After once being banished to their Flavor Graveyard, Coffee, Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz! has seen widespread success in scoop shops across the country; so much so that Ben & Jerry's has once again begun producing this fan favorite in pint-sized portions. Their coffee ice cream managed to impress me in Coffee Heath Bar Crunch, but this version wouldn't have the same heavy hitting mix-ins to help out. Instead of using a famous candy bar like its counterpart, this is made up of coffee ice cream with espresso bean fudge chunks. Ben & Jerry's, as they always do, uses only Fairtrade Coffee in their ice cream. The first layer of Coffee, Coffee BuzzBuzzBuzz! shows off a light brown base and tons of the dark-colored, espresso bean chocolates.
This latest release ends up being a little lighter than Coffee Heath Bar Crunch, but still contains 260 calories per serving. The coffee ice cream feels super-premium and resists my spoon before its able to melt down a bit. This dense base is just as well balanced as I remember and provides a bolder, more full-bodied flavor than the Graeter's Coffee flavor I recently reviewed. The struggle for power between the creamy, sweetness and the unique bitterness of the high-quality coffee beans creates one of the most complex bases produced by Ben & Jerry's. They've included a copious amount of the espresso bean fudge chunks inside and unless I purposely avoided them, they seemed to make their way into every bite.
Although these may resemble the standard fudge chunks included in their other ice creams, the real magic happens when the chocolate begins to break down. These pieces are left behind long after the coffee ice cream has melted away and immediately start to release the rich taste of their fudge coating. Since these chocolate chunks have been mixed with espresso beans, the tail end of each bite is capped off with a slight crunch and an additional burst of coffee flavoring. Where the Heath Bars from Coffee Heath Bar Crunch counteract and calm down the the coffee ice cream, this espresso chocolate only intensifies the mocha concept the base has already built. This is a must try for coffee lovers and casual drinkers alike.
Where I Found It: Super Wal-Mart
Grade: B
