Coffee

I can't do without coffee, I can't.  I get up in the morning, go to the bathroom, wash my face, and then get started on the coffee.  Which means that a mere 15-20 minutes after I wake up, I have a cup of coffee in hand.

But I can't say that I chase the good stuff.  I've had outstanding coffee: Ninth Street Espresso, Blue Bottle Coffee at the Ferry Building, Philz Coffee (my favorite ever).  I know it's good and I appreciate it's good. Ultimately, though, when it comes down to it, I buy Starbuck's and pretty much subsist on that.  It's easy, it's accessible.

Adam was just on a business trip in the Bay Area and came back with a bag of Blue Bottle:

The difference between this bag and my usual Starbuck's was marked.  Which won't be a surprise to you coffee aficionados.  But it has certainly inspired me to make more of an effort to get the good stuff. I mean, I live in NYC, for heaven's sake.  It shouldn't be that hard.

I insist on quality in so much that I put in my body - why not coffee?

What about you, fellow coffee drinkers?  What do you drink?  How do you brew it?

Eat, drink, and seek out quality.




For more about coffee, check out these links:

• My good friend, Amy: she calls herself a "coffee snob" but she's more like a coffee evangelist, spreading the Good Word to as many people who will hear her.
• Ashley at Not Without Salt has written loads about coffee: roasting your own beans, flavoring coffee, coffee pudding (which Martha's Circle and the gorgeous Kinfolk Magazine linked to!), and coffee tasting.
• The Amateur Gourmet couldn't say enough good things about Joe: The Art of Coffee when he was living in NYC. As it turns out, there's an outpost rather close to my apartment - I'll visit there ASAP!
• The Paupered Chef has a great tutorial on brewing the perfect cup.

Ban all the fat!

L.A. proposes fast food ban. I don’t think it’ll go through – it’s just a proposal – which is all well and good because it doesn’t address the real issues anyway. We’re so wrapped up in non-fat, low-fat, trans-fat, high fat…goodness gracious, stop with the fat! Fat is not the problem! Well, at least not one of the major problems. The biggest problem is with all the hidden additives in those fast frozen foods. The corn syrup and all the corn derivatives. The salt. The hormone-laden, disease-prone CAFO meat. The ridiculously large portions of all these foods. How about we start there?

Speaking of which, I read an article yesterday – heaven help me, I have no idea where I read it – that discussed Starbucks' appeal to children and teens. Starbucks has been clear that they’re not marketing to these groups but, in the midst of parents visiting, children and teens have also become fans. First, it was good to know that, previously, Starbucks hasn’t marketed to these groups. Like they need any more external stimuli! Second, the article had particular appeal to me since my 6-year-old daughter goes for a vanilla crème frappuccino about once a month. Lastly, the article mentioned offering drinks in an 8-ounce version more regularly, which apparently some of them already do (you just have to ask). Amen! I would love to have an 8-ounce version of the pumpkin spice latte – that “tall” size is waaaay too much for me. How anyone ever drinks a venti size of anything is beyond me. And given the obesity epidemic in our country, I don’t know that anyone should.

I’ve got A LOT more to blog about. Coming up:

1) YAY! WEDNESDAY! NYT Dining Out section round-up
2) My response to the Top 100 Songs of High School meme circulating around
3) My list of the top children’s books of the year. I’m jumping on the bandwagon.
4) Various tidbits and ramblings
5) A few reviews of some picture book F&Gs I recently received. Not to mention I got a galley of Babymouse #8: Puppy Love! Woo hoo!