Kasugai Sumiyaki Coffee Candy

I have tried a ridiculous number of different coffee flavored candies searching for one that tasted like actual coffee and wasn't overly sweet. Kasugai nailed it for me. These candies are sweet (they are still candy), but not overly so. Each candy is about the diameter of a butterscotch candy, but a little thicker. As others have noted, these have a very strong, almost burnt coffee flavor. The taste of Kasugai coffee candy compares to other coffee candy (e.g., Bali's Best, Kopiko, United Coffee) like fresh brewed, strong, coffeeshop coffee compares to gas station powdered 'cappuccino'. My 10 year old son (who doesn't like/drink coffee) will chow down on Kopiko coffee candy if I let him, but won't touch the Kasugai coffee candy. The only disappointing aspect of this candy is the cost. It is fairly expensive for a bag with about 15 candies in it. Being imported from Japan, I expect it to be more expensive than other candies. However, the Kasugai Sumiyaki candy is often more expensive than other Kasugai candies in similar size packages. The price on Amazon varies between not bad and terrible. When I have been able to find these candies locally, I have paid less than five dollars for the same package. I have never found them as cheap on Amazon (or elsewhere online), but they are occasionally close enough to be worth ordering rather than driving around town looking for them at various world/asian markets.

I've tried a few other coffee candies and so far this is the most authentic flavored one. There's a little sweetness that helps to balance the bitter and it's a smooth experience overall. Unlike other candies, there is no 'milky' taste to make it more 'coffee and cream'. This is just like black coffee, but sort of similar to drinking a cold brew. Haven't found anything that beats this yet. I know you can get this way cheaper at an Asian market but I sadly don't have access to one close by, so the price is a little on the higher side here.

Great candy! Sweet and intense, low calorie and delightful. Made with actual coffee, not just flavoring. Fantastic. Reasonably priced too.

Just WOW!!! I am a big fan of coffee candies but I wasn't expecting this. Basically, it tastes just like a GOOD cup of coffee, but in a hard candy form. It is deep and rich, with just the right amount of bitter coffee taste. Again, it's not a chewy candy! Perfect for the 'coffee-phile' in your life.

As someone who very rarely drinks coffee, I can't say that I really enjoy the flavor. It tastes like actual coffee that is most definitely true. It's not really a sweet candy. It tastes like coffee that has very minimal cream and sugar. I'd say that if you enjoy coffee on a regular basis you will probably enjoy this candy.

Deep, intense coffee flavor. Best candy of this kind I've ever had. Really! We got hooked on them courtesy of a friend of Japanese ancestry.

These are really delicious coffee flavored lozenges.

My boyfriend and I are both split on these. We want to like them, but every once in a while there is a horrible burnt coffee bean flavor that pops up and lingers. Sometimes it's really pleasant, but we haven't been able to finish a whole piece because it's really strong.