Rating: ©©©-3/4 chips (notable)
By now we’re sure that most of you, if not all of you, are well aware of Lay’s all new 2014 ‘Do Us A Flavor’ contest. Just about every one and their mother has chimed in with their own thoughts or reviews on these unique flavors. Similar to last year’s wildly popular flavor contest, Lay’s is once again offering up the chance for one lucky individual to win a million dollars for creating an all new potato chip flavor, and for the general population deeming it the best! This year Lay’s has offered up four flavor finalists instead of three, and you can stay tuned for our future reviews of: Cappuccino – yep, that’s right Cappuccino, Bacon Mac & Cheese, and Mango Salsa! Also, this time Lay’s has allowed the flavor creators the liberty of choosing what style of Lay’s potato chips they would like to use as their delivery medium.
As humungous chip fanatics and consumers and reviewers, we cannot begin to tell you how giddy we get each time a contest such as this is released. We love this stuff!! And usually, as soon as we hear about this sort of thing we run out to as many different stores as it takes, and we hunt those new chips down! Unfortunately, this time around Lay’s forgot to check our schedule and released their new chips just as we left the country for two weeks!! So, in other words, we had to idly sit back and watch as review after review hit the web for the past two weeks. Well, we are now back stateside, we have the four flavors in our possession, and we are ready to toss in our two cents!
Next up: Cappuccino
Submitted by: Chad Scott, Las Vegas
Chip Review’s flavor creativity rating (scale: 1 – 10): 10
Chip Review’s excitement level (scale: 1 – 10): 9
Can we just start out by saying that this year of Lay’s ‘Do Us A Flavor’ is looking to be one giant flop to us. Quite frankly, we enjoyed all three flavors from Lay’s last contest better than any of these so far this year!! And we wouldn’t even necessarily say that it is do to a lack of creativity in flavors, but simply more a lack of execution. That is until now!
So, that being said, HOLY MOLY, WTF!?!? These are simply mind boggling! Although the flavor may not be exactly spot on, these chips do evoke plenty of thoughts of lightly sweetened creamed espresso. The seasoning is possibly a little too heavy on the cinnamon (do people put cinnamon in cappuccino?), but otherwise it hits the cappuccino marks very well – a little sweet, rich, dark, nutty, roasted, creamy, smooth cappuccino flavors. The coffee aspect of these chips is the best part, and if these were simply coffee potato chips we may have actually have loved them. However, the flavor notes that turn us off are the creamy, butter, brown sugar components that translate it to a cappuccino. Top marks for creativity and accuracy, but it is unanimous that potato chips and cappuccino seasoning are not a match made in heaven.
That’s really about all WE have to say about these. But, we thought what better way to really show you what people think about these then to share some of the best comments we have read in reference to them:
“I’m sure Mr. Scott means well. But I suspect Lay’s slipped cappuccino chips into the final four for the same reason “American Idol” judges flog the one awful auditioner for viewers to mock. It might also be a shrewd marketing campaign, playing off the idea that negative buzz is buzz all the same.” (Kevin Pang, ChicagoTribune.com)
“My honest take is that these have hints of coffee, but mostly it’s a buttery salty and sweet potato chip. Besides the initial bit of coffee/cinnamon/sugar taste, these mostly taste like a nutty potato chip. Hazelnut? I’m not going to go that far.
Were these tasty? I mean, my mouth didn’t water for them, but they weren’t HORRIBLE. Definitely interesting…but more interesting than tasty. I think anyone who tries these won’t spit them out…but I’m not sure you’ll be reaching for another one.” (junkfoodguy.com)
“I raised a single chip and brought it closer to my nose, taking a moment to harness my senses in that cultured thing coffee people do before they take a sip. Then I remembered I was sitting in my office with a potato chip held up to my nose, and realized how freaking ridiculous I looked. I sampled the seasoning by licking the fried exterior of the spud clean.
Its flavor is maddeningly indescribable. I’m taken aback at first, completely unable to harness dozens of hours of GRE verbal practice tests in assessing what the flavor is.
It’s slightly bitter with an odd sensation from the aftermath of lactic sweetness. It leaves a light roasted coffee flavor hanging on the roof of your mouth. I taste more chips and I’m dumbfounded, searching for a salty-sweet affirmation of what I thought the chips would taste like.“(Adam, TheImpulsiveBuy.com)
And, some of our favorite comments come from a variety of different individuals over at host.madison/entertainment:
“Really, supremely not great. It’s kind of like a cheap cinnamon roll dipped in a bad cup of coffee that’s been flavored with the disgusting hazelnut-flavored creamer. As my least favorite of the pack, I could see how it might find a purpose if used as an ingredient in a trying-too-hard dessert.” (Matt Buxton, reporter)
“The flavor association of cappuccino offers an interesting creamy sensation to a crunchy chip. But the greasy nature of potato chips doesn’t do well with the overriding cinnamon of this chip.” (Robbin Wood, reporter)
“Cappuccino — Just … no.” (Weston Morrow, reporter)
Chip Review’s ‘Do Us A Flavor’ Rankings:
1. Cappuccino
4. Mango Salsa
As always, these are our thoughts, we would love to hear what you think. Agree or disagree, let us know.
Chip Ratings Scale:
(1/4 increments)
© – return to sender
©© – tolerable
©©© – notable
©©©© – lip-smacking
©©©©© – “A” list
Chip Review 