I have found that people are the most cranky in their early morning commutes to work or school or what have you. They are on the road, headed to their destination and their pre-coffee brains are the meanest. I have been flipped off four times in the last two weeks. When it happened again today I had a moment of self reflection.
Maybe I'm the cranky un-caffeinated driver pulling bone headed moves. But then no, that's not the case. Had the same situation happened later in the day the other driver would have reacted differently. Or not, I mean, if you're an angry driver you're an angry driver, and I would know.
I drive above the speed limit. Not obnoxiously though, but more like five over on a regular basis. I don't do 45 in a 25 or anything crazy like that. On a double lane road I will generally pass people who are on the bubble, say 33 or 34 in a 35.
And this guy was driving in the lane next to me, just behind me. He was far enough away that I could safely move into the other lane to pass the car in front of me that was going slower than I preferred to drive. So I flicked on my signal and pressed the accelerator in order to keep a safe distance so that I didn't end up cutting this other guy off.
So what does he do? He speeds up so that he's on my bumper and gives me the one finger salute. Usually I ignore that kind of response, but this being the fourth time in less than two weeks someone has flipped me the bird, I saluted him right back.
Honestly. Go drink your coffee and be a nice person.
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Friday, August 17, 2012
the theme park
August has been the busiest month of my life, I think. I've been pulling lots of long hours at the local theme park where I spend my time dressed in a somewhat Victorian era costume making not even remotely somewhat Victorian caffeinated beverages for people of varying coffee knowledges and expectations.
You know, I was accused of "probably just learning" to make coffee drinks based solely on the fact that I did not put one man's idea of enough ice in his mocha. I tried to play off like it was no big deal, but inside I was outraged. How dare you tell me how to do my job when you have zero experience in the coffee world? Past and present baristas being picky, I understand. But everyday people? I know you have your favorite coffee house, but you are not there so don't be offended when it's done a little differently, mkay? Mkay.
And now that we cleared that up, lets move on to bigger and better things. Like The Boy's first Silverwood experience.
We got to the park right as it opened, so we milled around main street drinking coffee and eating rock candy. It was my first experience with rock candy. I chose watermelon. It was tasty, but I could only take so much of it before I was just over the whole thing. Not a big candy eater right here folks, don't look so shocked.
Once the park rides opened we spent basically all our time riding roller coasters and making fun of each other. Then we found this store with a million hats out front and we had to try them all on.
All in all I think it was a successful day. It was definitely the highlight of my week. I mean really, I had The Boy, I had roller coasters, I had a cheesy good time. Me and That Boy, you know, we get pretty cheesy. I forget why but I called him cheesy and he called me cheesecake. And well, but at least I'm sweet.
You know, I was accused of "probably just learning" to make coffee drinks based solely on the fact that I did not put one man's idea of enough ice in his mocha. I tried to play off like it was no big deal, but inside I was outraged. How dare you tell me how to do my job when you have zero experience in the coffee world? Past and present baristas being picky, I understand. But everyday people? I know you have your favorite coffee house, but you are not there so don't be offended when it's done a little differently, mkay? Mkay.
And now that we cleared that up, lets move on to bigger and better things. Like The Boy's first Silverwood experience.
Check out that girl in the background. Photobombing at it's finest, I assure you.
We got to the park right as it opened, so we milled around main street drinking coffee and eating rock candy. It was my first experience with rock candy. I chose watermelon. It was tasty, but I could only take so much of it before I was just over the whole thing. Not a big candy eater right here folks, don't look so shocked.
Once the park rides opened we spent basically all our time riding roller coasters and making fun of each other. Then we found this store with a million hats out front and we had to try them all on.
Our best Neal Caffery impressions.
I can't get enough of this kid. He rocks my world.
Before we left the park for the day I wanted to ride the train. It was the first attraction the park ever owned and it's one of my favorites. Silverwood actually out-bid Walt Disney for old engine number 7 and really? I just think that's cool. Plus there are train robbers and a cute little skit, which I just love.
But The Boy was running on an hour of sleep and the effects of his iced mocha had completely worn off, so he was sleepy for the train ride and actually napped in the car on the way back home.
I couldn't not take a picture of this. I was trying not to laugh.
All in all I think it was a successful day. It was definitely the highlight of my week. I mean really, I had The Boy, I had roller coasters, I had a cheesy good time. Me and That Boy, you know, we get pretty cheesy. I forget why but I called him cheesy and he called me cheesecake. And well, but at least I'm sweet.
Monday, July 30, 2012
day one complete
I have been a barista my entire collegiate career and I have loved mostly every second of it, as much as you can love a job. I remember my first shift at one of the cafes on our campus. It was a Wednesday night and I was working the closing shift with Calvin. I still had not quite grasped the difference between a mocha and a latte and God help me if I had to make a cappuccino. But Calvin was a good teacher and I learned pretty quickly. Soon my hands were flying around steaming all sorts of delicious beverages for those willing to pay a small sum of money in exchange for liquid goodness.
Campus Dining used my new found skill to their advantage, placing me in various shops around campus. I once considered it unlucky when the kiosk I worked at was being taken over by a coffee shop I had not ever heard of before. I thought I was going to lose my job because CD didn't have another coffee shop for me to go to.
And then this new coffee shop decided to keep me on. I was ecstatic! Not only was I no longer required to wear a uniform but I could also paint my nails! And wear my hair down! Oh the simple things in life! Plus I learned how to make designs in coffee, like leaves. You know how all the cool coffee shops do it, like champs.
I got some pretty good customer stories out of the deal too. There was a band of IT guys who would come get their coffee all at the same time. We called them the Motley Crew and they bantered and teased and wreaked havoc like it was their job. I always threatened to put pumpkin flavoring in Brian's drink. I never called Jason by his name - he was always Cappuccino Man.
Do you know, most people don't know the difference between a cappuccino and a latte? I blame those stupid gas station and continental breakfast machines you find in hotels. They dispense a cheap latte under the name 'cappuccino' and that just irks me to no end. Because then I get people who try ordering a cappuccino and when I ask them "wet or dry?" with a big fancy smile on my face, they look at me all confused like I just asked them to calculate the mass of the sun.
A cappuccino is a mostly foam. It's a really frothy and light drink. The foam can be really dry or it can be more wet, like a really foamy latte. A latte, on the other hand, is mostly milk, with a little bit of foam to top it off. I know the difference isn't very complicated, but they are two different textures in your mouth. Just learn your coffee, please. Life will be easier. For everybody.
Plus, then when I make jokes about being out of iced mochas, you'll actually understand that I can't actually be out of iced mochas. When you order coffee from a cafe, chances are they have an espresso machine and the proper ingredients, not a pre-packaged drink they grab out of the fridge and put in your hand.
But then I think back to my very first coffee experience, and I was a know-nothing who had a lot of learning to do. So really, how upset can I be when people don't the different between a caramel latte and caramel macchiato? Right.
Anyway, it's been four years since I was low man on the totem pole when it came to coffee. I just had my first day as a barista at Silverwood, and let me just say it was probably the easiest first day of a new job I will ever have in my life. Besides the fact that it was a ten hour shift and I have never worked one of those in coffee ever, I already knew how to make all the drinks. I rarely needed to ask a question, except about the till because let me just say that the till is a new learning experience every time you move to a different register. The difference in how tills are run is insane, if we're being honest.
Really the only drawback to being stuck in the Victorian House is that that's all I see for ten hours. The theme park is HUGE and I can't wait to just go and play there, not work. The Boy has never been, and once I have enough hours to get an e-ticket, that's going to change. DisneyLand is all well and good, but this park has a more laid back feel. Plus, I grew up here. This is MY park.
I just hope you like the coffee.
Campus Dining used my new found skill to their advantage, placing me in various shops around campus. I once considered it unlucky when the kiosk I worked at was being taken over by a coffee shop I had not ever heard of before. I thought I was going to lose my job because CD didn't have another coffee shop for me to go to.
And then this new coffee shop decided to keep me on. I was ecstatic! Not only was I no longer required to wear a uniform but I could also paint my nails! And wear my hair down! Oh the simple things in life! Plus I learned how to make designs in coffee, like leaves. You know how all the cool coffee shops do it, like champs.
I got some pretty good customer stories out of the deal too. There was a band of IT guys who would come get their coffee all at the same time. We called them the Motley Crew and they bantered and teased and wreaked havoc like it was their job. I always threatened to put pumpkin flavoring in Brian's drink. I never called Jason by his name - he was always Cappuccino Man.
Do you know, most people don't know the difference between a cappuccino and a latte? I blame those stupid gas station and continental breakfast machines you find in hotels. They dispense a cheap latte under the name 'cappuccino' and that just irks me to no end. Because then I get people who try ordering a cappuccino and when I ask them "wet or dry?" with a big fancy smile on my face, they look at me all confused like I just asked them to calculate the mass of the sun.
A cappuccino is a mostly foam. It's a really frothy and light drink. The foam can be really dry or it can be more wet, like a really foamy latte. A latte, on the other hand, is mostly milk, with a little bit of foam to top it off. I know the difference isn't very complicated, but they are two different textures in your mouth. Just learn your coffee, please. Life will be easier. For everybody.
Plus, then when I make jokes about being out of iced mochas, you'll actually understand that I can't actually be out of iced mochas. When you order coffee from a cafe, chances are they have an espresso machine and the proper ingredients, not a pre-packaged drink they grab out of the fridge and put in your hand.
But then I think back to my very first coffee experience, and I was a know-nothing who had a lot of learning to do. So really, how upset can I be when people don't the different between a caramel latte and caramel macchiato? Right.
Anyway, it's been four years since I was low man on the totem pole when it came to coffee. I just had my first day as a barista at Silverwood, and let me just say it was probably the easiest first day of a new job I will ever have in my life. Besides the fact that it was a ten hour shift and I have never worked one of those in coffee ever, I already knew how to make all the drinks. I rarely needed to ask a question, except about the till because let me just say that the till is a new learning experience every time you move to a different register. The difference in how tills are run is insane, if we're being honest.
Really the only drawback to being stuck in the Victorian House is that that's all I see for ten hours. The theme park is HUGE and I can't wait to just go and play there, not work. The Boy has never been, and once I have enough hours to get an e-ticket, that's going to change. DisneyLand is all well and good, but this park has a more laid back feel. Plus, I grew up here. This is MY park.
I just hope you like the coffee.
Friday, June 24, 2011
lately, june
I have been thinking an awful lot about the future lately. I wonder where it will take me? I wonder what I will do with my life? I don't think I will be a teacher forever. Mostly because I don't want to be a teacher forever.
But I do make awesome chocolate chip cookies...so you know. There's always that.
However, I am thinking that I would like to just be a housewife. And raise some kiddos and sell artwork from my own handcrafted/vintage decorated beautiful house. I think that sounds perfect, but don't you?
I have also been thinking about names. I have always liked Gabriel for a boy and no one, but no one can talk me out of that one. But girls names have always been difficult for me. I fall in and out of love so easily with girls names. And I don't want one that's popular! No thank you! I will not be naming a daughter of mine Emily or Madison or Taylor. Those are not bad names, but everyone is named that it feels like.
However, I do like Tenlee. I'm not sure why, but I do. Tenlee Jane? Maybe? I don't know. It will be a long time before I have to use it though, so oh well.
This is a doodle I created at work the other day while it was slow. And then Prince Charming and Pengowen came to bother me for some fruit smoothies and a hot chocolate. I love it when my friends come bug me at work. It seriously makes my whole shift that much better.
But oh I do love my job. And now that summer school is done hopefully I can work more? Except that only time will really tell. But I have been filling out job applications too, so maybe something will turn up soon? One can hope. I am tired of being broke.
But I am not tired of thunder storms. We got our first one of the summer the other night. I was sitting on the back porch painting when the wind started to move all of my supplies anywhere it wanted and I ran around gathering up my stuff and hoping my pencils didn't fall through the cracks of the balcony.
The sky, however, was mighty gorgeous. I mean, vibrant! And pink! I just wanted to sit on the porch and stare at it until it went away, but I had to finish my painting instead. So I left window open and painted while I listened the deep rumble of the thunder. When I moved to the couch I could watch the lightning for a bit and then count to see how "far away" the thunder was, like I learned from a book I loved in elementary school. Thunder Bread? Thunder Cake? Something thunder and there was a Babushka and I read it over and over and over again.
But here is my painting, all finished. I posted about it over here on my art blog, but this is the final final painting. It's the biggest one I've done all semester! A half sheet of watercolor paper. A half sheet!
Except well, beautiful. Really. I love the little bumble bee. Too cute.
How is your summer?
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Drink Of The Week: Eggnog Chai
16 oz Eggnog Chai
1.5 oz Monin Chai concentrated tea (or to taste)
14.5 oz steamed eggnog (eggnog always expands when you steam it, so always use just a little less)
Mix together and enjoy!
Now let me just tell you that I am not a big fan of Chai teas. The brand we used when I worked for campus dining was Tazo, which is a pretty weak chai. We would fill the cup a third of the way full with chai and the rest with milk and then we would steam it together - and I was just never really into how that tasted. Bleck.
But when I signed on with Sisters and they brought Monin brand chai in, I was really hesitant to jump on the chai bandwagon. But Monin is a concentrated chai tea, so it takes a lot of it to be stronger than the Tazo chai that I previously used.
Texas, the younger of the Sisters, talked me into trying a little bit of chai with my steamed soy milk. I was reluctant to admit that it wasn't terrible. So when eggnog season rolled around, I'd heard all of this hype about how eggnog chais are delicious. My plain steamed eggnog just wasn't cutting it anymore, but I don't like the taste of espresso, so I quickly negated the idea of an eggnog latte. Maybe that drink is for some of you out there, but it's definitely not for me.
Anyway, I decided to mix the chai in with my eggnog to see what happened. And it was glorious. I'm telling you, it adds just a little bit of spice to an already flavorful drink without overpowering the eggnog. It's really the best of both drinks.
And my love affair with eggnog was not always as deeply rooted as it is now. It took me about 18 years to decide that I actually liked the stuff. When I was little I couldn't even choke down one swallow. It's funny how your tastes change over the years isn't it?
So anyway, my advice would be to just take a leap of faith and try an eggnog chai before winter is over!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Drink Of The Week: Peppermint White Chocolate
16 oz
2 pumps white chocolate syrup
2 pumps peppermint syrup
2 shots of espresso (optional)
steamed milk (my favorite is soy)
top with whip cream and crushed candy cane sprinkles (if desired)
This drink is super popular with a lot of my clients lately. (I think is has something to do with all the snow on the ground and the fact that it's now December, but that's just a guess.) But anyway, Friday morning we made at least seven of these in a row.
White chocolate can get a little sweet, so if you're not up for that you can replace it with regular dark or milk chocolate, or you can ask for less flavor to still taste the chocolate but not as sweetly.
(image via google search)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Winter Drinks
Let's talk about coffee because, after all, I am a Barista. First, let me tell you the irony of my employment - I'm not big on espresso. I'm not a fan of the taste, and I've never experienced its caffeinated rush of energy. I spend most of my time drinking hot chocolates, steamers, ciders or blended drinks.
But, because we are heading in to winter (minus the snow? really! it's November, mother nature. Just fyi) I will let you in on some of my favorite warm, roasty toasty drinks for you to try out when you're feeling in the mood.
First off, I drink all of my drinks with soy as a general rule. Not because I'm lactose intolerant (because I'm not) but because I like the taste better, and it's not as heavy as 2% (which I've found has a tendency when coupled with sugary sweet syrupy goodness to upset my stomach in the morning before I've been properly nourished). Second, I only steam my milk to 140 degrees at most. Beyond that temperature, and I have to let it sit with the lid off before it doesn't fry my taste buds when I take sip.
Hot chocolates are the best. I usually drink mine with blackberry flavoring or cherry. The cherry is especially good with a little bit of white chocolate. The soy milk gives it a sort of nutty flavor, but both blackberry and cherry hot chocolates are great with regular milk as well.
An almond joy hot chocolate is my next favorite. It's made with dark chocolate, almond flavor and coconut flavor. And seriously? It's candy bar in liquid form. There's also a snickers version, reese's peanut butter cup version, and butterfinger version of hot chocolates as well.
And if you're looking to branch out even more with a hot chocolate, but candy bars just aren't your thing, try adding orange. It sounds weird, but its totally delicious.
(All of these are good as mochas if you want to add coffee to your drink as well, don't think I'm ignoring the espresso just because *I* don't like it, haha.)
When I'm not in the mood for a hot chocolate, I go for a steamer. Vanilla soy is pretty much my favorite, but I have to tell you that I love pumpkin spice steamers too. And there's one that our store makes called a Candied Apple - it has caramel sauce, apple flavor, cinnamon flavor and hazelnut flavor. It's absolutely delicious.
I'm not usually a chai person. When I worked for campus dining, I hated the chai they used. It was Tazo brand, and I'm just not a fan. So when I moved to Sister's Brew, they brought with them Monin chai tea. I was hesitant, a little scared at best, to try it out. But it's a concentrated chai, and it's got a little spice to it. I'm still too nervous to add it to my steaming soy milk, but let me tell you, you have to try an eggnog chai at least once in your life time.
I have had a weird love/hate relationship with eggnog. I loathed the stuff when I was little. I would. not. drink. it. for. the. life. of. me. But I remember that my brother loved it. I couldn't swallow it down. Too thick. Didn't taste good.
But I also have this habit of trying things that I used to not like. I keep thinking, 'I'm older now, what if I like now?' And so far, a few things I have changed my mind about (oatmeal is not one of these things) (it probably never will be).
So last year when eggnog was in season I re-tried the creamy thick yellow liquid, and I surprised myself. It was so good! And it's even better steamed than it is cold (in my opinion). And it's even better with chai mixed in it than it is by itself.
And finally, for this post, if you are in a cider mood, I don't really feel like anything needs to be added to perfection. However, it sounds crazy, but mixing some chai in with your cider is pretty delightfully yummy as well.
But, because we are heading in to winter (minus the snow? really! it's November, mother nature. Just fyi) I will let you in on some of my favorite warm, roasty toasty drinks for you to try out when you're feeling in the mood.
First off, I drink all of my drinks with soy as a general rule. Not because I'm lactose intolerant (because I'm not) but because I like the taste better, and it's not as heavy as 2% (which I've found has a tendency when coupled with sugary sweet syrupy goodness to upset my stomach in the morning before I've been properly nourished). Second, I only steam my milk to 140 degrees at most. Beyond that temperature, and I have to let it sit with the lid off before it doesn't fry my taste buds when I take sip.
Hot chocolates are the best. I usually drink mine with blackberry flavoring or cherry. The cherry is especially good with a little bit of white chocolate. The soy milk gives it a sort of nutty flavor, but both blackberry and cherry hot chocolates are great with regular milk as well.
An almond joy hot chocolate is my next favorite. It's made with dark chocolate, almond flavor and coconut flavor. And seriously? It's candy bar in liquid form. There's also a snickers version, reese's peanut butter cup version, and butterfinger version of hot chocolates as well.
And if you're looking to branch out even more with a hot chocolate, but candy bars just aren't your thing, try adding orange. It sounds weird, but its totally delicious.
(All of these are good as mochas if you want to add coffee to your drink as well, don't think I'm ignoring the espresso just because *I* don't like it, haha.)
When I'm not in the mood for a hot chocolate, I go for a steamer. Vanilla soy is pretty much my favorite, but I have to tell you that I love pumpkin spice steamers too. And there's one that our store makes called a Candied Apple - it has caramel sauce, apple flavor, cinnamon flavor and hazelnut flavor. It's absolutely delicious.
I'm not usually a chai person. When I worked for campus dining, I hated the chai they used. It was Tazo brand, and I'm just not a fan. So when I moved to Sister's Brew, they brought with them Monin chai tea. I was hesitant, a little scared at best, to try it out. But it's a concentrated chai, and it's got a little spice to it. I'm still too nervous to add it to my steaming soy milk, but let me tell you, you have to try an eggnog chai at least once in your life time.
I have had a weird love/hate relationship with eggnog. I loathed the stuff when I was little. I would. not. drink. it. for. the. life. of. me. But I remember that my brother loved it. I couldn't swallow it down. Too thick. Didn't taste good.
But I also have this habit of trying things that I used to not like. I keep thinking, 'I'm older now, what if I like now?' And so far, a few things I have changed my mind about (oatmeal is not one of these things) (it probably never will be).
So last year when eggnog was in season I re-tried the creamy thick yellow liquid, and I surprised myself. It was so good! And it's even better steamed than it is cold (in my opinion). And it's even better with chai mixed in it than it is by itself.
And finally, for this post, if you are in a cider mood, I don't really feel like anything needs to be added to perfection. However, it sounds crazy, but mixing some chai in with your cider is pretty delightfully yummy as well.
Monday, April 5, 2010
World Domination With Coffee? Sign Me Up!
I worked today. And so many many people are glad that I am there. It's nice to feel loved and wanted and welcomed. It's very nice indeed.
But today the espresso machine was throwing a total fit because apparently it didn't have a good Easter holiday and really didn't want to go to work on Monday. And by throwing a total fit I mean it decided that the single shot cambrio really would much rather jump out of the machine and spew hot water and coffee grounds all over the counter and in drinks and on Texas and me.
(Texas is my code name for the girl I worked with today, because she's awesome and from Texas.)
We fought the single shooter all shift. It was very cranky and crabby and I'm quite certain it would have much rather been napping than making coffee. So while in use we had to pull it either very tight or hold it in place. Inconvenient if you ask me.
On the plus side I'm getting faster at making coffee. I was super star awesome amazing fast when it was Java because I knew how all the drinks went together, I was used the machine, and I had my own rhythm. But let me tell you, trying to readjust to new drinks and a new way of steaming milk has gotten me a little behind in the speed department.
However, that is quickly being remedied. As well as my milk steaming skills - I'm honing them in. Before long I will be the best barista ever - again. And it will be amazing. Seriously.
When I worked with The Fiery Redhead we talked about how there should be Barista Olympics and that if we were a team we would totally win. Well, I still believe that to be true - and working with Texas, I think she could join our team of Awesome.
We just need to dump the single shot because he might get angry with life for some unknown reason and foil our plans of world coffee domination, you know?
But today the espresso machine was throwing a total fit because apparently it didn't have a good Easter holiday and really didn't want to go to work on Monday. And by throwing a total fit I mean it decided that the single shot cambrio really would much rather jump out of the machine and spew hot water and coffee grounds all over the counter and in drinks and on Texas and me.
(Texas is my code name for the girl I worked with today, because she's awesome and from Texas.)
We fought the single shooter all shift. It was very cranky and crabby and I'm quite certain it would have much rather been napping than making coffee. So while in use we had to pull it either very tight or hold it in place. Inconvenient if you ask me.
On the plus side I'm getting faster at making coffee. I was super star awesome amazing fast when it was Java because I knew how all the drinks went together, I was used the machine, and I had my own rhythm. But let me tell you, trying to readjust to new drinks and a new way of steaming milk has gotten me a little behind in the speed department.
However, that is quickly being remedied. As well as my milk steaming skills - I'm honing them in. Before long I will be the best barista ever - again. And it will be amazing. Seriously.
When I worked with The Fiery Redhead we talked about how there should be Barista Olympics and that if we were a team we would totally win. Well, I still believe that to be true - and working with Texas, I think she could join our team of Awesome.
We just need to dump the single shot because he might get angry with life for some unknown reason and foil our plans of world coffee domination, you know?
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Difference Between a Caramel Macchiato and a Caramel Latte
Okay, so this question has come up a bunch in my semesters working at a coffee shop. I'm sure you are all familiar with the concept of coffee shops/stands/cafes and know what espresso tastes like whether you drink it regularly or loath even the smell. Correct?
Show of hands?
That's what I thought.
So now the question is, how well do you know your coffee? There are different kinds of drinks. We know this. Especially if the baristas at your local Starbucks know you by name, ask you if you want the usual and can correctly decipher your groggy pre-caffeine grunts.
There is the mocha, the latte, the breve, the macchiato, the americano, the solo and the dopio. If you don't know what a solo and a dopio are, don't worry. They're simply straight shots of espresso, but even some baristas don't know what they're called. *ahem*
So we know a mocha has chocolate. A breve is a latte made with half and half. Americanos are simply shots and really ridiculously hot water. A latte is shots and steamed milk. But what the hey is a macchiato?
Let me tell you something. They call it a macchiato because of how you make the drink. A macchiato is layered differently than a mocha, latte, breve, etc. But not many college students know this, and they only order a caramel macchiato because it is loaded with caffeine and sugar.
But plenty of times I have made them a caramel macchiato only to have them tell me that their drink is not mixed up. I'm sorry, what? This is what you ordered.
So for all you college students out there who have trouble telling their elbow from their kneecap, let me help you understand what a caramel macchiato is.
Because you've ordered a caramel macchiato, here is how I am going to layer it in 5 easy steps:
1. drizzle caramel sauce on sides and bottom of cup
2. add vanilla syrup
3. pour in steamed milk
4. pour in shots
5. drizzle more caramel sauce on top
This is different from what you're expecting because what you wanted was for me to make your macchiato upside down. All that means is that instead of a macchiato, I'm making you a latte.
When making a latte or a mocha you put the shot in first, to give it flavor. If you pour the milk in first, you are flavoring the milk. The steamed milk is used to mix everything together because that's what the majority of your drink is - milk.
I worked with a barista who just made the caramel macchiato by putting in the vanilla syrup, pouring in the shots and then the milk and caramel sauce on top. When I asked her why she made it that way, she answered by telling me that most people don't really want a macchiato, they just like all the sugar that's in the drink.
Well, no more!
Now you can make an educated decision on the type of drink that you would like to order. And if you order a caramel macchiato from me, I'm going to make you a caramel macchiato. And you can talk to Zelda about my supreme caramel macchiato making skills.
She's unsatisfied with other baristas' attempts on campus, but today she stated that the one I made for her was simply fabulous. And I really am modest, I swear...
Show of hands?
That's what I thought.
So now the question is, how well do you know your coffee? There are different kinds of drinks. We know this. Especially if the baristas at your local Starbucks know you by name, ask you if you want the usual and can correctly decipher your groggy pre-caffeine grunts.
There is the mocha, the latte, the breve, the macchiato, the americano, the solo and the dopio. If you don't know what a solo and a dopio are, don't worry. They're simply straight shots of espresso, but even some baristas don't know what they're called. *ahem*
So we know a mocha has chocolate. A breve is a latte made with half and half. Americanos are simply shots and really ridiculously hot water. A latte is shots and steamed milk. But what the hey is a macchiato?
Let me tell you something. They call it a macchiato because of how you make the drink. A macchiato is layered differently than a mocha, latte, breve, etc. But not many college students know this, and they only order a caramel macchiato because it is loaded with caffeine and sugar.
But plenty of times I have made them a caramel macchiato only to have them tell me that their drink is not mixed up. I'm sorry, what? This is what you ordered.
So for all you college students out there who have trouble telling their elbow from their kneecap, let me help you understand what a caramel macchiato is.
Because you've ordered a caramel macchiato, here is how I am going to layer it in 5 easy steps:
1. drizzle caramel sauce on sides and bottom of cup
2. add vanilla syrup
3. pour in steamed milk
4. pour in shots
5. drizzle more caramel sauce on top
This is different from what you're expecting because what you wanted was for me to make your macchiato upside down. All that means is that instead of a macchiato, I'm making you a latte.
When making a latte or a mocha you put the shot in first, to give it flavor. If you pour the milk in first, you are flavoring the milk. The steamed milk is used to mix everything together because that's what the majority of your drink is - milk.
I worked with a barista who just made the caramel macchiato by putting in the vanilla syrup, pouring in the shots and then the milk and caramel sauce on top. When I asked her why she made it that way, she answered by telling me that most people don't really want a macchiato, they just like all the sugar that's in the drink.
Well, no more!
Now you can make an educated decision on the type of drink that you would like to order. And if you order a caramel macchiato from me, I'm going to make you a caramel macchiato. And you can talk to Zelda about my supreme caramel macchiato making skills.
She's unsatisfied with other baristas' attempts on campus, but today she stated that the one I made for her was simply fabulous. And I really am modest, I swear...
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