The strong flavor of espresso is either intriguing or revolting, depending on the person. For those of us that like our caffeine and flavor strong, espresso is the way to go. It’s easy to get confused about the different espresso drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos. Let’s explore the differences.
There are coffee drinkers and then there are coffee nuts. Most of us have at least tried the stuff. A fair majority of us are hooked on it. But there's a difference between someone who pops a capsule in the Keurig every morning and someone who takes the time to grind their own carefully chosen, organic, fair trade beans. These people wake up early just to savor the smell of the beans before they turn them into powder. They're always trying new, exotic blends imported from all over the world. They know not to keep coffee in the freezer and they probably scoff when you invite them to Starbucks. Maybe they're snobs, but we all need something we can feel like experts in. For those of you whose loved ones worship the bean, here are a few toys they might appreciate seeing in their stocking on Christmas morning.
My holiday season begins with the emergence of gingerbread lattes. While I do visit Starbucks, I also look out for the gingerbread latte at my local coffee establishments. They tend to appear at the same around the same time as they do at Starbucks. My regular order at coffee shops is typically an Americano with a splash of half and half, preferably iced. I deviate from that and order a gingerbread latte once or twice a week during the holidays.
The Emerald city of Seattle, Washington, has a reputation for a love of the coffee / espresso bean. It is not just a myth. You can barely do a karate kick in any direction without hitting a coffee stand or coffee shop. However, if I had to name a “latte landmark” in the downtown Seattle area, it would be none other than Cherry Street Coffee House.
