Coffee culture has gotten weird. Frankly, I'm unnerved by how easily the public has normalized using froofy proprietary language* and the contents of a Brinks truck to get their daily java fix. It's absolutely fine to dig a big ol' caramel drizzled, half-caf, whipped cream Frotheratta if that's what brings a smile to your face. It just happens to bear about as much relation to real coffee as a "chocotini" does to a glass full of gin, vermouth and an olive.
I love good, plain, powerful coffee. Whether it's poured from a fresh diner pot, artfully barista-brewed, or ground and pressed in my kitchen, a good cup of coffee will take hold of my day and pause the world for a while. There's poetry in the simplicity of it -- in knowing that ground beans, hot water, and a dash of milk have the collective power to wholly lift my mood. It's not just the caffeine (though that certainly helps). It's also the sublime flavor, the heady, enveloping aroma, the warmth, the comfort, and...you tell me. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Read Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Coffee But Were Too Caffeinated To Ask
*Nope - Italians don't order their coffee "Tall", "Grande" and "Venti" like certain chains would have you believe. They drink espresso in various formats - Caffé Americano (espresso with hot water), Doppio (two shots of espresso), Caffe Macchiato (espresso with a drop of milk), etc. - but not in goofily named sizes.
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