Category: Lists

Technical Difficulties

I have been on the move all of November. I traveled and started a new contract job. Exciting and lovely.

I knew this time period would be hectic, so I wrote content through the middle of December. I had great photos, my steady stream of categorized content, and a couple of new discoveries and learning ready to share with you.

This past weekend, however, I was thinking, and realizing, I hadn’t received a single notification. I logged into my account, and something must have gone haywire. No new content in the queue, and some content ready to repeat itself?

On my way to tech support, and my notes . . . my apologies for a missed week, and possibly another missed or delayed week — I need to figure out what happened!

. . .  on the bright side, staying up late and writing usually means coffee ☕😉☕

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Drink coffee . . .

Drink coffee . . . because . . .

  • you’re thirsty
  • you’re tired
  • it’s gonna be a long day
  • you’re cold
  • you’re hot
  • you need caffeine
  • you want caffeine
  • you have a headache
  • you feel a headache coming on
  • it’s available
  • it tastes good
  • it smells good
  • it sounds good
  • it feels good
  • you made it
  • you bought it
  • someone made it for you
  • someone bought it for you
  • you need it
  • you’re craving it

Drink coffee. Who cares why? You don’t actually need a reason. Just do it 😉

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While I drink . . .

While I drink my coffee–whether it is morning, noon, or night, I . . .

  • daydream
  • consider my day
  • get ready for the day
  • read
  • get ready for the afternoon
  • write
  • get ready for the night
  • watch tv
  • listen to the radio
  • walk
  • clean
  • cook
  • work
  • do nothing
  • say nothing
  • think of nothing

Sometimes it’s a cup meant for awakening. It’s a time to get rejuvenated or ready for something. Other times, it’s my downtime, a relaxing and warm experience. It’s not a single reason to drink, and therefore not a single experience.

As coffee has so many purposes and so much potential, it allows for much to accompany it.

. . . And what do you do while you drink?

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Global Locations: Starbucks Reserve

  • Milan, Italy
  • New York City, USA
  • Seattle, USA
  • Shanghai, China
  • Tokyo, Japan
  • . . . in the works: Chicago, USA

Some time ago I wrote about the merits of the Starbucks Reserve in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. I received some feedback on the piece–mostly pertaining to other locations. As a result, I decided to look up other Reserves.

I knew that Reserves were rare, but I did not realize how rare these Reserve Roastery locations actually are–just 5 currently operating in the whole world!

Some people have to visit the 7 Wonders of the World, some people want to visit every baseball stadium in the USA, some people want to touch every continent. I support any and all travel goals. I support multiple travel goals–so I’m offering another one: visit every Starbucks Reserve Roastery in the world, and if they add a few more, that’s just a few more places to explore and a few more cities to visit!

Who’s with me? Where to next? ✈️🧳

 

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Coffee Lesson #15

Other phrases, terms, slang, etc. for coffee:

  • morning cup
  • Joe/morning Joe/cup of Joe
  • bean juice
  • java
  • breakfast of champions
  • dark water
  • morning brew
  • rocket fuel

***

. . . I know there’s more but these ones felt like the most common. Also, I’m sure it depends on the region too. I’m coming from an American English background, and after all my travels I definitely know that English is different all over the world!

***

Which term is your favorite?

What other terms should I include?

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Best Coffee: US Edition

When I told people that I was going to New Zealand and Australia, one city that kept coming up as a coffee recommendation was Melbourne; apparently, Melbourne is world famous on the coffee scene.

It got me thinking: Which cities were known for the best coffee in the US?

My first instinct and thoughts were:

  • Seattle, Washington as its home to Starbucks
  • San Francisco, California; New York City, New York; and Los Angeles, California as each of these cities are food powerhouses so they’re probably coffee powerhouses. Also, a simple Google search for great coffee shops often led me to these places, or their surrounding areas.

According to WalletHub, I wasn’t too far off. Top 3, according to their metrics, were:

  • New York, New York
  • Seattle, Washington
  • San Francisco, California

Check out their article for the full Top 10, maybe this list can become a US Travel guide for my next adventure! 😉

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What is coffee?

My eighth attempt to answer “What is coffee?”

Coffee is . . .

  • liquid optimism
  • liquid therapy
  • liquid love
  • liquid patience
  • liquid poetry
  • liquid courage
  • liquid sunshine
**all from memes 😝
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What is coffee?

My seventh attempt to answer “What is coffee?”

Coffee is . . . cheaper than . . .

  • therapy
  • prozac
  • crack
  • bail money

**credit: memes/mugs

Coffee is . . . cheaper than . . .

  • wine
  • cocktails
  • gym memberships

**credit: me . . . and a whole lot of other people I imagine! 😉

 

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What to look for . . .

I was recently asked what’s important to me when I go to a coffee shop. Obviously, great coffee is #1, but what else do I regularly note, observe, or look for?

Here are some things I note on my visits:

  • location (what is it close to, what can you do before or after your cup)
  • customer service
  • seating arrangement/options
  • food/food choices
  • milk options (not all of us can handle dairy)
  • plug situation (so many of us go with devices, or go to work, so plugs are important)
  • clean restrooms (we are drinking coffee, we may need to use the bathroom)
  • parking situation (I’m originally from southern California, parking is important)

This is not everything, but these are the most direct and most common range of things I think about when writing and reviewing a place.

As I started this process, I realized that finding a small business, a local gem, meant sticking to a predetermined set of criteria as well as noting the peculiarities of a single place–what makes them particularly interesting or unique–like the abundance of seasonal drinks, the option to exchange books, or the chance to play board games. I’m sure as I continue researching and writing, as I grow as a coffee drinker and writer, I will expand and change my considerations, but for now this is it.

IMG_0054
Taken at Sunrise Coffee House in Las Vegas, Nevada
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Favorite K-Cups

I don’t know about anyone else, but I go through phases in my cravings and daily tastes, especially when it comes to coffee. So this list is not exhaustive, it’s just the first list 😉

In no particular order, some of my favorite K-cups are:

  • Starbucks Holiday blend
  • Starbucks Christmas Blend
  • Newman’s Own Organic Special Blend Medium Roast Coffee Extra Bold
  • Green Mountain Coffee Dark Magic
  • Gloria Jean’s Hazelnut Coffee
  • Kauai Coffee Na’Pali Coast Dark Roast
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