Frothy Goodness
Ever since I got back from Italy this summer I’ve been searching to recreate that delicious coffee. I may have mentioned that the cappuccino over there took hold of me in a way that no man has yet been able to. It was superb and heavenly. Sigh.... I have missed it. Upon my return to the states I went to Starbucks- which, by the way is THIS close to being on my list of evil empires- and ordered a cappuccino. It was swill. Not fit for consumption, much less worth the $4 I ridiculously shelled out for it.
I have considered buying a cappuccino maker. Since they were all the rage around 5 or 6 years ago, I figured I could get one now at a reasonable price. I thought I’d try e-bay, but that would mean opening an account and trying to figure out how e-bay works. I know, don’t scold. I can’t help it. Plus, I don’t really want that thing hogging up precious space on my counter-top.
This weekend I made french toast and really really wanted a coffee treat to go with this multi-grain extravagance. I have one of those ?? emulsifiers?? that you can use to whip things and mix soups or other liquids. I poured in some milk- because I never finish a whole half gallon- and watched my 2% foam to heights I didn’t know 2% could foam to. I then poured that into a cup of freshly ground and brewed coffee and my God!
I think it’s a latte and not a cappuccino, but damn it was good!
The real question is, when did I start giving a shit about my coffee? That’s such a middle class middle aged Yuppish thing to focus on. Less than 1 year ago, I thought Burger King coffee was the pinnacle. 2 years ago, I was drinking coffee from the convenience store up the street. 6 years ago, I didn’t even drink coffee. What the fuck, man? What the fuck?
Have you ever tried to order a ‘large’ coffee at a Starbucks? You can’t do it. Actual conversation:
ME: Hi. Yes. I’d like a large Mocha
SB: You mean a Grande Mocha?
ME: Yes. A large Mocha. With some sugar.
SB: So you’d like sugar in your Grande Mocha?
ME: Yes. A large Mocha with sugar.
SB: Grande Mocha coming right up!
ME: (whispering) Large.
SB: (not whispering) We need a GRANDE Mocha with sugar.
ME: You know what? Let’s make it a medium…
Cold stare. 30 Seconds of silence…
SB: Change that to a Venti!!
ME: (under my breath) I hate this fucking place.
Comments(13) 
Posted by liz on 01/29 at 11:52 AM-
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Are you venti-ing, my dear?
By Gwen on 2008 01 29
I am not a coffee snob, but I do like my lattes.
The only difference between a cappuccino and a latte is the amount of milk and the consistency of the foam.
Generally a cappuccino is a shot of espresso served with an equal amount of steamed milk with a fairly stiff milk foam head.
Conversely a latte is a shot of espresso with 3 times as much milk and the milk foam is not as stiff.
Both are very easy to make at home with a cheap machine.
Now you might ask what’s the difference between regular drip coffee and espresso?
Again, not a huge amount. With espresso the coffee beans are ground up to a finer degree and the brew time is much shorter because the water is fed through the mixture under pressure.
This is where your coffee snobs will insist you need an expensive espresso maker at home to do the job correctly. They are right too. Cheaper machines don’t use enough pressure to force the water through the beans quickly enough altering the taste.
The average non snob coffee drinker won’t notice the difference.
Someone who has been raised in Italy however can tell you exactly where you made your mistake and why the temperature of the water being off 2 degrees has made what you have just served them swill.
For the record I make both an amazing cappuccino and a fantastic latte.
Sorry for the acre long comment but I thought you’d find the info helpful.
By dave on 2008 01 29
A better solution. Go find yourself a Tim Horton’s and enjoy. Starbucks is pure EVIL!
By Paul on 2008 01 29
double fuck starbucks. seriously. fuck starbucks. hate em.
i’m glad you found a compliment to your french toast. although now i am starving for such a treat. yet i have no food in the fridge. tomorrow when i am chowing on mcdonald’s wanna be french toast sticks and burning my tongue on their coffee, i will be cursing your name. i’m sure you are cool with that, but just wanted you to know.
xoxo
By hellohahanarf on 2008 01 29
p.s. to dave...whadda ya do, work for starbuck’s?? sheesh, that was some coffee knowledge!
By hellohahanarf on 2008 01 29
Gwen- Argh! But funny.
Dave- All excellent pieces of information. Thanks.
Paul- A who? No such luck, I’m afraid.
And my name gets cursed daily by someone, some where, so no prob, Hello.
By liz on 2008 01 29
While we are on a Starbucks rant. How come no Starbucks employee can read No Whipcream. The write it on the side of the cup everytime. I even have a customized Starbucks card that even says NO WHIPCREAM. But 85% of the time my coffee comes with whipcream.
By Topncal on 2008 01 30
What’s coffee? Is it like a Coke?
By othurme on 2008 01 30
I know what you mean. There was this cup of espresso I had at the hotel on my first Italy trip that, looking back, is the best coffee I ever had.
By dmarks on 2008 01 30
I used to be a barista for 15 years and I was never pretentious about it...I never worked at Starbucks either though.
By churlita on 2008 01 30
I am s super beer nerd/snob, so I can’t knock the Starbucks bastards.
By Killer on 2008 01 30
killer, i wish i could take you to my local bar, which just so happens to be a beer emporium with 45 beers on tap, 1 cask and over 200 bottles of beer, glorious beer. makes me happy girl wiggle just knowing it is less than a mile from home.
but you can still trash starbucks and coffee snobs. it is totally different. totally!
By hellohahanarf on 2008 01 30
Killer,
LOVE the new avatar. Is that clib’s work or yours? I want one too- but not of you. Can you make that happen?
By liz on 2008 01 31