@benjy337 - I really don't know of a replacement for Vienna Cream. Paired with the FA Fresh Cream, it makes the mix lighter and creamier than without. If I didn't have the Vienna, I would probably leave out the FA Cream Fresh as well and substitute them both with something like TFA Vanilla Swirl @2.5 %
2% FA Vienna Cream is *way* too much IMO. At this level it completely overpowers all of the other creams. I've found that using 0.5% FA Vienna Cream in my coffee recipes adds the distinct flavor of Vienna Cream while still remaining a "supporting" flavor. And sometimes even 0.5% is too much -- it is one of the few flavors that works well at 0.25% because it is super-concentrated.
I also prefer a combination of 0.5% FA Caramel and 2.5% FW Caramel Candy in place of the FW Dulce de Leche, and also increased FA Tiramisu to 1.25% because I don't have FA Dark Bean Espresso. So the final recipe came out to:
TFA Bavarian Cream: 3%
FA Tiramisu: 1.25%
FA Cream Fresh: 1%
FA Caramel: 0.5%
FW Caramel Candy: 2.5%
FW Sweet Cream: 3%
FA Vienna Cream: 0.5%
The end result tastes like a deliciously creamy caramel cappuccino.
Thank you for your comments,, Justin. Perhaps they might help someone else down the road. I have to disagree about the Vienna Cream in this particular recipe, as it is supposed to be the main cream flavoring. Taste IS very subjective though. Vape on!
Sure thing, Alisa. I hope they help someone else down the road too. And of course you are absolutely right on taste being subjective. I did a quick browse through various recipes which use FA Vienna Cream, and found that many people tend to use it at 2% or higher, and many at 0.25-1%, but very few between 1-2%. So it would seem that some people are just very sensitive to this flavor, myself included.
@deadendgeneration - If you let this age a bit, you may not notice missing the MTS, as it just tones down any harshness from the espresso, IMHO . Try it after about 10 days, then decide.