As someone who takes coffee seriously — I don’t often reach for instant-style mixes. They tend to promise convenience but fall short on flavour. So I approached the new releases from Jacobs with a little scepticism.
But after the first cup, I’ll admit: these are really good, especially for anyone wanting a café-style fix without the cost or effort.
The newly launched Jacobs Hot & Iced Latte is designed with modern coffee habits in mind.
What stands out immediately is its flexibility. Prepared hot, it delivers a mild, rounded cup with a creamy finish that doesn’t feel overly sweet or artificial. Poured over ice, it offers a refreshing iced coffee that feels close to what you’d order at a café on a warm Cape Town afternoon. For a single-serve format, the consistency is impressive — no guesswork, no fiddling with ratios.
Convenience is where this product really finds its place. Each stick is pre-portioned, making it easy to prepare at home, at work or even while travelling.
For busy mornings or mid-afternoon breaks, it removes the usual friction of making a decent cup. And importantly, it does so at a price point that makes daily indulgence realistic, not occasional.
Vanilla Cappuccino
The return of the Vanilla Cappuccino will likely please those who favour something slightly more indulgent. Vanilla can easily tip into overly sweet territory, but here it’s handled with restraint.
The flavour is present without overwhelming the coffee base, and the froth — always a key marker for cappuccino-style drinks — is light and stable. It’s an easy drink, especially when you want something comforting.
“These additions reflect how people enjoy coffee today, as something flexible, flavourful and personal,” says Domaine Rautenbach, Senior Brand Manager for Jacobs. “From the smooth new Latte to the return of our Vanilla Cappuccino, we’re giving consumers more choice to enjoy café-style moments at home, without compromising on taste or value.”
Both products tap into a growing shift in how South Africans are consuming coffee. Not everyone has the time, equipment or budget for daily café visits, yet the expectation of quality remains.
These mixes bridge that gap. They offer a way to recreate a familiar coffee shop experience — creamy latte, flavoured cappuccino — in a matter of seconds.
For a coffee drinker who can be particular, that balance between convenience, cost and taste is not easy to achieve, but these new additions come as close as one can hope for.
