Coffee ice cream from bold to blah
Fans of specialty espresso drinks know that sugar and cream are coffee magic. They erase the bitter notes and turn bold, rich coffee into a dreamy liquid dessert. It’s no surprise that ice cream makers are taking a cue from that.
The combination of cream, sugar and coffee in frozen form is so delicious that scores of new twists on coffee ice cream are showing up in freezer sections, including cold brew, Colombian coffee, and Vietnamese and Turkish-style coffees, and some embellished with bits of chocolate, swirls of fudge and more.
We took a sweet, eye-opening taste adventure through a stack of specialty pints in every coffee variation we could find. Great coffee ice cream starts with bold, expertly brewed, high-quality coffee. The results should be creamy, rich and pleasantly sweet, with coffee as the first and last flavor on your palate. Texture is entirely negotiable, as some of the best flavored versions are grainy due to tasty coffee grounds or espresso fudge in the mix, while others are more like ice milk.
As delicious as coffee ice cream can be, more than a few things can go wrong. Some are so creamy, they taste like marshmallow. Others lack — ahem — coffee flavor. And the worst are sugary bites of nothingness, nonetheless packed with sugar, fat and calories.
Here’s the buzz on the best coffee ice creams and the blandest bores. Nutrition details are based on ½-cup servings.
McConnell’s Turkish Coffee
This crazy-tasty ice cream, blended with crushed espresso beans, offers powerful flavors. It’s heaven for picky drinkers who want only the very best cup of coffee. Those sensitive to caffeine should resist this as an evening treat. 260 calories, 19 g fat, 18 g protein. $7.99 a pint at Raley’s.
Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz!
Chunks of grainy espressobean fudge tucked into rich, velvety coffee ice cream makes for an impressive double-punch of flavor. 250 calories, 16 g fat, 24 g sugar. $4.99 for a pint at Safeway.
Tillamook Stumptown Cold Brew Coffee Ice Cream
Fans of ultra-creamy ice creams will fall for this luxurious, bold coffee version. This is a great pick for an elegant dessert. 210 calories, 14 g fat, 19 g sugar. $5.19 for 15.5 ounces at Raley’s.
Three Twins Milk Coffee
Huge coffee flavor and the light, fresh texture of ice milk make this an irresistible spoonful. 200 calories, 13 g fat, 17 g sugar. $4.99 for a pint at Safeway.
Vice Cream Higher Grounds
This decadent bite is highlighted by crispy cookie bits and a swirl of mocha fudge. The coffee flavor is pleasant, if a bit overshadowed by the chocolate. 280 calories, 14 g fat, 24 g sugar. $5.49 for a pint at Safeway.
So Delicious Cold Brew Coffee
Thumbs-up for minimal sugar and fresh, bold coffee flavor in this coconut milk-based treat, but this ice cream is definitely a coconut-coffee flavor experience. 150 calories, 8 g fat, 15 g sugar. $6.49 per pint at Whole Foods.
O Organics Mochaccino
Great coffee flavor and a pleasant level of sweetness yield tasty results, although the coffee bean bits are too big and chewy. 210 calories, 13 g fat, 19 g sugar. $4.99 for a pint at Safeway.
New Barn Organic AlmondCreme Organic Coffee Bean
Those who can’t have cow’s milk may enjoy this deep brown mix with coffee bean flecks, but the almond flavor quashes the coffee. 170 calories, 7 g fat, 15 g sugar. $6.99 for
14 ounces at Safeway.
Humphry Slocombe Blue Bottle Vietnamese Coffee
Those who don’t care much for coffee should opt for this chicory-root version. The ultra-fresh cream is a win, but it doesn’t taste like coffee. 170 calories, 10 g fat, 17 g sugar. $8.99 for a pint at Whole Foods.
Safeway Signature Reserve Colombian Cold Brew Caramel
This icy, uber-sweet mix has the bitter finish found in black coffee, but it lacks the nutty note of well-made, good-quality coffee. 220 calories, 16 g fat, 26 g sugar. $4.99 for 14 ounces.
Häagen-Dazs Coffee Ice Cream
Coffee is clearly an afterthought here. It’s certainly edible, but ultimately disappointing with barely detectible coffee flavor. 240 calories, 16 g fat, 20 g sugar. $4.99 for
14 ounces at Whole Foods.
Straus Family Creamery Organic Coffee
Made with decaf coffee, this extremely creamy, marshmallow-like mix has a fruity note, but it fails to deliver more than a hint of coffee flavor. 240 calories, 15 g fat, 19 g sugar. $5.19 for a pint at Raley’s.