Monday Mourning

Sunlight breaks through white blinds

bouncing from wall to wall

warming the aquamarine sheets

illuminating the stubble on your face.

Your arm wraps around my waist

releasing your fingers into the cold

steel curves of my belly ring

as it circles the concave dimple.

The alarm beckons from across

the room forcing rock music

to echo off the stark walls.

You’ll be up, shaving soon.

Icey linoleum floors will rush

me into the shower anticipating

hot streams from my shower head

cleansing all reminders of you from my skin.

My roommate’s coffee poisons

the air. I watch as you acknowledge

the deadly morning smell. Already

I can feel the empty space beside me.

26 Hanbury Street, Spitalfields | nudeespresso.com | savoured on 21^st Nov ‘09

Almost every morning at work (at about 920 AM) you will find me in the pantry area playing barista, trying to craft the perfect coffee brew from a less than perfect coffee machine. The “CAPPUCINO” button does a half-decent job of frothing up the machine’s creamer… but too much of it and it starts to overwhelm with that pasty-powdery dairy taste. The shot of espresso dished out following the creamer cycle starts off strong, but soon weakens into a dilute, stale americano. My German colleague often chuckles as he watches me pull the cup away intermittently at precise intervals to avoid water-logging my drink, finally topping up with fresh milk, splenda (don’t laugh) and an extra spoon of Kenco.

But enough about my failed barista aspirations. I’ve found what has to be the Mona Lisa of all coffees just minutes down the road from my place. NudeEspresso sits on Hanbury Street, sandwiched between the hustle-bustle of Spitalfields market and BrickLane. They take the art of making coffee pretty seriously here and boy do they know how to make one heck of a flat-white.

the perfect cuppa flat-white…

Absolutely beautiful isn’t it. I’ve never seen such perfectly formed, symmetric tulip-rings from the steam milk finish before. It looked so gorgeous, I found it difficult to work up the courage to add sugar at risk of ruining the work of art yet alone drink it. But when you finally dare to sip this remarkable cup of coffee, what greets you is a smoothe, foamy rich, sumptuous elixir that is bold yet perfectly balanced. Puts my daily coffee pursuits in the pantry to shame.

A great cuppa coffee and for me, the best I’ve tasted in London to date.

G.

The Dark And Robust Journey Of Coffee

By Chuggin McCoffee

If you are currently kicking back and sipping your morning coffee, you may be wondering exactly where it comes from… Coffee itself has a delicious and decadent history with many twists and turns, so you may be interested to find out how your Java came to be!

Coffee is potentially the most popular drink in America, and even more so, since it has lately been proven to have a high amount of antioxidants when it is consumed regularly for health purposes. Drinking coffee on a regular basis will also provide energy and focus for your day-to-day life, which is precisely why it is such a popularly consumed beverage in the United States, as well as worldwide. Likewise, the coffee machine has a long history to bring it to where it is today, making it an affordable and convenient option for home use.

Coffee was rumored to have been discovered in Ethiopia by a goat herder who observed his goats having increased energy after eating coffee berries. From there, coffee consumption spread to neighboring countries, including Egypt and Arabia. The first preparation of roasted coffee beans as a beverage with boiling water was said to have begun in Arabia. At that time, coffee was also considered a type of wine, and it was used for barter and trade. It was fermented similar to the way that grapes are fermented for wine, and it also was consumed for warmth, energy, and taste.

The first coffee maker was invented in 1818, and it has been constantly modified since that time by coffee fans everywhere. Interestingly enough, the coffee machine has as many patents from women as from men, which is something that was almost unheard of during that time period. Throughout the years, the coffee machine has become a convenient and dependable product for home use. The first filter coffee machines were invented in the 1960s, and there have been many technological improvements since that time. Coffee makers are now also produced by many different manufacturers, like Krups, Mr. Coffee, Delonghi, and Kitchenaid, just to name a few.

Espresso is another popular drink, similar to coffee, and the first espresso machine was said to have been created in 1901 by Lugia Bezzer. This man was looking for a faster way to speed up the time that his employees spent on their coffee breaks, so he used more pressure in the brewing process to create a concentrated shot of coffee. This was originally called “The Fast Coffee Machine”, and it was patented in 1905. From there, the new creator of the espresso machine, Desidero Pavoni, used a piston pump to push water through a tube for a better espresso product.

As you can see, coffee and espresso have come a long way, and we can appreciate all of the advanced technology behind our daily brew! Coffee and espresso machines are more popular than ever for home use, and they are becoming increasingly affordable and convenient for everyday brewing.

About the Author: Chuggin McCoffee is a coffee fanatic that has spent the entirety of his career cultivating and studying all of the best uses and brewing styles for optimal coffee and espresso flavor. His specialty site for all coffee needs, supplies, and the commercial coffee maker can be found at www.thecoffeebump.com.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=445313&ca=Food+and+Drinks

Library: Day 2! haha

First let’s start with last night — I ended up hanging out with one of my friends, and she made these awesome PB/flax bars…yum! I didn’t get a pic of them, but seriously – so good. I’ll get the recipe and post it. When I got home, I went on a bit of a cleaning bender. haha I rearranged my entire kitchen. Oh yahh!

I also discovered some grape tomatoes that were on the verge of going bad — so I popped them in the oven and roasted them for future sauce use! It made my apartment smell sooo good!

Today before heading to the library for day two of ‘Project Productiveness’, I broke out my trusty drip coffee-maker and made myself some hazelnut coffee.

I also stopped and got myself a coffee (skinny hazelnut latte) on my WAY to library…needless to say, I was AWAKE! haha

During the 5 hours I spent working on my working media budget and on my media kit, I munched on this:

I also had this veggie roll later on — it was okay…it’s pretty, that’s for sure!

Anyway, so after my productive day, I treated myself to some Boloco! The Bangkok Burrito — to be exact. Yumm. It really hit the spot, and was totally what I was craving.

It was absolutely WONDERFUL to not be working today. I just felt free – relaxed and not stressed out.

I hope everyone else had a wonderful weekend!!

Peace, Love & Munchies.

So, I went to see “New Moon” today and it was freaking awful. I loved it. It was just so tacky and fake and it made me laugh. Sue was all happy about it and I was whispering “PRODUCT PLACEMENT” a lot, because there was a lot of product placement. The actors in the movie are really bad; I laughed at that too. Afterwards we went to Starbucks (of course) (tall, cafe americano (in case you were wondering)). Then I came home. It was a most exciting day. Previous to all this my mom and I went to On The Rise, which is yet another place I love. Everything there is yummy and fantastic. I drove… We didn’t hit anything or anyone or anything so I guess that’s good. I got some peppermint shampoo and it smells good… Yeah. The air is cold and I can almost taste winter. I am so excited.

this morning as i was brewing up a cup of coffee in my teeny tiny french press, i decided i wanted an old timey stove-top coffee percolator for those day (like today) when more than one cup of coffee would be nice.  after breakfast i found one on etsy that i liked and emailed it to my mom and sister with a note that said, “this would be a good idea for a christmas or birthday gift for me” (my birthday is in 2 weeks).  i suppose i should email them back and tell them to disregard that message because i found the EXACT SAME percolator at a thrift store in iowa city today for a third of the price!  the fabulous 1950s design and the $7.50 price tag = my lucky day.

here she is:

now tell me that’s NOT completely fabulous.  and the good news is that if you’re jealous, the one on etsy is still available!

(source)

Winner of the Be Fair competition- its very cool, check it out

I have read a lot on the perfect shot of espresso and watched many many videos. This one is short and to the point while providing all the best information.

Caffeine, caffeine, where art thou?

November 9, 2009
by Genevieve Jerome | Staff Writer

Walking into United Coffee House, my nostrils are immediately filled with alluring scent of fresh, strong, dark coffee, perhaps a little too strong.

United Coffee House has a strange scent and their coffee is unlike anything I have ever smelled before. The coffee does not smell like the seductive scent of Peet’s Coffee & Tea, nor does it smell like a candy factory, the way Starbucks smells.

They say they sell organic fair trade coffee, and boy, they were not kidding, it smells like the fertilizer in my backyard.

Although the walls are filled with awesome paintings by local artists, the coffee is profoundly below par. United Coffee House may be filled with comfy chairs and have tons of room, but their coffee tastes like the earth, literally.

I’m all about organic coffee growers and the need to support local farmers; however, I’m also all about delicious tasting coffee.

Their coffee is not for students who enjoy a sweet, fattening frappuccino from Starbucks from time to time or a simple soy chai latte from Peet’s Coffee and Tea.

Organic coffee is supposed to be delicious and pure like the ground it grows in. United Coffee House’s coffee reminded me of a really bad batch of fruit that spoiled over a week’s time.

Although the owners, Tiffany Colby and Harginer Sighn, were extremely kind and upbeat, it took Colby at least five minutes to make me my drink. Now for students in a rush, this is anything but good.

Before making me my drink, Colby asked me how I like my coffee. I told her strong, very strong. I was indeed expecting a strong, bold cup of coffee but instead I got a mucky, sea-tasting, batter-of-mildew-like substance that eroded the taste buds in my mouth. It took every ounce of my willpower and all of my acting chops not to spit the coffee right out of my mouth.

Not only does their coffee taste bad, but their prices are anything but fair.

Sandwiches are $5.95. One word: expensive.

Students can expect a small cup of plain coffee to cost them $1.75 and a blended Frappee costs $4.15. The catch with these prices is a small cup of coffee is smaller than a small or tall size at Peet’s or Starbucks.

The coffee is French pressed with a pressing tool for bringing out the most flavor. The process is a great idea if you have the time, energy and patience in the morning.

For a coffee shop to French press all of its coffee is a horrible business maneuver because it takes unnecessary time and energy, and causes a line of people to stand impatiently at the coffee bar, awaiting their order.

Although I didn’t enjoy the coffee at United Coffee House, I must give them kudos for a welcoming atmosphere.

United Coffee House is located across from City College.

But a warning: enter at your own risk.

Unfortunately I am one of those people that live in a beautiful spot by the lake in Toronto. Why is this unfortunate you ask? There are no Starbucks within walking distance of my home. So what is a girl to do when she’s craving a tasty beverage, but doesn’t want to leave home? Create! An added bonus, this is also healthier than the frappiccinos you will find in the beloved coffee shop.

Here’s my take on a java-chip frappiccino. I am very picky when it comes to my coffee beverages, and I’d say this is one of the yummiest I’ve had yet!

But you can judge for yourself…

Mocha-Chip Frappinikkio

Ingredients:

• 100-200ml chocolate almond milk (“Almond Joy” is the most common brand available in most grocery stores) (100ml for a smaller beverage, 200ml for a larger beverage)
• 50-100ml white milk (1%, nonfat) (50ml for a smaller beverage, 100ml for a larger beverage)
• 1-2 shots brewed and chilled espresso (alternate: 2 tsp instant espresso powder)
• 1 tsp (or to taste) sugar
• 2-3 tsp vanilla frozen yogurt
• 1 tsp cocoa powder
• 1-2 tsp chocolate chips
• 100ml crushed ice

Method:

• Mix all ingredients in a blender until it has that soft slushy look, pour into a glass, and enjoy!

With the holiday season upon us, I’m reminded of the many reasons why I love this time of year. I love the look of the first snow fall, candy canes, the way downtown Toronto looks with Christmas decorations, and the huge Christmas tree at Nathan Phillips Square. I love having Christmas lights on in the evenings. I love going for walks on a mild winter evening with my husband, and watching my dog Buddy run around in the snow trying to eat it while I have a hot chocolate in hand. Most of all, I love the smell (and taste!) of Christmas cooking! Anything from baking (fudge, candy, cookies, yummy!) to holiday themed beverages.

It’s no surprise that with my love of Starbucks, I get extra excited about the holiday themed beverages that come out at this time of year! One of my all time favourites is their Eggnog Latté. Sadly, because they use the full fat eggnog, I only enjoy these once in a while. (Avoiding bad fats whenever possible is important in maintaining good health!) Luckily for my taste buds, while grocery shopping last winter I found a light eggnog by Neilson that has only 1%MF. So I thought to myself, “self, you should make a low-fat eggnog latté at home!” It’s pretty simple to make a latté at home, even if you don’t have a steamer for the milk. Here’s my recipe for a simple low-fat version of an eggnog latté. Enjoy!

Nikki’s Eggnog Latté

Ingredients:

• 1/4 or 1/2 cup non fat skim milk
• 1/2 cup Neilson light eggnog (1g of fat, 110 calories per 125g serving, 0 trans fats, 0.5g saturated fats, 5g of protein)
• a dash – 1/4 tsp nutmeg (use less nutmeg, then add more if you want to. Some people find the flavour of nutmeg too intense.)
• 1 serving espresso (I recommend using the Starbucks Christmas Blend of coffee bean if you happen to have grinder on hand at home and are familliar with how to brew espresso, because it has a great flavour that compliments these types of beverages. If you’re unable to brew your own espresso, instant espresso powder will work. You can also make it a double shot if you really want to!)
• Dash cinnamon and nutmeg to garnish
• Sugar is optional if you like your beverage sweeter, but not necessary because eggnog is already so sweet.

Method:

• In a sauce pan, combine and heat milk, nutmeg and eggnog over medium heat until hot, stirring constantly. (Time depends on your stove, I usually heat for about 2-3 minutes. You can also heat the mixture in the microwave at 30 second intervals until the liquid has reached the desired temperature, stirring every 30 seconds to ensure a balanced temperature.)
• Pour 3/4 of the mixture into your mug. Set aside the other 1/4 of the mixture in a glass. (For extra foam, use the frother for about 10 seconds in the 3/4 mixture that’s in the mug before adding the espresso.)
• Prepare and pour your shot of espresso into the mug with the 3/4 of the mixture.
• Using a handheld milk frother ($8-$15 at Kitchen Stuff Plus), froth the remaining 1/4 of the mixture, and use a spoon to apply the froth to the beverage.
• Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg for garnish.
• Drink, and enjoy!

Eggnog Latté

With inspiration from The Chocolate and Coffee Bible, I got a little creative with my morning coffee today. Even though winter is at the tips of our toes, I wanted to try a cold coffee beverage instead of the lattés I’ve been stirring up lately. I decided to mix it up by blending the ideas from a Coffee Frappé and a Coffee Yogurt into one beverage (with a few modifications of course!) Here is my Spiced Iced Vanilla Coffee, enjoy! This recipe makes 1 serving.

Spiced Iced Vanilla Coffee

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup vanilla no sugar added frozen yogurt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-2 tsp sugar (you can omit the sugar completely if you don’t want the drink to be too sweet)
• 1 cup strong brewed chilled coffee
• 1/2 cup crushed ice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• dash of cinnamon/cocoa powder to garnish

Method:

• Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth, and serve in a tall glass. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon and cocoa powder, and enjoy!
• Note: because you are mixing all of the ingredients in a blender, when you pour into the glass, you will automatically get a nice frothy foam on the top of the beverage. Also, this beverage has less than 150 calories.

Spiced Iced Vanilla Coffee

I texted West Coast while high last night. I know I said I’d never smoke weed again, but oh well. I was in a really good place last night.

He looked great for the dinner but I didn’t see him at the dance. So I told him he looked good and that I was too high to worry. He didn’t respond, but there’s nothing I can do.

Tomorrow is the boyfriend’s birthday. He managed to get some weed from a friend so I have to think of something else to buy him. He’s turning into kind of a big stoner, which isn’t good because his grades are suffering anyway… but that’s not for me to worry about, it’s his cross to bear.

My grades are what I need to worry about. I spoke with the advisor for students with disabilities on Friday, and he told me he could help me with classes that I don’t have the energy to wake up for. Sometimes I feel so weak that I can’t get out of bed, and he said that it counts as a disability. So what that means is I’ll get to live in a single next year at no extra cost and that my professors will all be notified that I have some debilitating illness that prevents me from having perfect attendance.

My attendance is near perfect, but I don’t want to drop from being an A student to a B+ student just because of depression and anorexia.

I weighed in, and my BMI is 18.4. I’m underweight, but barely. I mentioned last time that I’m doing the “Skinny Bitch Challenge” and that I’m liquid-fasting right now, so I’m hoping to see that number go down soon.

I set a goal at 95. That’s when I’ll be able to smile again. Not so thin that I black out while walking, and not fat enough to invalidate any fleeting moments of joy I might experience.

I’m feeling really tired, but I’m going to go into town to get a gift for the boyfriend later. I’ll need more coffee first I think.

I havent written for about a week. I was planning to the other day, and then I got sick with suspected swine flu! I am taking the Tamiflu meds that I have been prescribed and feel slightly better; the pain killers seem to help me faze in and out of the real world. All in all, I dont think I have had the worst case of flu ever, but it has been horrible. I am still not better in the slightest but should be in a few days. To take 5 mins on your hands and knees to get upstairs to the toilet doesnt really help esteem…

It was my friend Lauren’s 21st birthday yesterday, but alas I was too poorly to go out with her, and then go to work I will make it up to you I promise, and I hope you had a good birthday!

Today I found out that my dad has been taking great photos of Lego men!? He stole a load from me before the summer but I hadnt seen any of the produce. Here is my favourite:

Click the image to see all of his work. He does a lot of nature and macro photography, which I think is great. There is no dispute that my photography inspiration and knowledge has always come from him

What else have I found while laying around feeling sorry for myself…? A beautiful place called Stitch Lab, which looks too good to be true!:

When I feel better I am planning to sort out the spare room into a spare room/sewing and crafts room! I cant wait!

This living room is very cute! I love the crochet throw on the sofa, the little green table in the back and the kitchen too…:

I also want a typewriter like this! Its amazing!:

Im not sure what else to write about at the moment, my brain is a bit fried from all the pain killers. Hopefully I will feel a bit better tomorrow.

[No picture - poorly-state face]

Jenn xx

P.S I finished Tomb Raider: Underworld on the 360, and now I am in the middle of Wet. Both games are great!

P.P.S

This is utterly unscientific from about 4 to 52 angles so please stop reading if you’re inclined towards sanity.

Now, for the rest of us: this is a review of “Rocketfuel (self-heating) Black Coffee (Hot Energy Strong Black Coffee Powered by Guarana)”, see image for visual appreciation and deep scientific understanding of the issue at hand. Ok, so here’s the, erowid.org-style, personal trip report from the encounter:

Dose: 1 (oral) Rocketfuel Black Coffee (wet)
Body weight: 69 kilo (152lb or 11 stone)

First, before I begin, despite what may be deducted from the intro and everything else, this ALL HAPPENED TO A FRIEND and it is only for ease of writing that I have adopted a first person perspective to re-tell the daring tale of despair.

15:47
I first spot the much feared yet also tantalizing substance flaunted on display at a local news agent in the area. After the initial doubt over the slightly hefty price of £1.45 my curiosity gets the best of me (its coffee.. it HEATS ITSELF!) and I commence to pay for the drug with my girlfriend (named “Y” for anonymity in the rest of this report) money as I’m as always low on cash.

15:56

After calming myself down (by walking out of the store and thinking about a watermelon and listening to an psychedelic ambient music album by Shpongle) I promptly read the simple yet tantalizing instructions on the side of the jar: 1) “Click the base (once)” 2) Shake for 40 seconds 3) Drink (after opening). Because I’m largely fearless, and mildly retarded, I proceeded to press the base nearly 10 times to make sure it was more than ordinarily pressed and…

15:57

… immediately after I was transferred to another reality zone of complete appreciation in regards to just how well the self heating cup functioned as a hand-warmer; this effect is so strong that it was also commented on by Y who was my sitter throughout the trip [Erowid Note: always use a sitter when trying out dangerous/novel substances].

15:58 (ingesting the substance)

This is f*cking mind-blowing, the coffee just heated itself (at least mildly) and now I’m drinking it… ARGH, the issue is that it taste as if someone is forcefully injecting roughly one imperial gallon (yes that is 4.54609188 liters) of sewer waste into my gullet. The shock causes a strong onset of hallucinations involving small pixies dancing with metal boots in my groin while laughing hysterically. This hallucination however rapidly fades and gives way to swirling visions of me kicking the manufacturer of this coffee in the groin and then finally disappears.

16:05 (the come-down)

I now strongly need a toothbrush and industrial strength hydrogen peroxide to clean my mouth from the vile taste. The lingering taste even as I’m writing this reminds me exactly what sort of price one should be willing to pay for buying pre-manufactured self-heating coffee crap. As I wipe tears from my eyes due to the emotional impact of this trip I cannot help but wonder whether this experience will make me think twice next time. I think I learned my lesson, crac.. coffee isn’t for me, self-heating or not.

I let this go on for two months, or $200 plus tax and shipping. I am sure there are people making thousands of dollars with their system. I am not one of those people. Six months later I still have a closet full of Black Coffee. Guess what you’re getting for Christmas? Another MLM bites me in the ass.

Today all like to have a cup of delicious coffee but are tired of paying the high prices for it in the coffee cafes. You can have a completely different experience having a coffee which is prepared at home in the coffee maker. It is always better to spend only once for a coffee maker than to go out in the caf้ and have a cup of coffee everyday. The new coffee makers are designed such that only with a touch of a button it grinds the coffee beans and filters them within minutes. Your coffee is not far from you. The exclusive devices present in the coffee maker helps to prepare yummy coffee within no time. With the help of a coffee maker you enjoy coffee like the taste qualities of espresso or the cappuccino or any other flavor you can ever think of. So what are you waiting for? Your coffee maker is just a click away from you. Just log on to the Toronto appliances and have a look at the models of the coffee maker on their website and place an order for it immediately and feel the difference. I am sure you will enjoy making coffee at home with your coffee maker.

There are many models in the market. They come for both commercial and home use. The manufacturers offer a variety of features and styles. You can opt one according to your choice which can go well with your budget as well as for making a variety of coffee flavors. Companies like L.G., Viking, Frigidaire, Amana, and G.E. offer a wide range of coffee makers which can suit the style of which type of a coffee maker you want to buy. Their structure is such that all the cup sizes can adjust in these machines and coffee is made while still it is in the brewing process. The removable filter attached in this eliminates the need for coffee filters. Cleaning a coffee maker is as easy. These machines are very convenient and very easy to clean and handle. You can buy one coffee maker according to your needs. The latest techniques have filters which help to avoid to spill the coffee and make a mess. This way making coffee is so easy. Now making coffee is no more a mess. It can be prepared very efficiently.

It is really amazing that these machines have the automatic buttons which adjust the best water temperature, brewing time and the amount of water you need to prepare a cup of coffee. You can make drinks according your choice. Real milk cappuccino coffee, tea or hot chocolate coffee for your children , each cup of coffee prepared by you in a coffee maker is delicious to let to enjoy the true essence of coffee which you would love to have every time without any fuss. Whether I have a gathering, meeting or party time, I give my friends the best hot coffee which they can enjoy and feel fresh. So even if you want to enjoy the tasty coffee with steamy and frothy coffee caf้ styles at our home, don’t think. Go and buy a new coffee maker for yourself.

San Francisco was still hibernating through a long cold night I had just left my hotel on Market Street and was wandering half asleep following lines in the cold concrete occasionally looking up at darkened windows and closed doors my hands were planted deeply in my pockets so I probably walked a little robotically the icy wind blew in off the Pacific and the tall buildings downtown accelerated it like a luge I cheered the occasional piece of paper racing along and wished I had an alpine bell to ring in encouragement it was sunrise on a Saturday morning and as the sole representative of our species in the vicinity I took a moment to thank the air the buildings the streets the lights basically everything I could see for making San Francisco what it is I was disappointed though by the lack of coffee houses in other cities you can’t extend your arm without touching one but here in San Francisco they must have an unusually healthy respect for sleep it’s highly likely that all I needed to do was walk knight to king’s bishop three and some wonderfully grotty all-nighter would have greeted me with stained doors flung open and a chipped mug already filled I heard a streetcar in the distance and then was gratified to see another member of our species sleepily stumbling her way through the cold dawn this meant there was the potential for something to be open early nearby I just hoped it wouldn’t be an electronics retailer or a Fisherman’s Wharf tourist junk emporium I walked a block in the same direction south I think and saw an open door on a side street it was a little hole in the wall vendor that sold pastries some were recognizable but most were unusual Asian varieties they were really weird and fascinating and I asked the vendor what they were she had a difficult time explaining so we mainly just smiled at each other I ordered the largest hottest coffee available she served it to me in a big styrofoam cup with a complicated plastic lid that my frozen hands broke almost immediately I spent the next glorious half hour standing on a variety of street corners warming my hands on the cup blowing steam off the coffee and taking gulps just big enough to warm my luxurious interior without scalding my mouth

I waited outside the Hair club on spy island for five minutes, and the bald poptropican next to me started snoozing! His eyelids closed, and he slumped down to the sidewalk. I think this is a glitch. I wonder how much coffee Poptropicans drink?

Like many bright-eyed undergraduates, I developed an addiction to caffeine during college. I have always liked coffee, the smell, taste, and the comforting act of preparation, but I didn’t start drinking it daily until my first year at university. Coffee fueled my studies — cups of Tim Horton’s black brew, sipped furtively in the library in violation of the no beverages rule, double lattes at Second Cup or Starbucks before newspaper meetings, and tiny cups of espresso in my apartment at 2 a.m while finishing term papers.

Basically, I like coffee, and I like drinking lots of it. My coffee doesn’t have to be fancy, caffeine is caffeine whether it’s drip coffee or espresso, just don’t put any sugar in it, please.

It’s taken me awhile to master ordering my daily jolt in Shanghai. If I go to Starbucks, no problem, all the baristas speak at least "Coffee English," but the chain is too expensive to visit very regularly. Its prices are actually higher in Shanghai than in New York — a "tall" coffee here costs the equivalent of US$2.20 vs. $1.75 in NYC.

I quickly memorized the words for coffee and espresso in Mandarin — kāfēi, which sounds similar to the English word cafe and nóng kāfēi, which literally means "strong coffee" — but my mug often came prepared with about six tablespoons of sugar and half a cup of dairy product. After I learned to spit out a toneless búyào táng! (don’t want sugar), things became easier. Still, I spent almost a month buying lattes from a local bakery before I caught sight of a carton and realized I was drinking whole milk. Sigh, now I know why the stuff tasted so deliciously creamy.

The word of the day is:

脱脂牛奶 (skim milk), tuōzhīniúnǎi in pinyin

To hear 脱脂牛奶 used in a sentence, click here.

megint túl sok volt a kávé, imádom a kávét, jaj készülődni kéne, mindjárt próba, egyáltalán lesz próba? szeretek énekelni, remélem lesz próba, legyen próba, mert az jó, kár hogy már sötét van, pedig még csak 4 óra, imádom a kávét, most egész jó kedvem van, azt hiszem, készülni kéne a holnapi magyar dolgozatra, de ugye lesz próba? imádom a próbát, legyen, mert szeretem, szeretek énekelni, kicsit kupi van, rendet is kéne rakni, de legyen már próba,  még vizes a hajam, de már majdnem szőke, be is kell majd festeni, imádom a színét, szerelmes vagyok a hajszínembe, erre vágytam évek óta, hát még a masnim! a masnim gyönyörű, a masnim imádnivaló, a masnim nagyon szép, van, hogy csak állok a tükörnek háttal és nézem a masnim, azaz a fejem a tükröt nézi, az nincs neki háttal különben nem látnám. szép a masnim. mindjárt próba! én tényleg nagyon szeretek énekelni és nagyon várom a próbát, mert hiányoznak már az osztálytársaim, és holnap suli és én ennek komolyan örülök mert ott lesz edit meg adri meg eni (azaz eni nem biztos hogy ott lesz, de remélem ott lesz) és együtt hülyülünk újra és megint megkattanok nyolcadik órára ahogy azt szoktam, és vihogok majd mint egy hülye (meg mint most) gyaaaaa mindjárt próba imádok énekelni imádom a próbát!