Japan’s coffee-flavored toast spread is now on sale, but how does it taste? We find out

Who’s ready to eat their morning coffee?

From the moment we woke up on the morning of March 1, we were looking forward to a taste of invigorating coffee. But we had no plans to brew a pot of java, because there’s now a whole new way to get your coffee fix in Japan.

Coming a little over a year after the introduction of sliced chocolate to the culinary world, Japanese food and beverage company Yukijirushi Megmilk, also known as Megmilk Snow Brand, has released a coffee-flavored spread for bread and other baked goods. Called Yukijirushi Coffee Soft, its packaging even bears a strong resemblance to the company’s Yukijirushi Coffee, which has been keeping coffee fans in Japan happy for 55 years.

▼ Yukijirushi Coffee

We found the coffee spread for sale at a Tokyo branch of supermarket Ito Yokado, where it was being sold for the extremely attractive price of just 203 yen (US$1.80).

Yukijirushi Coffee Soft’s name reminds us of Neo Soft, a brand of margarine sold by Megmilk Snow Brand. Sure enough, inside the box we found a plastic tub just like the one Neo Soft comes in, except filled instead with coffee-flavored spread.

▼ The spread is lighter in color than the coffee that inspired it, which can be seen in the glass on the left.

To get the taste test rolling, we tried a half-spoonful of the spread by itself. Coffee Soft quickly melts in the mouth, with coffee notes, a bit of a salty kick, and a faint sweetness as it coats the tongue.

Next, we spread a pat of it on a slice of freshly toasted bread.

While Coffee Soft tastes pretty good all on its own, this is where it really shines. Melting its way into a fragrant slice of toast, the combination of the starchy crunch and salt-tinged coffee is incredibly satisfying.

Megmilk Snow Brand also recommends Coffee Soft for pancakes and sponge cakes. However, the spread isn’t really sweet enough to make it a viable desert flavoring. Instead, we recommend using it as a butter substitute. It’s mild enough in flavor that you won’t grow tired of it, but tasty enough that you’ll still be craving it even after the novelty wears off.

Photos ©RocketNews24

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