In the age of drink subscriptions, I look to get a free sip where I can. I maintain an aging stash of Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts gift cards, and I am currently living off a free three-month trial of Panera’s Sip Club. So when Pret-A-Manger appeared in my inbox offering a free month trial for their own sip club, I was in.
Both subscriptions have their strengths and weaknesses. Panera offers tea and coffee at a plethora of locations. Pret-A-Manger offers two separate subscriptions: one for tea and coffee and another for crafted drinks, like iced chais, macchiatos or cappuccinos. Unfortunately, Pret is mainly found between DC and New York City, meaning I must take advantage of my location while I’m in the area.
As someone who hates coffee, this seemed like a good time to try the stuff (for free). As a picky drinker who hates carbonation and juice, this added a fun mystery to my day: will I enjoy this or will it ruin my morning? Here are my honest opinions of coffee and her related variations.
Espresso: It’s small and it’s cute, but the flavor hits the back of your throat. I imagine trash when I taste it. Smells nice but tastes like soap. I could not finish it. 1/10
Macchiato: The fraternal twin to the espresso. What makes this taste better than the espresso? The foamed milk. While the flavor was still very pungent, taking a sip of the coffee and the foam at the same time made it slightly better. 3/10
Cold Brew: Not too bad. I did have a nitro cold brew once at Disney and didn’t hate it. This drink didn’t have much flavor but I can only compare it to a melted chocolate slushie. 4/10
Cappuccino: Okay, now we’re talking. This was not that bad. I would compare it to a very toned down iced chai. I should note that I desperately chugged this down after a red eye flight into London. 7/10
Iced Mocha: Is this coffee? It’s more like an adult milkshake. I mean, it looks like chocolate milk. I was pleasantly surprised by the little chocolate pellets every time I took a sip. Note: this tastes nearly the same as the Belgian Chocolate Milkshake by M&S. 9/10.
Flat White: This just might be the one! I actually drank the whole thing. It’s not too bitter like straight coffee can be as the milk balances the flavor just right. 10/10.
Prior to my one month coffee journey, my go-to café drinks were chai, matcha or any tea in general. After all this trial and error, I can confidently say I am adding flat whites in my future orders.