This is the Black Sesame Latte (iced, $7.00, +$1.00 for large) from Siroo Rice Cake Cafe. The drink consisted of iced coffee topped with black sesame cream, dusted with roasted soybean powder, and served with a cube of injeolmi tteok.
The iced latte itself, made with beans from Danes Coffee Roasters, had an aromatic richness and moderate bitterness, making it a quality coffee even before mixing. The black sesame cream added a notable nuttiness to the sweet cream, which was creamy with visible flecks of black sesame. When mixed into the coffee, the black sesame cream’s sweetness softened the latte’s bitterness while amplifying the nutty notes inherent in the coffee, similar to the effect of injeolmi cream but with a richer, more aromatic nuttiness. It also introduced a subtle textural chew from the ground black sesame.
However, the overall execution lacked the intense nuttiness and thick creamy smoothness of the version from Yeonnam Bangagan. Additionally, a sprinkling of black sesame powder and a cube of black sesame tteok (also sold in-store) would have been a more fitting accompaniment to the black sesame latte. As it was, this version felt like an afterthought to their injeolmi latte, although the overall combination remained enjoyable.
This Injeolmi Latte was purchased from Siroo Rice Cake Cafe at Shop 2, 38-40 Railway Parade, Burwood NSW 2134 in May 2024.