Tuesday, September 02, 2014

Coffee, coffee, everywhere, and some of it I drink.

We're moving soon, and it's very sadly nowhere near my favorite coffee place.

Mochas are my weakness. My decaf, iced, soy, sugar-free weakness. It's the only thing I spend money on, but I'm not willing to spend an extra half hour in the car, so I broke down and bought an espresso machine.

Enter trial and error.

You see, I had not thought this through, having worked at a coffee shop right after college. Not thought it through meaning that I have been experimenting making drinks, which have turned out everywhere from very good to mostly terrible. Trial and error with fake milks, fake syrups, even fake coffee!
Of course, I was too proud to say, "This shit is terrible!" So I drank all of them.

Mr. RK pointed out that the only sugar-free syrup I could get at the store was probably not cutting it, so I found a barista supply store online (go, me!) and am having some shipped. I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile my boss said, "No caffeine, right?" Because we don't want Speedy Gonzales on crack in the office.

And speaking of the office, no matter how much I enjoy time off, I enjoy work much more than I ever enjoyed school. My younger sibs have started school and my brother B's report went like this:

Me: "Did you have homework?"
Him: "About three hours."
Me: "Why so much?"
Him: "The pre-calculus book doesn't come with any instructions. So I spent a lot of time looking stuff up. And the science teacher wants us to color code our notes."

Color code their notes?

Me: "My God. Does she have OCD, like me? What if any of the students are colorblind?"
Him: "Then they are fucked."

He has always been pragmatic, that one. Meanwhile, my stepmom is on a business trip this week, and he has the run of the place to himself. I just hope none of it involves a goat. 

21 comments:

Lee said...

I bought myself a coffee machine a couple of years ago, and I love it. It's not a large, you-beaut, all the bells and whistles one, and it didn't cost me a fortune...only $129.00Au, free delivery to my door. I use it all the time; and now, I'd be lost without it.

I even built a special shelf and attached it to the wall, just for my coffee machine. :)

I don't use sugar or any sweetener of any kind in my coffee...I find that quality coffee doesn't require sweeteners...individual taste, of course.

Charles Gramlich said...

Being a non-coffee person I don't have to deal with any of this! :)

Ileana said...

I love the dialogue between you and your brother; would love to be a fly on the wall at one of your get-togethers. :)

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I only drink the abomination known as instant coffee, so my advice will be no help to you.

Elephant's Child said...

I don't believe (or don't trust) anyone who says that their schooldays were the best days of their lives.
I can no longer drink coffee, but feel your pain on the skinny one's behalf.
His coffee machines (yes plural) are one of his life's essentials.

LL Cool Joe said...

Like Debra I only drink instant coffee too. Decafe. God I'm an old bore.

That last photo cracked me up!

Anonymous said...

I prefer decaf. Regular makes me heart beat fast. Yup, I am boring as well!

Abby said...

An espresso machine? Of your very own? Now THAT's commitment! While I do drink coffee, I'm not a fan of the fancy stuff. Gas station coffee is tops on my list.
I take your brother isn't color-blind. Luckily.

Vanessa Morgan said...

I've never been a fan of coffee, but if it's combined with milk and vanilla or pumpkin spice, I'm addicted.

A Beer for the Shower said...

And I'm just sitting here sipping my lame French press made espresso, like a sucker.

lotta joy said...

Decaf is like kissing your sister. No point at all.

Lynn said...

I agree with lotta joy! (That was the phrase my (ex)husband used when I was contemplating buying a cool sports car once - with automatic transmission.) :)

One of my friends had an espresso machine and went to a lot of trouble making lattes for us - the machine seemed like such a pain to clean. (Not to be a killjoy - I applaud your efforts.)

I just drink regular coffee with a non-fat milk in it, but do love a non-fat latte from Starbucks - it's a special treat now.

Thanks for the entertainment while I download a massive file!

How did they get those cats to dress up and sit in a row like that???

Holland said...

Coffee… and most of all colada (the cuban hyper version of espresso) is my way of starting the day… until 6 pm.. or I will not sleep at my usual time… ok sometimes until 7 pm.. or 8pm..

and to get the cats dressed up and sit in a row involves bag and bags of catnip and ultra strong staples through the customs into the couch.

Riot Kitty said...

Interesting answers!

But to those who can drink instant, I say...blech.

lotta joy said...

I left my espresso machine at home when we moved. Cute to look at, but a pain in the ass to clean that tube that shoots hot milk into a froth....or all over your clean shirt.

Blue Grumpster said...

So now I'm thinking... what's wrong with Speedy Gonzales on crack ? I'm not allowed to touch our coffee machines. I guess it's got something to do with that time when I caused one if them to explode and there was coffee all over the ceiling.

G. B. Miller said...

Speedy Gonzales on crack

Now that is priceless.

I actually switched back to tea at the beginning of this year because it was easier to rinse out the cup after drinking tea. Plus, for me cold tea makes a lot more sense than gross cold coffee.

Anywho, I do drink coffee on the weekends in the winter time. Mostly Starbucks (when I'm feeling generous because it's $2 for a tall dark.) or Cumberland Farms (New England regional convenience store) because they use their surprising good coffee as a loss leader, any size 99 cents.

BTW, I can totally picture you like that.

Father Nature's Corner

DWei said...

At least you can still drink coffee. I don't anymore since I discovered my caffeine sensitivity.

Granny Annie said...

I believe that decaf coffee should be called something else. It should be called BDON (brown drink of nothing) Why even bother?

Now I'm just a regular inexpensive Mr. Coffee machine gal but I do order Jamaican Me Crazy beans and grind them for the perfect coffee delight. Also no additives here.

My goddaughter talking to my godson after I left LA. "She drinks a ton of coffee!"

Dexter Klemperer said...

I'd spend the extra half hour in the car and somehow record that as time on the clock for my workplace.

Furry Bottoms said...

I think your brother probably appreciates you a lot more than you think. And you can have ALL my coffee. I think coffee is despicable anyway. Gross!