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My regular morning coffee shop latte: Espresso Avellino
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Yep, this is where I usually start my day after the bus ride to town. I've got about a half hour to caffeine up before the class at the gym. I read the paper at Avellino's and chat with the other regulars before heading out to the YMCA, a couple blocks away, to change into my workout clothes and make my way to the class of the day.
The only other place I get my coffee is from the Food Co-op. On Thursdays (when I'm going on my Senior Trailblazers hikes) or on the weekends, I stop by this place and get a soy latte. They use organic and non-sweetened soymilk, and the other places don't. I like my coffee with milk or soy but without any sweetening or flavors like vanilla.
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| Jessie at the Food Co-op making my soy latte |
Bellingham, and indeed Washington state, knows how to make a good cup of coffee. Something I never saw before coming here are little independent coffee stands on corners, with totally cool names. They are either drive-up or walk-up, and they almost all use Free Trade coffee, at least here in Bellingham. And the coffee is almost always great. In the Midwest, coffee is often brown water with little flavor. Not here, and this Senior Citizen with a serious coffee habit is in heaven.
In 2006, we stayed at a hotel with the little coffee stand called Brewed Awakening right across from us, and I was there every morning to get my latte so I could have it with my electronic morning papers. I got quite fond of my "brewed awakening." I have never before lived in a place that has as much excellent coffee, my favorite beverage.
I used to think being in Boulder, with its incredible number of microbrews, couldn't be beat. Now that I'm retired and drinking more red wine and less beer, my favorite beverage has moved to the beginning of the day. Since caffeine still affects my sleep, however, by 3:00 in the afternoon I stop drinking coffee or tea and focus on more relaxing activities and beverages. Do you have a coffee habit? If you do, does it affect your sleep?
:-)
Yes, love coffee, but add chocolate to the latte's. Sometimes I can drink coffee late in the afternoon/evening and have no trouble going to sleep, other times coffee seem to keep me awake.
ReplyDeleteAustin has a lot of coffee shops around town; Drippin' does not. lol
I'm generally a one cup a day person but am drinking more since moving to the Pacific Northwest.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I was blown away by the number of coffee shops when we moved here. I still am. Seems like there's one on every corner and they do serve wonderful coffee.
I never drink coffee to late in the day so I don't know if it would keep me awake or not.
I love the coffee shops here.
Ugh! Like the smell but never learnt to appreciate the taste. Tea for me thanks! ;o)
ReplyDelete(and definitely 100% wine over beer!)
Serious coffee drinker here; but only in the morning. And as much as I love frappacinos, lattes, etc. I don't indulge - far too many calories for me. So I drink my coffee black. And if I don't have any in the morning - it could get ugly....
ReplyDeleteI truly drink tea morning noon and night, but stop to get coffee on the days I work....
ReplyDeleteWe have the little hazlenut coffee enhancers when we drink coffee at home. A rarity on my part, but absolutley love my nightly cup of Horlicks.
I'd say your morning coffee helps you get up and going at the "Y"..lol
We buy good coffee beans and grind them for a pot of coffee each morning. I so like the aroma and the taste of coffee. I don't drink caffeinated coffee after noon or I will have trouble getting to sleep at night. I have heard such good things over the years about great coffee in the state of Washington. You are fortunate to live there.
ReplyDeleteI like tea when I wake up and coffee mid morning. Then tea again at lunchtime and four o'clock. Next comes coffee at 7 pm and again at 9 pm. I've never had a problem with coffee keeping me awake. I love Latte, but because of the calories, I don't drink it very often.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Star
There's a Starbucks 1/2 mile from home, but I have never been there. We prefer to brew Lion's Gold coffee (Hawaiian) at home every morning. We put ice cubes in a tall glass and then pour coffee into it. We love iced coffee with a little skim milk.
ReplyDeleteI don't drink it after lunch, but the caffeine doesn't keep me from taking a nap in the morning. Same thing with Diet Pepsi, which also has caffeine.
I gave up coffee for my blood pressure..it worked great for about 18 months..my cholesterol dropped like a rock too?? (great side effect!!) since I got over the withdrawl that included me babbling wildly and shaking like a leaf..I am not going back to daily coffee consumption..I do have a cup once is a great while. I drink hot water..zero calorie hot water! :)
ReplyDeleteA woman after my own heart. Here in Florida, it's Cuban coffee and the stuff is so strong it raises the hairs on your arms!
ReplyDeleteWe grind and brew coffee at home, but only decaf. Neither of us need cafine to get us going. I usually have a cup of half skim milk/half coffee after lunch, with a little chocolate, and another in the evening. Tom drinks his black and usually carries a thermal cup with him wherever he goes.
ReplyDeleteWe look for Starbucks when we are out and want a coffee break. My drink is a Grande decaf non-fat latte - and a brownie!
I love a good cup of coffee but I am not to picky. I can drink it all day and night and it usually doens't keep me awake but then sometimes it will!!
ReplyDeleteIt's a sure way to start my routine! I usually make my brewed coffee in my Mom's old coffee maker.
ReplyDeleteOn Fridays...girl's nite out, Starbucks is our favorite hangout to chat while sipping my favorite hot caramel macchiato!
AL
I am down to only one cup a day - because of the sleep thing - but it must be strong! I literally won't drink it if it's weak anymore.
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting to read about other coffee businesses other than Starbucks and Tim Horton's in Canada which is BIG. I like the idea of Fair Trade coffee and having soy milk with your brew. Of late, I enjoy about three cups of green tea in the middle of the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI actually do not have a coffee habit at all. It surprises most people, but I am completely non-caffeine dependent. My caffeine of choice is soda, which I know is horrible for you on a several-times-daily basis. I quit drinking caffeine each time I was pregnant, but would go back once I was done nursing. After the twins, I tried to limit my caffeine consumption, but it is so addicting it didn't take long to begin my habit again.
ReplyDeleteAfter Drew, I decided to make a conscious effort to avoid the addiction, and have done it so far. I love being so much more alert during the day.
I will have an occasional latte, but this happens maybe once a month or two. I really don't enjoy the taste of coffee.
(Oh, and I love the gals at Avellino. I worked across the street at Clark's for four years till I stayed home after the twins were born. But I went there mainly for desserts.)
I didn't inherit the gene that keeps me awake after drinking coffee. I used to wonder about you and Daddy saying you couldn't drink coffee after a certain hour of the day or it would keep you awake. I can drink a whole pot of coffee and still sleep like a baby. I don't usually drink coffee late, but it doesn't affect my sleep if I do.
ReplyDeleteI have to have my coffee...though right now I'm limited to 2 cups a day. I tend to prefer tea in the afternoon and evening, IF I'm going to have anything other than water. I am usually so tired by bedtime that the caffeine isn't an issue, thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteCoffee, tea...hot or iced...love them both. Not many good coffee houses out here. Closer to Chicago there are more available...besides the usual Starbucks. When I drink Starbucks coffee my dreams are like acid trips...bizarre. As of late I'm hooked on Chai tea...hold the sugar...no milk.
ReplyDeleteBrewed Awakening...cute play on words.
Coffee has to be my favorite too and I drink it straight up and strong, like a man! I used to be able to get up in the middle of the night and I'd make popcorn and a pot of coffee and eat and drink it all up and just flop into bed for more blissful sleep, but now I've given up the popcorn! (Starch turns into sugar you know...)
ReplyDeleteI love coffee but even decaf gives me an irregular heartbeat. So, sigh, I drink decaf tea all day.
ReplyDeleteI love coffee. Almost any kind but boiled coffee in a pan of water is about as good as it gets.
ReplyDeleteI'm am oddball; I don't like coffee and don't like tea. My main beverage is water! Years ago it was Coke, then Diet Coke; then I discovered caffeine was aggravating my PMS, so I switched to water. (Although I can occasionally be had for a Vodka Gimlet or a Pina Colada!)
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