Earlier this month Nespresso announced the release of its new range of decaffeinated Grands Crus, created to mirror three of the company’s most popular caffeinated blends.
To celebrate the release, Nespresso’s head of the Oceania region, Loïc Réthoré, welcomed select media to experience the new blends at The Sydney Theatre Company on Tuesday night, before treating them to a performance of The Sydney Festival‘s hotly anticipated show by James Thierrée, Tabac Rouge.
“James Thierrée is the grandson of Charlie Chaplain and is renowned for being one of the world’s greatest circus performers,” Réthoré said. “He was also born in Lausanne, Switzerland – the same place Nespresso was born.”
Before the show, specialty Nespresso cocktails, designed by Mike Enright from The Barber Shop and featuring the three new crus, were served in the STC’s Ruth Cracknell Room, which was decked out for the evening with bouquets of red roses.
Before roasting, the three decaffeinated blends – Arpeggio Decaffeinato, Volluto Decaffeinato and Vivalto Lungo Decaffeinato – each go through an advanced decaffeination process, using both water and carbon-dioxide methods of decaffeination rather than harsh chemicals. These methods, says Nespresso, “respect the true nature of the green bean; there is no sacrifice in quality or taste, and the environment is respected”.
The food
Canapés included basil, Persian feta and tomato tarts; seared teriyaki tuna and wasabi crème on rice-paper wafers; king prawns with tarragon and chive crème; pumpkin, Stilton and mustard-fruit tortellini; and bite-sized 12-hour-cooked beef Bourguignon with mashed potato.
The drink
Mike Enright’s bespoke cocktails included a Nespresso Punch (Vivalto Lungo Decaffeinato, Havana Club rum, macadamia nut-infused almond milk and date); the Nespresso Night Cap (Volluto Decaffeinato stirred with Martell VS Cognac, Heering cheering liqueur, Aztec chocolate bitters and fresh cherry) and an Espresso Martini (Arpeggio Decaffeinato, vodka, coffee liqueur, nutmeg and vanilla ice-cream foam).
We loved
James Thierrée not only starred in Tabac Rouge, but he also directed, choreographed and designed the set – a spectacular unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. How many coffees must he have a day?
The new decaffeinated range is available now from Nespresso boutiques, the Nespresso Club and online at nespresso.com.