We tried out the Trafford Centre’s new Nespresso coffee boutique – including new watermelon flavour

Here’s a first look inside the Trafford Centre’s new Nespresso boutique
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There’s a new Nespresso coffee boutique opened in the Trafford Centre where coffee lovers can try out new flavours, experiment with latte art and personalise mugs. The new store even includes a nod to Manchester, with beehive tiles and lighting.

We went along to the new Nespresso boutique to learn how to make some of the more weird and wonderful coffee creations and try them for ourselves.

What can customers expect?

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The boutique is located on the first floor of the Trafford Centre, opposite Ted Baker and next to the shopping mall’s New Orleans quarter. The first thing customers notice is the floor-to-ceiling wall displaying the dozens of different flavoured pods that are available. These include all the classic coffees, as well as pods specifically designed for iced drinks and cold brews.

Nespresso boutique at the Trafford Centre.  Photo: NespressoNespresso boutique at the Trafford Centre.  Photo: Nespresso
Nespresso boutique at the Trafford Centre. Photo: Nespresso

There is also a separate coffee station, where customers can use interactive screens and follow tutorials on how to use the coffee machines. Elsewhere, there is a dedicated ‘Coffee as Art’ tasting and masterclass area, where Nespresso will be hosting special demonstrations. You can also get your Nespresso mugs personalised and enjoy some creative latte art.

We spoke to Anna Lundstrom, the CEO of Nespresso UK and Ireland to find out more about the success of these boutiques around the country. She said: “Especially in a post-pandemic world, what we’ve seen is that consumers really want those physical experiences and I think retail has to work harder now because consumers have become more used to shopping online.

“If you want to bring them in-store you have to make sure that you give them an experience that’s going to be different than online.”

New flavours

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We were lucky enough to get a first taste of some of the summer collection pods and the unique drinks you can make with them.

The first one to catch our attention was the Juicy Watermelon Over Ice – yes, you read that correctly. The coffee itself has an unmistakable watermelon aroma that becomes more subtle when used in the machine. Our host for the evening, Nespresso brand ambassador and Manchester-based food influencer Nigel K. Kabvina, mixed the coffee with pieces of watermelon, sugar syrup, mint leaves, ice, sparkling water and a dash of sparkling wine. We were surprised how well the bitterness of the coffee balances with the freshness of the fruit and mint.

Cold brew coffee is a trend that has been growing over the last few years and something we’ll likely be seeing more as we move into the warmer months. We were treated to a refreshing twist to the standard cold brew that included fresh cucumber, lemon and basil – definitely an easy one to experiment with at home.

Nespresso Trafford Centre. Photo: NespressoNespresso Trafford Centre. Photo: Nespresso
Nespresso Trafford Centre. Photo: Nespresso

If we weren’t already convinced by the coffee and fruit combo, this next one definitely did the job. This creation uses the Ice Leggero capsule, along with ice, vanilla syrup, and mango juice. Most frappes that you get from popular coffee shop franchises are super sweet and packed with cream and sugar, but not this one. The vanilla and mango do add sweetness to it but it’s not overpowering and, as the recipe made use of Nespresso’s Iced Nitro device, the drink also still had a creamy texture.

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Whiskey and coffee is a classic pairing, as demonstrated in the Whisky Essence Highball. This one included a whisky essence coffee, lemon juice, ginger, mediterranean tonic, mint and garnished with edible flowers and reminded me of a penicillin cocktail (honey, lemon, ginger, whisky). If I were making this one at home, I would definitely be tempted to also add a dash of the real stuff, though.