Review

Saturday 25 March 2023

bleaching my hair with MOREMO KERATIN & coloring with HELLO BUBBLE


Hi! I'm back with another hair dye review vlog! I was letting my hair recover for a while until the temptations to try new colors came back LOL. Mise En Scene released a new lineup of the Blackpink's HELLO BUBBLE and the colors are so pretty 😍



MOREMO KERATIN
Milk Blonde


Moremo Keratin Milk Blonde


This is the first color I use in this video. I bought it thinking that it may lighten up my hair color so that I can color them in the other shades of Hello Bubble _ I knew the lighter shades won't turn up pretty on dark hair. Though I should have known light shades dyes on the market usually don't do much for dark hair *roll eyes*


I'll spare you the trouble of attempting this yourself and advice you'd either bleach with Moremo Keratin Hair Bleach (if you want to DIY like me).


A few things I noticed with Moremo DIY dye is that they smell good and leaves the hair really soft. I think their formula is probably the best. The only cons is that the are NOT in bubble or foam so application can be troublesome.



MOREMO KERATIN
Keratin Hair Bleach

 

I've always wanted to try Moremo Keratin Hair Bleach (Get it from Shopee here & here), I know they work from checking out reviews. 


I've tried eZn Creamy Hair bleach a few times (here and here) but found that they could only bleached up to orange tone even if I leave it for long. That is good if you are not confident with using bleach and want to ensure that the end result is even. However, if you want to try lighter tones or bright colors like pink and blue, you do need to bleached it to yellow or platinum blonde.




Moremo could bleach your hair to those shades but they are tricky _ you might end up with different tones. I think mine didn't turn up even because I'm totally not a pro. It's tough when you're doing it on your own. The pros, I find Moremo have really good formula _my hair doesn't feel dry from bleaching twice but it probably will if I did another round IDK.



HELLO BUBBLE
10AB Ash Beige



This was the color I was what first caught my attention. However, it didn't turn up like what's shown on the box despite me having bleached hair. I think it probably turn up if your start with platinum blonde hair but I cannot be sure... Anyone tried it yet? This color is always out of stock in the stores so get it from Shopee here (from OS & with free shampoo sample) or cheaper here here.



HELLO BUBBLE
8MB Matt Brown


This was my experimental choice but turned out to be quite a pretty color and received the most compliment. I like this bc I think cool brown shades suits me better. 



Looking back at the video and photos, this actually turned out closer to the photo of Rose with Ash Beige than Jisoo with Matt Brown... But it could be because I bleached my hair. The color theory is so messed up..



You can find it on Shopee here (from OS & with free shampoo sample) or cheaper here here.



HELLO BUBBLE
3NT Dark Choco

I think this color totally turn up well on bleached hair. Love this shade! It is VIBRANT _ at least for the first few days _ and gives off the rich gal look (Cehhhh!). Though this color is probably the messiest to deal with. OMG it leaves stains that lasts for a few days on my arms and I can see that the color still runs when I wash my hair for the first week. BTW not to be mistaken with 6N Choco Brown shade though they do look the same. Get it from Shopee here (from OS & with free shampoo sample) or cheaper here & here.



If you're observant, you'd probably spot another shade of Hello Bubble in Dusty Ash in my video too. That was another color I really really want to achieve for the longest time. However, (again!) it didn't turn up well on yellow tone hair and fades into dusty green which lasted like just a few days if you wash your hair daily *groans* Overall, loving the new Hello Bubble lineup a lot! No, this is NOT a sponsored post, I'm just a very loyal customer of DIY hair dyes. Also I bought mine on Shopee during sales and with the free gifts LOL. 



I'm also gonna add that the Mise En Scene Perfect Serum Original Shampoo is SUPER AMAZING. It makes my hair look so healthy and feeling moisturized! I'd say it's the same level as Marc Anthony's Coconut Oil & Shea Butte shampoo which is another personal fav, tried-and-tested shampoo. The packaging in my video appears to be the old version. They have rebranded into a sleeker new look (and there I was searching for it thinking they're different!). Also, for a free sample, I'd say the amount is very generous LOL



(BTW the set which link I provided retails at RM64 but I bought them during sale for RM42! So keep them in your cart until sales day)

 

Mise En Scene Perfect Serum Original Shampoo


That conclude my post here, hope you find this useful! Do like, share and comment on this blog or on my YouTube channel~



#


Saturday 18 June 2022

looking back & rating all the hair dyes I've used in 2021


2021 has been a colorful year despite Covid19. But then again, it is only possible because of the whole WFH and lockdown that I could try different hair colors in the first place! Also because of boredom from staying in for too long...



Without further ado, jumping right in!



#1 L'oreal Excellence Fashion



Starting off with the first hair dye I made a video review and it blew up! My best performing video for the first year and still a top video *touched*






Color(s) I tried: 10.11 Crystal Ash (Shopee MY)

Texture: Watery cream

Application: 7/10 doesn't harden, easy to apply

Smell: 1/10 Not obvious until my second bottle. Bearable.

Messiness: 4/10 Very messy, drips all over arms

Color turnout on dark hair: 2/10 (I guess you still need to bleach beforehand)

Color turnout on light or bleached hair: Unsure

Evenness of color: 7/10

Hair health post-dyeing: 9/10 Hair remains healthy, non-dry and super soft!




#2 Mise En Scene's 

Perfect Color (Blackpink edition)


This is another range from Mise En Scene that I bought directly from a Shopee seller from Korea. This Perfect Color lineup is more otona aka mature and with it lesser 'adventurous' colors compared to the Hello Bubble rangeVideo review here



I tried it prior to bleaching my hair to see if I like going bright or lighter. After all, it has been years since I bleached my hair and the first experience wasn't a good one. Though I'd say now I'm better at taking care of my bleached hair and already loving the whole ash tones!





Color(s) I tried: 9N Sand Brown (Shopee MY)

Texture: Cream

Application: 9/10 easy to apply, doesn't harden

Smell: 1/10 No discomforting chemical smell. Do NOT sniff directly from bottle though!

Messiness: 1/10 No drippy mess

Color turnout on dark hair: 8/10 Very bright but different from box/online

Color turnout on light or bleached hair: Unsure but possibly very bright

Evenness of color: 5/10 Obviously uneven

Hair health post-dyeing: 9/10 Hair remains healthy, non-dry and super soft!



~🤍~



The next products are from eZn Malaysia, who have sponsored the eZn Creamy Hair Bleach, eZn Pudding Hair Color and Dr.BokGoo's Perfect Set. Get them on Shopee MY. I also made a video reviewing both products.



I'm no stranger to dyeing my own hair but this is the first time I bleached my own hair. The first time I did this, I got the products sponsored. But I returned and bought the bleach again because I think this is a 'manageable' bleach. I'm saying this because from the reviews I watch online, depending on the strength of the bleach, you will get uneven tons. Unless you're a pro or know someone who can help you, a lot of time that's the caselah



However, I noticed with eZn bleach, it will not go past the orange level. I've tried leaving the bleach for an hour (past the recommended 30 minutes max) and most of my hair stayed orange except for one two odd strands that become yellow IDK why. Then even after I bleach a second round (the first time), the result is still orange. This is why I'm confident if I use it to retouch, I won't get layers of colors at the roots.



VERDICT? So yes, this eZn bleach is great up to the orange level or the beginner DIY hair bleach. If you want to go yellow or platinum blonde, didn't work for me. But from orange, you can get nice ashy brown with purple shampoo.



eZn Malaysia



#3 eZn Creamy Hair Bleach


Texture: Creamy

Application: 8/1 (easy to spread on hair)

Smell: 8/10 (no obvious chemical smell)

Messiness: 1/10 (non-messy, could do without cape BUT wear a tee you don't mind messing. I wore a white tee so have no idea if it will stain/bleach color tee) 

Color turnout on dark hair: 8/10 (bleaches to orangey-yellow, not platinum blonde as shown on box despite leaving on a long time. Takes more than 30 minutes to bleach)

Color turnout on light or bleached hair: N/A

Evenness of color: 8/10 (just didn't turn out as box but orange-y)

Hair health post-dyeing: 6/10 (very dry but expected with bleaching. Need post-bleaching hair care)



#4 eZn Pudding Hair Color


eZn Malaysia


Color(s) I tried: Truffle Mushroom Blond (Smoky Ash) (Shopee MY)

Texture: Pudding

Application: 7/10 (easy to spread, doesn't harden fast but do harden slightly after letting it sit for awhile)

Smell: 9/10

Messiness: 7/10 (does get on arms and legs) 

Color turnout on dark hair: Unsure 

Color turnout on light or bleached hair: 9/10 (very pretty! color is nicer on bleached hair)

Evenness of color: 9/10 (one of the best, I use my own comb btw)

Hair health post-dyeing: 7/10



After using the two, I noticed my scalp were slightly dry from the appearance of some dandruff. Thankfully, it's like only a handful of tiny dried skin and it was resolved in a week so it didn't bug me much. Of course, I was worried about my hair/scalp condition from dyeing my hair so frequently. And so post-bleaching, I did extra effort by conditioning my hair when I wash my hair. Equally as important, I did treatment/conditioning whenever I was my hair prior (I don't wash daily like pre-lockdown) to bleaching to 'prepare' my hair.



As of now my roots are overgrown once again but I'm deciding what color is next. Should I bleach orange or go straight to yellow? Whole head or partial? What style? Even coloring hair takes so much into considerations LOL

Sunday 11 July 2021

Mise En Scene Hello Bubble in Whale Deep Blue & Dusty Ash Review

 

Hello Bubble Blackpink



Early this year, I ordered several shades of DIY box dyes brand called Mise en scene x Blackpink Hello Bubble. This usually retails in the local pharmacy at RM49 but I found retailers at more affordable prices on ShopeeMY, at RM26-29 per box! Some of the colors that caught my eyes from the are Whale Deep Blue,  Dusty Ash, Mermaid Green and Metallic Ash. I also love the warm brown shades rocked by Jennie in Dark Choco and Choco Brown but these are shades of browns I had tried. I wanted something different this year!



I also found out there is two other range of Mise en scene x Blackpink called Hello Cream (Shopee MY) and Perfect Color (Shopee MY), both focuses on very pretty, natural, otona color shades. I had tried 9N Sand Gold from the Perfect Color range. You can read about it or watch the review here.



For this round, I decided to mix BOTH Whale Deep Blue and Dusty Ash. I have came across a TikToker who does that and love the result therefore I'm trying to emulate it LOL. Here is my video of me doing so:





Verdict? As you can see in the video, mine turn up a dark green. In fact, it is very similar to what's shown on Hello Bubble's Mermaid Green box! I suspect it's because my hair is orange and not yellow like the girl's in the TikTok video. Perhaps if I have toned my hair the color will turn out blue? While the color seem to compliment my skin tone, I don't think green is my shade WOOPS. Just me lah. I did get compliment on it.



The color is really vibrant and pretty IRL. HOWEVER! Very oddly, photos or videos don't do them justice! Several online reviewers share the same comments so I don't think it's just me. This is also a semi-permanent dye and lasted well over a month. I had thought like most colors other than brown shades, it'll probably be completely gone in two weeks but nope!



At present, they've lightened to ash green and I'm already noticing few sections of bleached hair visible. Still, it will probably be another week or so before they're completely gone (I think!) and I can move over to trying another shade.



Putting those aside, I find this brand is becoming a favorite. It's easy and not as time & energy consuming to apply. Of the many types of DIY hair dyes I have tried, I always love bubble dyes because they're less cumbersome and gives a much even result. I think Liese has found its competition! But yes, it does get all over my arms and face but they are easy to wash off. Hair dye brands usually changes their lineups every now and then but really wishing they could make some colors permanent! Hopefully, Mise En Scene comes out with more ashy colors too!

Monday 5 April 2021

(Sponsored Products) eZn Creamy Hair Bleach, eZn Pudding Hair Color in Truffle Mushroom Blond and Dr.BokGoo's Rx-Plex Perfect Set Review


eZn Malaysia



Think 2021 is going to be a colorful year! This be like my third color _ if you don't count bleaching! I finally accepting that if I want to achieve my dream ashy brown hair color, I would need to bleach them. For that, I am super lucky to be able to collaborate with Active Medi Pro, the official distributor of eZn products in Malaysia. This is NOT a paid post but they are sponsoring the products which I am reviewing here.



You can find this DIY hair bleach & dye in Aeon Wellness, ShopeeMY, LazadaMY or Active Medi Pro's official website. 



Until July 31st, 2021 you can use the promo code VIVIEN10OFF for 10% off your purchase when you order directly from Active Medi Pro's official website. Free shipping too for purchase over RM100. BTW, these applies for my fellow readers based in Malaysia only.



A quick introduction of this brand which originates from Korea. While this is relatively new in Malaysia, the brand is quite established in Korea and well-known for having quite a selection of pretty colors that actually turn out well. Active Medi Pro or AMP Beauty currently carries 22 colors, each at RM50.90! The colors are so unique and they carry the widest range of fashionable ash-y tone dyes.



eZn Malaysia





A lot ash-y shades which are quite trendy these days! From the ads, Truffle Mushroom Blond, Smoky Ash Beige and Sandy Ash looks so pretty! Austria Vienna Brown and Bourgogne Burgundy Brown are my other favorite shades but I've sported burgundy for almost 2 years, it's about time I change hahaha!

 


eZn's at Aeon Wellness


eZn Malaysia



~♡~


I chose the shade called Truffle Mushroom Blond with expectation is to achieve the medium if not lightest tone!



DIY hair dye in Malaysia



eZn Malaysia



To achieve that, I will first be using eZn Creamy Hair Bleach (RM40.90 per box).


eZn Malaysia



One very interesting product is the eZn Dr.BokGoo Rx-Plex Perfect Set (RM49.90 per box). It contains cystine, billberry fruit extract, sugar cane extract and rosemary extract to improve elasticity, supply moisture, increase volume in hair and longer lasting shine. 


eZn Malaysia


eZn Malaysia


This hair treatment set consist of Rx-Plex 1 which is to be used together with the bleach or dye to maintain a healthy hair. The Rx-Plex 2 is used after shampoo similar to conditioner/treatment and is recommended to leave for 5-7minutes or longer for best results. 


The instruction mentioned that 4ml of Rx-Plex 1 should be added for every 10ml of bleach or dye. A box of eZn Creamy Hair Bleach is 30ml bleach while a box of eZn Pudding Hair Color is 70ml _ you do the math LOL. I added mine into the bleach knowing it is the most damaging to the hair. Also because I knew I will be using 3 boxes, I divided it equally among the three at 8ml each.


eZn Malaysia


~♡~


How much for all the eZn products?


For the length & volume of my hair, I am using 3 boxes of eZn Creamy Hair Bleach (RM40.90 x 3 = RM122.70) and 2 boxes of eZn Pudding Hair Color (RM50.90 x 2 = RM101.80) plus a box of eZn Dr.BokGoo Rx-Plex Perfect Set (RM49.90) which sums up to RM274.40. 



It is slightly affordable than doing in the saloon because the last time I get my long hair professionally bleached and color in Klang Valley, it will probably be a minimum of RM400-RM700++ in total. That's probably the lower end and without treatment... 



How many boxes would I need for my hair length?


If your hair is past shoulder length like mine, 2 boxes of bleach and 2 boxes of pudding hair dye are sufficient. Add extra box(es) if you think you have thicker hair or gonna do another round to even out on spots you missed.



This guide works for both bleach & dye:




How did the bleaching and dyeing process went?


The whole process (bleaching then coloring) took about if not more than 8 hours over two days. I didn't experience bleach burn like when I tested it on my hand_ I think not washing my hair for a few days prior to bleaching did the trick! However, my scalp did sting when I apply the dye and throughout the waiting period so much that I was getting headache. I think the multiple bleaching processes and then dyeing have stripped the natural oil and turned my scalp sensitive.



Before bleaching followed by first round of bleaching with 2 boxes of bleach and final round of bleaching with last box.



eZn Malaysia



On the bleaching, my hair turn orange and not yellow nor platinum blonde despite me leaving the bleach for an hour! Eeek! I look like Ichigo Kurosaki's long lost sister OMG. Some part or strands did turn yellow but very minimal. I am unsure if leaving the bleach longer or doing more rounds of bleaching will achieve the result as shown on the box. I did attempt a second round of bleaching but only to turn the spots I missed orange while the parts that were already orange didn't bleach any further.



My hair becomes dry (expected with bleaching) but using eZn Dr.BokGoo Rx-Plex 2 revives my hair and made them softer. It makes a huge difference! Would recommend you getting it for the sake of protecting or keeping your hair healthy.



For dyeing, according to the instructions you only need to massage the pudding onto your hair. I use a dye comb (not provided) just in case and the results turn out satisfactory!



What's my verdict?


The color turns out SUPER PRETTY!!The ash brown with lavendar hint is such a unique shade of compared to most DIY hair dye available in the pharmacy now. This gotta be my personal favorite shade after burgundy!


eZn Malaysia



eZn Malaysia




I'm also impress at how accurate is the color is to what's advertised. I do see hints of yellow or orange bleach hair (missed out sections) but would say overall the coverage is quite even!



Also, the coverage on my scalp was quite good despite me only bleaching them very slightly. 


eZn Malaysia



Though I cannot be sure if you'd achieve this shade (second level) I have without bleaching because some parts of my hair at the back looks closer to the first level of result. Perhaps I'll try this shade on unbleached hair in the future!



eZn Malaysia



I was expecting the yellow bleach color but after bleaching I decided that dyeing (aka purple toning) from orange gives nicer results. Saying this because for the strands that were lighter orange-yellow became gray-er after bleach and while I can see the subtle purple hue, they look more like gray hairs to me. The orange hair turn a beautiful ashy, purple brown that I super like.



In some sections, the orange from bleaching my hair are still visible. Also because of the crazy bright orange hair undertone from the bleaching, the color do become brassy! And so I think if you'd want to maintain a nice ashy-purple shade, you can maintain your hair with purple toning shampoo. eZn Korea actually carries a toning shampoo called the Dr.BokGoo Magnetic Color shampoo to fix this but this is not available locally just yet *shrugs*



Last but not least, sharing this video I made while trying this product. What do you think about the color turnout and which color do you think I should try next? If you have tried this, do tell me how it goes!



Friday 12 March 2021

coffee reviews | for the love of coffee


recent coffee hauls



Yet another compilation posts but doing a different kind of post today _  coffee reviews! It didn't occur to me to review coffee before but while browsing through my photos, I noticed that I have experimented with multiple brands in the past months and thought it isn't a bad idea to share my passion with my fellow readers! Before MCO, I was an instant coffee lover. Guess partly due to boredom of the whole lockdown that I take it to try new foodstuff and coffee is just one of them. So yes, expect more posts as I indulge myself and experiment with all the brands. 



At the same time, this particular blog post is just my coffee journal of what I tried and among which what I like and don't like for future reference. Because seriously, I already cannot recall the flavors of most brands I tried like this Starbucks Espresso Roast even though it was a few months ago! (゚Д゚ ;)



Just a note before I proceed, I have included affiliate links to Amazon and Shopee Malaysia in this blog post to which I may receive a commission should you choose to use it. My advance appreciation if you do! <( _ _)>


Starbucks espresso roast



Expect a rather amateurish mini reviews, I'm not planning to be a coffee connoisseur! I make good-enough-to-drink coffee. If there are something I'm picky about brewing my own drip coffee, it'll be that I always make sure the grind is small enough and that the flow is slow because these affects the coffee taste by a whole lot! Too course or too fast and it'll come off super bitter, yucky and a waste of good coffee beans. In terms of flavor notes, I prefer smooth tasting one with hints of floral, nuts or chocolate. Mildly sourish or acidic is acceptable but not a personal preference. Apparently there are quite a lot of different flavor profiles I have yet to try! Lastly, nothing 'flat' because life is short to be that boring.



I don't usually buy multiple different packs at the same time but only made an exception because I want to brew and let my fam try when I returned to home sweet hometown end of last year. In the end only my dad humoring my whole VV cafe business nonsense ( ̄ー ̄;) Gulung tikarlah like that. Because I was only home for a week and we are moderate coffee drinker who usually drink a cup a day, I ended up with all the brands in my pantry.



Before I get to the beans, here is a quick introduction to my humble collection of coffee making tools: Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill (Amazon | ShopeeMY), Hario V60 Plastic Dripper 02 (Amazon | ShopeeMY) and Daiso plastic dripper & paper filter and a cute pour over kettle. The milk frother (Amazon | ShopeeMYis a recent addition as I want to experiment with latte.



home coffee tools


Between the Hario V60 and Daiso's I'd say go for Daiso because drip size matters! If I can do differently, I'd get the other ceramic dripper with smaller drip hole (Amazon | ShopeeMY).



Also, I'd recommend going for a larger size pour over or an electrical pour over in aesthetic black design (Amazon | ShopeeMY) or retro wood design (ShopeeMY), just for convenience sake. The one I have needs to be refilled twice to make a cup of coffee. Not complaining, it is a pretty gift from a friend and I love using it! Final note on the pour over, good to have one with insulated handle too because it can get too hot to hold. As for the hand grinder, I got mine for RM100-ish which is great for making up to 2-3 cups but found if you're willing to top up a bit you can get a machine grinder (Amazon | ShopeeMY). To some may be much convenient and you get precise grind size but it takes up counter space. A handheld one also meant it is super portable.




1) Starbucks Pike Place

Medium Roast



Starbucks Pike Place Medium Roast



The reason I try so many Starbucks' coffee beans are because of  the quality, variety and accessibility to buy the coffee beans in the supermarket. On top of that, I also very much tempted to try their seasonal blends just for fun. That said, I do get super overwhelmed if I have to choose between 50 brands of coffee beans! 


Like the other Starbucks coffee pack, this Starbucks Pike Place (Amazon | ShopeeMY) retailing at RM24.90 for 200g. This one is mildly bitter and didn't really leave much of an impression in me really. If you haven't hear yet, with every pack of Starbucks Flavorlock™ bag you recycle at any branches, you are entitled to a 10% discount off their coffee beans. So don't forget to keep them if you want to try in-house specialty and seasonal blends that are only available in the store which BTW is different than what's in the supermarket.



2) Aeon Big's 

Ipoh White Coffee Bean


Aeon Big Ipoh White Coffee Beans


This beans were bought from Aeon Big Mid Valley, probably the only Aeon Big that offers fresh coffee beans by the gram? This simple pack of 250g is RM15.50For those who just wants to appreciate homey, traditional kopitiam-style kopi-o but better, this is worth stocking in your pantry. Just one thing, make sure to store them properly! I think my containers lid isn't airtight enough. On top of keeping it too long, this made the beans no longer fresh, harder to grind and the brew, much bitter...




3) Bonjour Garden Bakery Cafe

100% Arabica Mandheling Coffee Beans


Bonjour Garden Bakery Cafe 100% Arabica Mandheling Coffee Beans



I got this from Jaya Grocer, retailing at RM15 for a pack of 100g. The other option to get this is on ShopeeMY. This rich chocolate-y scented beans make quite bitter coffee with slight acidity. With sugar, it has a moderate taste and I think I sense some floral-y flavor. Tell me if you find the same!



4) Kapal Api 

Kaw Coffee Mixture


This is a combination of Java Robusta and Mandheling beans which results in a dark, slightly bitter brew. This pack of 180g retails at RM4.80 (Amazon ShopeeMY). Rich, dark and earthy scented, almost resembling Kopi Bali.


Kapal Api Kaw Coffee Mixture


I don't think this is meant for drip coffee! The grind is so fine (I didn't noticed it was mentioned on the packaging!) that it takes forever to get a cup of coffee. Forever because the water can't even pass through even though I stirred several times *face palm* I think you would need a fabric coffee strainer (who has that at home OMG) or allow the grind to settle at the bottom then pour over into another cup?



I found out that super fine coffee grinds are perfect for espresso machine or moka pot, both of which I don't have (≧Д≦ ) I have been obsessing with the idea of owning a Bialetti moka pot for the sake of a home cafe but still thinking about it! Purchasing it meant I'd probably need to get a mini electric stove top because I don't want to put it directly on the gas stove, personal preference stuff.


Kapal Api Kaw Coffee Mixture


I later found out that Kapal Api actually offers two grind size: fine and course but overlooked it when I bought mine! *screams internally* While I wish I have a moka pot right now just so that I wouldn't need to drink badly brewed coffee, I'd just have to tolerate this for now because I don't really want to waste it...


I could have settled for cheap brand-less moka pot but from reviews online, I hear they don't last because the pressure valve would get loose after just a handful of use. I wouldn't mind paying for something that'd last besides a matter of safety. Personally eyeing Bialetti's Moka Express Oceana 4 or 6-cup moka pot (Amazon | ShopeeMY) and an electric stove (ShopeeMY), the latter apparently has Bialetti's logo but oddly I can find it on local Shopee site only and not on the official store website. Can't tell if legit, but if I get the moka pot, I'd rather use it on an electric stove. Both would have cost me RM450 which is why I'm really considering if I really want to drink espresso often!


Kapal Api Kaw Coffee Mixture




5) Starbucks' 

Premium Instant Coffee 

Dark Roast & Medium Roast


Starbucks Premium Instant Coffee  Dark Roast & Medium Roast



A new edition of Starbucks for 2020, premium instant coffee in Dark Roast (ShopeeMYand Medium Roast (ShopeeMY)! Comes in cute aluminium tin price at RM35 for 90g which makes approximately 40 cups with a tablespoon at a time. I found that you can get them online between RM29.90-RM32.50. This is perfect for the days I want quick coffee without resorting to 3-in-1 and still have satisfactory coffee. What I don't like is that you can't keep them for long as they will coagulate with exposure. 


The dark roast one has deep and chocolate-y flavor that I'm super loving while the medium is plain mild but smooth, less exciting flavor. 10/10 will repurchase the former.




6) Davidoff Espresso 57 Intense


Davidoff Espresso 57 Intense



Lastly, not coffee beans or grounds but instant coffee _ Davidoff Espresso 57 Intense (Amazon | ShopeeMY) which I got for the sake of making Dalgona Coffee. I find Davidoff instant coffee has a strong bitter taste on its own but the strong flavor definitely suits Dalgona-making.



It didn't work out though (ㄒoㄒ) I don't know if its too much water or just don't have the strength to beat the coffee until it thickens. I used the milk frother at the beginning to speed up the process but still didn't work out. First two attempts ended up with quite a mess!



More like a reverse cappuccino _ milk and coffee foam ( ¬ _ ¬ ;)



~♡~


Switching to coffee beans is just my way to avoid drinking too much 3-in-1 coffee. For a long while I stocked up on brands like French Cafe, Old Town, Essenso, Caffe Bene, Pappa Rich and of course Nescafe _they taste sinfully good but too much sugar content! I still don't do black but I noticed with better beans with fresh, natural sweet flavors I don't need so much sugar YAYYY!



Expect more coffee posts on this blog after I finished what I already have. Though I'm pretty sure I won't run out of ideas with the selections available in the supermarket and online just yet, happy to listen if you have recommendations for great coffee beans! 


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