KIRIN KOWAI

We fast forward five or six days from our last coffee to the end of my first week at my internship. Spirits were high, so after work we took the bus to the mall of America. How long was the bus ride? Don’t worry about it. We didn’t expect to find a new coffee there, let alone NINE. To jump ahead a bit we’ve since gone back to the Ebisu in the MOA and found three more coffees for a total of nine. I know, it’s a lot.

Buying them in bulk the way we did may have confused the cashiers, but it truly baffled us. How could there be this many more cans? The answer is imports. None of these cans have American nutrition labels printed on them, instead they’re printed on labels and stuck on at (presumably) the port of entry. Most of the coffees I found at Ebisu are from Japan, as in made in Japan and imported in. Tariffs aside, the import fee definitely hikes up the price of these cans. I have to point out, the cow on the front of the can has spots in the shape of coffee beans. Adorable, 8/8 for style.

The flavor is pretty alright, although there’s a slight astringent taste presumably from the skim milk powder or potentially.. the flavoring. Yes, this can lists that additional flavor has been added to this coffee, presumably to enhance the drinking experience. It’s not vanilla or caramel or what have you, just more café au lait taste. Personally, doesn’t work for me. Maybe I’m becoming too discerning, my tastes too nuanced to flat out say a drink is good. I can say at least that the cow is cute and the can is, wow the can. WOW the can. Why on earth would Japan export this, they’ve got enough aluminum for a can like this they should be using it! I should keep this can, who knows when I’ll have this much metal in my possession. And the wavy ribbing at the top, oh it’s just perfect. No notes, surely can texture will get no better.

FLAVOR SCORE-6/8

VALUE SCORE-5/8