March 24, 2011

The Coffee Bar

Ever since getting the puppies, my caffeine intake has taken a dramatic spike, which is saying something considering I was a Coke baby (as we call them in our family). No, really. They (meaning my entire extended family) would put Coke in our bottles when we were toddlers - it keeps the little ones from trying to steal mommy's. And whaddya know, we all lived. And can read.

Anyway, since my nights have gotten considerably shorter the last 6 weeks, I've needed stronger eye-openers in the morning than my Muse family ritual cup/can/bottle of Coke. So, I've started picking up the dirty coffee habit.

I've never been a fan of coffee. I like the caffeine, but I'm not going to pretend I do it because it tastes good (which it doesn't) or because of the health benefits (which, for women, are pretty good, you should look it up). And I really prefer locally-owned European coffee shops, which use high-quality free-trade products and have menus of more than the same 6 drinks hot and cold, to Starbucks. Starbucks is gross.

And, I have to have my coffee heavily camouflaged. Basically, I want the effect of the coffee, I just don't want to know the coffee is actually in my drink.

Behold, the coffee bar:

From left to right: frappuccino machine, latte machine, and regular brewer. And Army Scentsy warmer.

I only use the two on the left, and I've gotten pretty expert at them. Yes, all of these wonderful appliances are on our kitchen counter. And I get good regular use out of them.

Until today, when I woke up and remembered that I was out of my flavoring syrup. Like I said, I don't want to taste the coffee, so I'm pretty generous with the vanilla flavoring syrup. But usually I'm more prepared than this. Tragedy.

So, I had to go back to my old standby:

Coke, glorious Coke. And, sadly, this is my last one. So a trip to Walmart will be on the agenda today, both for vanilla syrup, and for restocking the Cokes. Because they are my lifeblood.

What's your morning beverage of choice? Or are you one of those mythical morning people who hop out of bed and hit the ground running on a glass of milk (also gross, but that's a story for another day)?


  1. I am one of those people who can get out of bed without coffee in the morning, but I fiend for it when I work nights. You should try beanstock coffee. It's out of a town near my beach house and it is quite phenomenal with lots of flavors and then richer ones if you ever get to that! They always seem to have new kinds too. I avoid starbucks like it's the plague so I feel ya. They need to cut the crap that when I order a small they correct me an say tall.

    Can't do regular coke much. I do enjoy a coke zero every once in a while, but I avoid soda most of the time.

  2. I can get outta bed without the coffee too. Although, going to the coffee shop on occasion brightens my day! I like to know I am not really drinking coffee too..more flavor please! I do not drink plain milk either! I do however grab the juice that's opened tea! I love hot tea!

  3. hand over the Coffee & nobody get's hurt!! That is my MOTTO in the morning-LOL We live in the Pacific Northwest where there is a coffee barista on every corner, so I learned to love the stuff!When I moved here ten years ago not so much a lover of the coffee I was a Diet Pepsi junkie- but now I have at least two cups of coffee in the morning & have cut out the afternoon caffeine.With four kids & to mnay deployments to count- I believe God made Coffee or any type of caffeine just for us moms/military wives!!

  4. I'm big on caramel machiattos (I know that isn't spelled right - almost positive), from Starbucks, LOVE THEM, but I rarely make and drink coffee at my own house. We auto set it, so it grinds and makes the coffee at 5:30am, so when he's ready to walk out the door at 6, all he has to do is pour a cup of it, and he's off.

    For that reason, I really want a Keurig - you can program them to make it, and it'll make it straight into the travel mug, so he can just grab the mug and go - but they're expensive and I'm a tightwad, so it'll have to wait.

    As far as me? I LIVE for sweet tea. That stuff is so dang fantastic. I also seriously enjoy Mountain Dew and Creme Soda.

  5. I would not be able to function without my coffee in the mornings and I drink it black!

  6. I want one of those frap makers!! A friend of mine has one I just used the other day and I'm so obssesed now!! :)

  7. I always need a diet coke in the morning. And in the afternoon. And before bed lol. I only enjoy regular Coke when it's from the fountain, but either way I can't live without soda!

  8. could start a little java house with your appliance collection!!

    I drink coffee-ish drinks from time to time, but only because I want something hot to drink. Apple chais = love! I usually don't require anything to get me going except for a tall glass of OJ :)

  9. I never liked coffee either until this most recent deployment. With the little sleep I am able to get having 3 dogs and 2 kids, I was CRAVING coffee.

    So now I must have one cup in the morning. I like flavored coffee with a tablespoon of flavored coffee-mate in it.

  10. I was never a coffee drinker until we got our Keurig and now I'm a coffee drinker- with cream and sugar- lots of cream especially. I can't drink coffee without cream and sugar at all.

  11. I am so proud of you drinking coffee. Any woman who drinks coffee is a woman after my own heart. =) I was a convenient coffee drinker for a while, but one day decided to start drinking it black. I started drinking it pretty weak, but I've worked my up. I believe that when you start loving black coffee, coffe has become one of lives greatest pleasures.

  12. We have the exact same coffee maker. :) Coffee is more or less a treat for me. I can function without it just fine - recently, however, I have bee experimenting with my coffee maker more often and have created some pretty decent latte macchiattos. Tasty!

  13. I rarely have any caffeine that is not in chocolate! In the mornings I have cereal with milk and a glass of water if I'm thirsty.

