeting roasted Nespresso coffee. 

“Partnering with Nespresso for this latest limited-edition run of La Haute Croissanterie has allowed us to elevate one of gastronomy's most iconic pairings, the inimitable café-croissant, into a truly harmonious moment," says a very excited Anne-Cécile Degenne, corporate executive chef, Sofitel Hotels & Resorts.

"By combining the creativity of our pastry chefs with the expertise of Nespresso's coffee experts, we have crafted a fresh expression of French art de vivre that guests can enjoy in the privacy of their own room. 

"The final coffee touch adds theatre and flair, celebrating this perfect French pairing and ensuring every element feels uniquely personal.” 

The pairing menu invites guests to discover three signature La Haute Croissanterie creations: Le Brulé: cappuccino mousse brûlée and crispy honey cream croissant; L'Epicé: spicy chocolate coffee and  coffee-choco exotic croissant and Le Tonique: iced orange espresso tonic and Paris Brest croissant. 

The pairings are available on demand throughout the day via room service. 

The Croissant & Coffee Pairing Menu will be available at selected Sofitel properties worldwide, including Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour and Sofitel Brisbane Central. 

See sofitel.com

Beckham bends it for coffee drinkers

Another celebrity endorsement.

This time it is David Beckham telling me what coffee I should be drinking.

Am I likely to take coffee advice from a footballer? About as likely as I am to take beer advice from an underwear model.

But companies regularly splash out hundreds of thousands of dollars on deal like these, so someone must be paying attention.

This week's headline: "Nespresso partners with David Beckham to Make Everyday Moments Unforgettable".

OK. the former Manchester United and England star is now a Nespresso brand ambassador.

Now the co-owner of MLS team Inter Miami CF, and a long-term UNICEF ambassador, the press release assures me he is "long-time lover of coffee".

Anna Lundstrom, CEO for Nespresso in the UK and Republic of Ireland, said: “David Beckham has always had an unforgettable style, taste and passion for creating elevated experiences which are many of the qualities of Nespresso."

She draws a very long bow.

"We are delighted to be working with David to showcase his genuine love for the nation's (that means the UK) favourite drink and his journey of coffee discovery, as well as showing how even the routine coffee moments; with family, with friends, and ourselves, can make every day even more meaningful.”

OK. This is pretty dreadful. I hope they send me some bloody coffee.

“I’ve always loved Nespresso coffee," says Beckham. "Whether I am having a quiet moment at home with my family or preparing myself for a business meeting, the variety of blends is great, it’s so simple to make and every cup tastes incredible.”

That's enough.

Nespresso unveils paper-based capsules than can be home composted

Ever felt bad about using aluminium Nespresso capsules when you make a coffee? You guilt is about to be assuaged.

Nespresso this week unveiled a new range of paper-based home-compostable capsules that it says have taken over three years of research and development.

Nespresso says the home-compostable paper-based capsules will have zero impact on the taste experience.

The company says consumer demand for compostable packaging is increasing, and an estimated 45% of French people now home compost one or more types of biowaste.

Guillaume Le Cunff, the Nespresso CEO, said: "We are more committed than ever to widening the sustainable choices we offer our consumers.

"We are excited to announce our first ever paper-based home compostable capsule, which will complement our offering of aluminium capsules that are both recyclable and made using 80% recycled aluminium. This is about yet another sustainable choice, without compromising on quality."

Julia Lauricella, Head of Nestlé System Technology Center, said: "Our 40 years of experience in coffee systems allowed us, together with the Nestlé Institute of Packaging Sciences, to develop a home compostable paper-based capsule, retro-compatible with the Nespresso Original machines, that meets and exceeds the high expectations consumers have of Nespresso in terms of protecting the coffee's aromas and taste.

"We combined a high-precision paper pulp forming process with a biodegradable layer for protection against oxidation to preserve our coffee in transport, storage and during the high-pressure extraction in our machines."

Nespresso's coffee masters have also created four new blends, including an organic coffee, specifically crafted to work in harmony with the new paper-based capsules.

See www.nestle-nespresso.com.