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.

Love Lucy Boots: Coffee in the morning; a wine bar at night

Coffee in the morning. Wine by night.

Love Lucy Boots is a boutique wine room in the historic Tasmanian township of Westbury, set in an 1870s residence, that serves wine, cheese and light bites.

We are proud to partner with Australian-owned and operated businesses from around the country who hold the ethos of quality produce," say the team behind this new offering, just 25 minutes outside Launceston. 

"We work closely with our producers to create a seasonal menu that showcases new and emerging winemakers and Tasmanian classics."

The wine and food list is ever-changing and there is an on-site providore so visitors can take away wines and cheeses. 

The venue offers a takeaway espresso bar from 7.30-9.30 am Friday-Monday, offering pastries and sourdough, while the wine bar is an intimate venue with seating for 15. It is open Friday to Monday afternoons and evenings, and bookings are highly recommended.

See https://lovelucyboots.com.au/

This is one of eight of Tasmania's gourmet secrets featured in a TrulyAus story published this week. See www.trulyaus.com/discover-tasmanias-best-kept-gourmet-secrets/

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.

A uniquely Australian coffee, or complete bunkum?

Fast food people McDonald's are the masters of self-promotion.

And now the people from Maccas are seeking to grab headlines by launching "a uniquely Australian coffee" at their McCafe outlets.

Launched this week, the new drink is called an Australiano and blends coffee with chai and “native wattleseed” in a product advertised as “coffee fit for an Aussie”.

I call nonsense.

No Australians I know add wattleseed to their coffee. And no real coffee lover would go to McDonald's for their caffeine.

Sounds and smells like a publicity stunt to me.

Here's the blurb: "The ‘Australiano’ is Australia’s answer to the Americano, featuring flavours of Australian wattleseed, chai and McCafe coffee".

An Americano, for those not in the know, is what freedom-loving, gun-toting folk call a coffee "made with hot water and espresso". A long black, in other words.

The Australiano is billed as being for a "limited time" (probably to see if it tanks or not) .

An ad campaign will reportedly run across TV, radio, digital and social mediums.

McDonald’s group brand manager Lancy Huynh said: “Despite being a nation of coffee connoisseurs, we haven’t had a coffee to call our own. As a champion for Aussie coffee culture, McCafé wanted to right this wrong and craft a blend that Aussies can proudly put their name to.”

OK Lancy. Whatever you say.