Naughty is nice at Delifrance

At Delifrance, one has to remember the password: “Naughty with my coffee.” From March 3 to March 7,  five o’clock in the afternoon until closing time will truly be “happy hour” for those who want to unwind with free coffee concoctions laced with Bailey’s, Kahlua, and vodka. The free treat is a delightful and delicious way to introduce the café’s new line of spiked coffee beverages. We ducked into a Delifrance outlet in Salcedo Village and sampled the drinks on a late afternoon when the rest of Makati ’s population crowded the streets. We were so pleased with what we tried.Irish Kiss Bailey’s was familiar and comforting.

Since Bailey’s is an Irish whisky and cream-based liqueur with a declared alcohol content of 17 percent, getting buzzed was the least of our worries. Although the iced variant was refreshing, the warm coffee topped with cream was soothing on that day when I nursed a slightly sore throat. “It is medicinal,” I rationalized as I quaffed a couple more glasses of that warm and lovely drink. The Mango Kahlua Passion served warm or iced was delicious, too. As we all know, Kahlua is a well-known Mexican coffee liqueur that is heavy and sweet with a distinct taste of coffee on its own. The Kahlua intensified the flavor and sweetness of the drink, and with an alcohol content of only 20-26.5 percent, it is a guilt-free pleasure for those who want to relax after a hard day’s work. Although the mango notes were faint, the drink was very nice. One can forego dessert without regret and have Mango Kahlua Passion instead.For those who like something more potent, Sputnik Vodka Espresso is the drink to have. Vodka was traditionally distilled in Russia from potatoes, grain or sugar beet molasses and can have an alcohol content of 35-50 percent by volume. Since vodka is colorless with very little flavor, it is perfect for those who want to savor the unadorned taste of good coffee brewed from excellent beans. Sputnik refers to the satellite launched by the Russians into space — a subtle warning perhaps that too much of the drink and too much vodka might turn you intoxicated and spacey. We had only one glass, found the drink mellow and pleasant, and would have had more if we didn’t have another appointment later in the evening.

Why serve alcohol-spiked coffee? William Tan Untiong, president of Delifrance Philippines says that spiked coffee drinks are made available to provide an alternative for the urbane clientele of Delifrance who want to unwind. “our patrons are people equipped with an enthusiasm for trying out flavors that are different from the usual,” he says, explaining that although coffee is mainly a breakfast beverage in other countries, it is an all-day drink in the Philippines.

Although Delifrance is more well-known for its freshly baked breads and pastries, it is also becoming increasingly popular for its coffee. Each cup is freshly brewed. “And make no mistake about it,” says William, “Our patrons can taste the difference between a freshly brewed cup and one that’s pre-brewed and has already been sitting for a long time.”

Aside from spiked coffee, Delifrance serves coffee frappes and cold coffee drinks. Of course, there is also an excellent selection of salads, pastas, and sandwiches in the menu. It is no wonder then, that Delifrance Philippines of the Jollibee Foods Corporation has maintained a loyal clientele in the past years.

Spiked After Five warm drinks are soothing and the cold drinks are refreshing. Either are truly enjoyable so the empty glasses on the table tend to add up. Thus, a friendly reminder to those who will surely enjoy Delifrance’s delicious alcohol-laced temptations: While naughty and happy is nice, buzzed and rash is dangerous. Be prudent and assign a designated driver especially if you plan to guzzle lots of Sputnik Vodka Espressos. The alcohol adds up. Don’t drink and drive. 

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Only from March 3 to7: When the barista asks for the password, just say “Naughty with my coffee” to try either of  Delifrance’s delicious Spiked After Five coffee beverages for free. Of course, you have to be old enough to drink alcohol.