There’s a beautiful, almost childlike joy in culinary expectation, isn’t there? That moment when you see a limited-time offer, an LTO, as we called them in the professional kitchen, that promises a mashup of two beloved things. For me, that moment usually involves coffee. Let’s be honest, coffee is the anchor of my universe. It’s the foundation upon which all other good things, like bacon and more coffee, are built. And while I’m always game for the classics, it’s those adventurous, boundary-pushing flavors that really hook me. I’m an absolute sucker for a curve ball, a culinary experiment, a flavor profile I can’t quite picture until it’s steeping right in front of me. 

My former life as a chef instilled in me a deep appreciation for execution. It’s one thing to have a fantastic idea, like a deconstructed black forest cake. It’s another thing to create a liquid rendition of an iconic dessert. It’s quite another to nail the technique, balance the flavors, and deliver the intended experience. That’s the real magic. I’ve spent countless hours in a hot kitchen, meticulously balancing acidity, sweetness, and texture, knowing that the gap between a good dish and a memorable dish is often just a few milligrams of spice or an extra thirty seconds of resting time. I have a professional curiosity and a relentless pursuit of perfection in flavor. This is what I bring to every review. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a five-star primo or a simple bag of flavored beans. 

This whole thought process is precisely what happened on a recent shopping trip when I saw the gleaming bag of Berres Brothers Coffee Roasters, Banana Split Ice Cream flavor. Now, you need to know something about me: Banana-flavored coffee is one of my absolute pantry staples. Their Banana Nut Bread flavor? I keep it on hand like emergency rations. It’s reliably rich, perfectly balanced, and just sweet enough to feel like a little morning treat. So, when I saw the Banana Split LTO, my internal alarm bells went off, the good kind, the “new discovery” kind. 

A Banana Split! Think about the components: the creamy, sweet banana base, the tangy, bright strawberry and pineapple sauces, the rich chocolate syrup, the ethereal whipped cream, and the absolute essential, the single, perfect Maraschino cherry on top. To capture that multi-layered, nostalgic dessert in a coffee blend? That’s an ambitious undertaking. It’s a composition that demands not just flavor, but depth and harmony. I was instantly intrigued and, quite frankly, a little hopeful. Could this be another brilliant addition to my daily routine? Fingers crossed; I added the selection to my cart (along with a few other hopefuls), finished my shopping, and wound my way to the checkout, the promise of a nostalgic dessert-in-a-mug tucked under my arm. The stage was set for what I hoped would be a glorious morning cup. 

The Flavor Debacle: Deconstructing the Banana Split That Wasn’t 

When reviewing any prepared food, and yes, flavored coffee is a prepared food, a product of blending, science, and roasting technique; the process has to be systematic. You can’t just slap a rating on it after one sip. You need to approach it like a proper mise en place: organized, analytical, and ready to repeat the process until the true character of the product reveals itself. 

The First Look: Appearance and Aroma 

Upon opening the bag, the beans themselves displayed a rich, consistent dark brown color, a classic, medium-dark roast, indicating a good base quality. Everything looked standard, clean, and well-roasted. So far, so good. 

Next, the Aroma. This is where the whole promise of the Banana Split flavor should hit you, a vibrant, olfactory cocktail of fruit and cream. My anticipation was palpable as I inhaled the steam rising from the freshly brewed cup. 

And here’s where the narrative takes a sharp turn into disappointment. 

The aroma was void of any discernible flavor note other than a generic, standard coffee scent. Seriously. No banana. No hint of sweet, ice cream-like creaminess. No rich, dark chocolate. Absolutely no bright, summery strawberry or pineapple. Heck, I couldn’t even detect the faint, almond-like whisper of a cherry. It was like brewing unflavored, plain coffee. I actually checked the bag twice, wondering if the wrong, unflavored coffee had been packaged or mislabeled. The sensory experience was flatlining, giving me zero indication of the complex, seven-part dessert it was claiming to be. 

The Flavor Profile and Nuance: A Palate Promised, A Palate Cheated 

In a properly executed flavored coffee, the flavor profile is a delicate interplay. The natural volatile compounds of the coffee should integrate with the added flavorings, creating a complex, well-rounded taste on the palate. A good Banana Split flavor should offer a sweet entry, a creamy mid-palate, and maybe a flash of fruit acidity on the finish to mimic the sauces. 

What I tasted, however, was a masterclass in under-delivery. 

My initial taste was dominated by distinct, earthy notes. After that, the flavor simply dropped off. It was thin, lacking the creamy mouthfeel that the “Ice Cream” moniker suggests, and completely devoid of the promised fruit or chocolate complexity. There was no sweetness to speak of. It was like being promised that incredible, multi-layered dessert experience and then being handed a Brach’s Coffee Flavored Nip that someone had sucked all the sweetness and flavor complexity from. 

This is where my former chef’s hat comes on. The lack of flavor suggests a few technical flaws: 

• Poor Flavor Load: The ratio of flavoring oil to beans was likely too low. The flavor compounds failed to adhere properly to the bean’s porous structure or were simply not dosed high enough to survive the brewing process. 
• Volatile Compound Failure: The specific flavor compounds used for “Banana Split” (which are typically highly volatile and easily degrade) may have been of low quality or deteriorated rapidly after roasting and packaging, leaving behind only the most resilient, and in this case, least desirable, flavor notes. 
• Cross-Contamination/Mislabeled: While I try not to jump to this, given the complete absence of the advertised flavors, it raises the possibility that the wrong batch of coffee (perhaps one intended for a simple, unflavored dark roast, or one that was processed immediately after another blend) was bagged with this label. 

Quality Control and Final Assessment 

Per my usual process, I tried the coffee three more times, once in a French Press (which generally magnifies flavor), once in a drip brewer, and once as a cold brew (which tends to mute bitterness and enhance subtle notes). Every single time, the result was the same: plain, dry, and flat. The promised banana, chocolate, and fruit were nowhere to be found. 

This is the second LTO from Berres Brothers that has left me wondering what is going on with their “Pilot Flavors.” When a brand has such a high bar with its mainstays (like the Banana Nut Bread), the LTOs need to meet or exceed that quality. They are meant to be exciting, elevated experiences. Instead, they feel like an afterthought. I’m beginning to seriously wonder who is checking the quality of these limited-time releases before they hit the shelves. As someone who appreciates technique, this feels like a fundamental failure in the flavoring process. 

Verdict and The Hunt for the Next Great Sip  

The Final Pour: A Definitive No 

So, what’s the final word on the Berres Brothers Banana Split Ice Cream Coffee? I will not be adding this to my morning routine. I would not recommend this flavor to anyone unless your specific goal in the morning is to drink a cup of coffee that mysteriously tastes like the bottom of a coffee bag and nothing else. 

• Overall Rating: 1.5/5 (The 1.5 is purely for the nice, dark color of the roasted bean itself). 
• Best Served With: Absolutely nothing. Drink something else. 
• The Takeaway: This is a clear case of a brilliant concept, the nostalgic Banana Split, being utterly butchered in execution. It’s a harsh reminder that not all flavored coffees are created equal, and that a professional background teaches you to demand that the promise on the label is reflected in the product. 

The Bigger Picture: Finding the Enjoyment 

Ultimately, the core mission of things-i-enjoy.com is about the pursuit of those moments of genuine enjoyment, whether in a bite of food, a perfectly pulled espresso shot, or a shared memory. Even a bad product provides a valuable lesson: it refines the palate and clarifies what good truly tastes like. My disappointment here doesn’t sour my overall love for Berres Brothers; it simply makes me hungrier for the next, well-executed flavor. 

The thrill of the hunt for that perfect morning cup continues. And that’s a journey I’ll always be excited about. 

Have you ever been completely let down by a promising LTO or seasonal flavor from a favorite brand? What was it, and did you ever go back? Let’s commiserate in the comments!