>> As a side-effect of my graduate studies in the States, I kind of got hooked on to coffee. Earlier back home, my coffee was fun, instant, milky, sweet and occasional. Now like my mood on a regular work-day, it has become darker, stronger and serious. I mostly have a mug next to my desk when I am working or a to-go when I am strutting around in cold.
>> I have spent enough bucks over coffee to appreciate all that can happen over coffee - from a conversation to a homework, from a fight to plight. Sometimes my coffee keeps me company during stressful long hours, sometimes it is just a simple (unhealthy) substitute for a meal on a busy afternoon. And dark coffee with fresh chocolate beverage according to me is an underpaid grad student's luxurious indulgence, the more affordable option being boxed ones from Walmart. So coffee to me is hardly just a beverage, it is a mug full of bliss that fits into the most cute-looking piece of article on my office desk (read, the micky mug) or interesting piece of utensil at home (read, the "I need my space" NASA mug).
>> Coming to mugs, I just hate to have my coffee from an uncool mug, specially from the give away ones with boring logos or photos on it, distributed religiously by churches and companies that visit my university career fair. And I kinda don't like the feel of drinking from the laminated tip of Sear's tower just because my friend visited Chicago for the 7th time over last winter break. (In fact, I secretly pretend to forget them on the desks of my less-specific more-accommodating friends.)
>> I totally detest seeing a page filled with Starbucks locations when I search for coffee places near wherever I am. I guess that I have something against the quintessential branding of all the sub-standard, annoyingly sweet hot beverages they serve with a hefty price-tag, and trust me, I am a coffee-lover. The aroma of freshly-brewed coffee harps my strings in the right chord anytime of the day. But pardon me when I say that Starbucks' best drink is the cool-lime refresher (which is again not even close to being my favorite drink anytime). I usually find it reasonably priced when I ask the barista to serve with less ice (because I want a cup of beverage but not 3/4 cup of ice) and that too they serve it for an extra $$ at the airports. The only reason I sometimes go to Starbucks is because of the fancy furniture and cozy atmosphere they have at certain not-so-busy outlets (meaning the ones in which you can atleast find a place next to your buddy without having to hover over your neighbor's jacket and won't have to raise your voice to place the order so that the barista can hear you in the crazy noise).
However, some of their Brazilian beans are good. But tell me the point in having a shot of this really nice coffee with ounces of milk, cream, flavored syrup, chocolate, sugar and what not in it. I like a little milk and sugar in my cup of coffee but not when it predominates the coffee itself!
>> On the other hand, some of the best coffees I have had are from local stores / cafes all over USA. I tried their flavored coffee too, and those fancy salt mochas and stuff on the days I felt like something sweeter. Many of them were darn good. Some of my best moments with myself and friends have been in different interesting coffee-shops with bunch of books, cozy corners and fire-places or window-sides. My version of exploring a new place is through sitting around in coffee-shops and random roadside benches, visiting local stores, having lunch at a local cafe and walking unplanned with a to-go drink in hand. Now would I bond with places or people had it not been for some coffee and rather been something else, ice-cream or alchohol maybe? Well, not my cup of coffee you see.
>> I have spent enough bucks over coffee to appreciate all that can happen over coffee - from a conversation to a homework, from a fight to plight. Sometimes my coffee keeps me company during stressful long hours, sometimes it is just a simple (unhealthy) substitute for a meal on a busy afternoon. And dark coffee with fresh chocolate beverage according to me is an underpaid grad student's luxurious indulgence, the more affordable option being boxed ones from Walmart. So coffee to me is hardly just a beverage, it is a mug full of bliss that fits into the most cute-looking piece of article on my office desk (read, the micky mug) or interesting piece of utensil at home (read, the "I need my space" NASA mug).
>> I totally detest seeing a page filled with Starbucks locations when I search for coffee places near wherever I am. I guess that I have something against the quintessential branding of all the sub-standard, annoyingly sweet hot beverages they serve with a hefty price-tag, and trust me, I am a coffee-lover. The aroma of freshly-brewed coffee harps my strings in the right chord anytime of the day. But pardon me when I say that Starbucks' best drink is the cool-lime refresher (which is again not even close to being my favorite drink anytime). I usually find it reasonably priced when I ask the barista to serve with less ice (because I want a cup of beverage but not 3/4 cup of ice) and that too they serve it for an extra $$ at the airports. The only reason I sometimes go to Starbucks is because of the fancy furniture and cozy atmosphere they have at certain not-so-busy outlets (meaning the ones in which you can atleast find a place next to your buddy without having to hover over your neighbor's jacket and won't have to raise your voice to place the order so that the barista can hear you in the crazy noise).
However, some of their Brazilian beans are good. But tell me the point in having a shot of this really nice coffee with ounces of milk, cream, flavored syrup, chocolate, sugar and what not in it. I like a little milk and sugar in my cup of coffee but not when it predominates the coffee itself!
>> On the other hand, some of the best coffees I have had are from local stores / cafes all over USA. I tried their flavored coffee too, and those fancy salt mochas and stuff on the days I felt like something sweeter. Many of them were darn good. Some of my best moments with myself and friends have been in different interesting coffee-shops with bunch of books, cozy corners and fire-places or window-sides. My version of exploring a new place is through sitting around in coffee-shops and random roadside benches, visiting local stores, having lunch at a local cafe and walking unplanned with a to-go drink in hand. Now would I bond with places or people had it not been for some coffee and rather been something else, ice-cream or alchohol maybe? Well, not my cup of coffee you see.
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