The primary basis of comparison for this review is the authentic coffeehouse latte. The original drink is known for its simple mix of one or two shots of strong espresso with sweet steamed milk resting gently over the top. Nabob Skinny Latte was put to the test against a non-fat latte from one of the world’s most famous coffee chains, and one from a local Portland independent coffee shop. The Nabob Skinny Latte by Tassimo is made exclusively for the Tassimo home brewing system and contains, among other ingredients, skim milk concentrate, natural flavors and roast, ground Arabica coffee, which is noted for being some of the best coffee in the world. The other two lattes were also made with Arabica beans. It comes in the form of T-Discs, which are compatible with the Braun Tassimo TA1400 or TA1200 models, the Bosch Tassimo T20, T65, Suprema and numerous other coffee systems.

The initial attraction to the Nabob Skinny Latte was the word, “Skinny,” since a good non-fat or low-fat latte is hard to find. The drink is fat-free, which is a good thing, and only contains 35 calories, which, according to the company’s nutritional information, is 56% fewer calories than their full-calorie counterpart. The skinny latte from the famous coffee chain was advertised as having a whopping 90 calories and the calorie content of the latte from the independent coffee shop was an estimated 75 calories. Therefore, in terms of being an authentic low calorie offering, the Nabob Skinny Latte came out of the gate miles ahead of its contenders. The main challenge, however, was to ascertain whether or not sacrifices to flavor, texture and overall appearance were made in the process of making it a low caloric option.

A side-by-side inspection revealed that the freshly-brewed Nabob Skinny Latte looked exactly like the one purchased from one of the world’s most popular coffee outlets and was slightly lighter in color than the one from the independent Portland coffee shop. The color was exactly the same light, creamy brown as that of the traditional latte from the famous coffee shop chain, just a shade or two darker than a hot chocolate. The foam rested gently atop the Nabob Skinny Latte in exactly the same way as both of the other drinks.

Nabob Skinny Latte T Discs

The aroma was very similar with all three drinks. The Nabob Skinny Latte had a complex mixture of aromas. The independent coffee had a slightly stronger, more earthy aroma, while the latte from the famous coffee chain smelled slightly more acidic. Nabob had very subtle, honey-like, buttery overtones.

The quality and texture of the foam on all three drinks varied considerably. The foam of the Nabob Skinny Latte had more body and buoyancy than that of the latte from the famous coffee chain, but less so than the latte from the independent coffee shop. The foam lasted longer on the Nabob latte than on both of the other latte examples and held up throughout the entire consumption process, meaning that there was still foam left at the last sip.

Compared with the other two lattes, the Nabob Skinny Latte had a smooth, complex blend of flavors with a slight sweetness that was not cloying. The latte from the coffee chain had similar complexities, but was not as full-flavored as the Nabob product. The example from the independent shop had a far more acidic quality. The Nabob Skinny Latte was surprisingly full-flavored, especially considering that it is a non-fat coffee drink. The mix of flavors in the Nabob coffee drink were complex, interesting and had a delightful natural taste. Compared with the other two drinks, the Nabob Skinny Latte came out ahead in appearance, aroma and flavor.