Walking through aisle 7 looking for coffee! My brand, in my size wasn't on sale! Saw a shade darker and a brand from across the ocean that was a tad cheaper! Mmm A dollar saved is …I guess a Dollar saved!! Thinking through decided its ok to be dumping my 10 years loyalty and venture a bit for a buck or so!
my eyes and nose wake up only to that brewing aroma! New! Dark! Mmm...not so bad! I could really get used to it! Bitter! maybe some sugar..nah will get used to it!
An hour or so later - I see my pulse racing and I am feeling a bit restless! My immediate reaction - should I see a doctor? May be will wait! Thinking rapidly - anything to cause it? Lack of sleep? Too much stress? Running late? May be the coffee - a tad darker and a bit European- can it be? Naah- I have been Starbuckking for years now and cannot be the dark tone from across the ocean! It passes after about an hour or so! Decide to watch the next day!
Same! Same feeling! Another day, Another dose! Yes same!
finally lower the quantity and settle for the same feel with no jittery outlook! must be the age - I tell myself as I start understanding the East coast days when people used to frown when offered coffee after high noon!
This made me look at coffee differently after taking it for granted for so many years!
Before Starbucks - living in Philadelphia a stronger coffee meant going a bit late to Dunkin'Donuts and scrape the bottom of the pot!
No one I recall in East who would drink coffee after mid-morning!
When I moved to the Bay Area knowing I was a coffee drinker my friends recommended San Francisco as a place to be if you want some good coffee! Then came Starbucks and started taking things for granted!
once sitting in my usual
Starbucks off Embarcadero I look across the street and to my surprise I see another Starbucks right across the street! Crowded as this one!
Surprised - as I didn't notice for so long!
Surprised - it is as crowded as the one across!
Surprised - when it occurred to me that we follow a pattern in our behavior- even walking on the same side of the street! As all these days getting off the Bart I have always walked on the same side, crossed at the same signal and picked up my morning bagel at the same place! And of-course parked myself at the same chair for that shot of caffeine;
Surprised - Starbucks noticed it and opened for those who walked on the wrong side too!!
From Starbucks to Denny's there is a pattern and consistency in what you get.
Before Starbucks opened all night coffee shops - I had learned a few tricks from friends on how to make a lazy man's gourmet coffee;
Breaking them into what we need?
Coffee
Water
Milk
Froth
Fancy items
Looks simple enough! But not when I am half asleep in the morning. Instant coffee seems to be very under utilized category – so convenient and enables me to embrace laziness with ease!
The idea is to create every fancy forms with just stocked items from a nearby grocery shop and either a stow top or a microwave!
Step 1: Take 3-5 tablespoons of water and boil it
Step 2: Add instant coffee to it and stir it very well till it becomes a thick paste/liquid
Step 3: Heat/Boil Milk in stove top or microwave after diluting milk with water to suite taste.
Step 4: Take a bowl and pour the boiled milk into the bowl from about 2-3 feet high- this will form froth to the top of the milk. Do this 2-3 times till you get enough froth. If you need to vary the froth quantity change the water to milk ratio.
Step 5: Mix the content to a coffee mug in the following proportions based on what type you like!
1. Latte
After Step4 pour milk (3/4 Milk) to Cup with coffee liquid/paste
Add froth to the top to suit taste
2. Cappuccino
Same as above but less boiled milk(1/4 milk) and more froth
3. DLS - Southern Delight ( Specialty )
Add Milk (1/2 Cup) to a Glass Coffee Mug/Cup (make sure that the glass is capable of holding the temperature of milk/coffee)
Add Froth to the top of the Milk ( Note: based on taste vary the milk to froth ratio)
Gently Pour the coffee to the Mug/Cup against the wall or centre – this will form a ring separating the milk from the froth.
This concept applies to any variation of coffee/Mocha/Etc.
Add cinnamon or toppings to suit the taste.
All of these can be varied by using any instant flavor. This does not need any coffee or express machine. With the different varieties that are available in instant coffee- a few trials will get you the spot that is sweet and sensational to your appeal.
Using the DLS - Southern Delight could really be a surprise to your guests!
Anyone want to do the same for Tea? The way Starbucks did to coffee?
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