When we approached the new Caffè Bene outlet in 1 Utama, the familiar brown logo was nowhere to be found and in its place was a black and white one instead. Upon entering, we were greeted by an overall hipster look, complete with brick walls and an elegant stairway that almost begs for one to have an impromptu photo shoot at. (Ahem, one of our writers actually did :p).
I would liken the new Caffè Bene outlet to a more mature, classy sibling of the former. In fact, Miriam Goh, the dessert brand’s marketing executive told us that Caffè Bene has been in the Korean market for 9 years now and they have decided that it was time for a facelift. 1 Utama’s Caffè Bene is the first to sport the fresh new look in Malaysia and the other outlets will also slowly transition, starting with the logo and signage.
Along with their new look, Caffè Bene has also released new additions to their menu in accordance with the summer season in Korea. When bingsus were first introduced to KL-ites several years back, it was the ‘in thing’ and Caffè Bene was one of the first few to have this shaved ice craft.
Noting its popularity, Caffè Bene has incorporated well-loved bingsu flavours into their latest creation: the Bene Pastries. Along with the Bene Pastries, other things you can look out for are the Nitro Cold Brews and Korean Fruit Teas.
Watching the Nitro Cold Brew being made from scratch is akin to watching a barman at his craft. It is pumped from a nitro coffee kegerator and this gives the coffee its Guinness Stout appearance. Personally, I’m not one for coffees, what more cold brews which have a tendency of being slightly bitter.
Noting how I found the cold brew bitter, Miriam told us that, “Most Malaysians prefer milk-based coffee but we’re now slowly being more open to drinking cold brew-style coffee.” While she’s right, I do have to say that Caffè Bene’s version has a smooth texture which flows like silk. It’s also served in a wine glass, giving it an extra dose of classiness, which is pretty much the image that the brand is going for.
The Rose Latte is a work of art with the rose petals it comes with, so much so that we did not want to destroy it by taking a sip. It has a rich taste with a hint of rose which isn’t too overpowering. Rest assured, if you worry that the flower’s aroma is going to be strong, it is not. In fact, the rose is the secondary flavour in this beverage and only lingers in the aftertaste. For a non-coffee drinker, I actually enjoyed this as it was not too sweet either, hence making it a good compliment to the desserts ahead.
Some might have the misconception that bingsus are unhealthy shaved ice desserts (me included) but the Coffee Bingsu proved to be otherwise. Sure, it is still very much a sinful treat but it’s balanced out by the Koko Krunch cereal, hazelnuts, and walnuts which also lends it a nice crunch. It’s important to note that Caffè Bene did not skimp on the nuts either.
The Bene Pastries are what we were looking forward to and it did not disappoint where first impressions count. It is large enough for sharing between 2-3 persons, which is what you’d generally see at Caffè Bene. The pastry itself has a croissant-like flavour which is attributed to the high butter content. The Green Tea might be a tad bit sweet for some but only if you eat it on its own. When you couple each mouthful with the pastry, it is just the right balance.
Oreo and Cookies is a flavour done time and time again and we initially did not have high expectations for the Oreo and Cookie Bene Pastry. Unsurprisingly though, the shaved oreo cookies added some much-needed texture to each bite. The blend of red bean and Oreo was not a combination we would have expected either, but it matched well. One thing’s for sure, we did not feel jelak with this pastry and the red bean gave the Oreo dessert a nice upgrade.
Most strawberry-based desserts have a tendency of being overtly sweet but the Strawberry Bene Pastry actually tastes slightly sour and it has the consistency of a thick strawberry jam. The only problem we had with this dessert is the fact that it had plenty of strong competitors that it was up against, and as a result of that, doesn’t stand out quite as much.
The Garlic Cheese Pastry was a team favourite and it was actually inspired by the bestselling Garlic Cheese Bread. The garlic cheese had the appearance of Easy Cheese and that might be a turnoff for some but flavour-wise, it did not taste artificial. The only fault in the dessert is probably that there isn’t enough cheese and you’d be left with just pastry by the time you’ve made it halfway through.
At first glance, the Aloe Vera Tea does not appear appealing and looks like plain water with a cloudy appearance. Miriam told us how she preferred the Aloe Vera Tea cold and I could see where she’s coming from. Warm aloe is an acquired taste and its flavour is almost like a melted jelly or warm juice. It would not be a drink that I would personally order but having tried it, I found that it had a nice fruity flavour to it. Perhaps the addition of aloe vera bits would bring the drink up a notch, but it’s already 70% there.
The Red Dates Korean Tea is not something you would expect to find at a dessert house. In fact, it’s something your mom would likely make for you or a drink you’d find at a Chinese herbal tea store. However, it’s nice that the tea comes with real red dates and it was comforting—almost like a hug in a mug. If the idea of drinking warm Korean tea does not interest you, just leave a request with the wait staff and they can serve it to you cold.
To check out Caffé Bene’s new look along with the new entries on their menu, head over to 1 Utama Shopping Centre. Hint: they are located behind the Bershka outlet.
Caffé Bene 1 Utama
Hours: 10am-10pm, daily
Address: 1 Utama Shopping Centre, 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama
Tel: 03-7688 4338
