Coffee Coffee Coffee
In the midst of a busy week, you'll find this week's blog shorter and sweeter, fueled by the beat of a caffeinated heart. What better time than to share my deep love for the ritual and art of coffee?
I got hooked on the coffee ritual shortly after welcoming my firstborn son. With my husband working long night shifts at the time, he was frequenting the campus Starbucks and returning to work with multiple shots of espresso and an assortment of snacks to power through. As new parents with another baby on the way and childcare costs piling up, those $20 Starbucks runs added up quickly. We decided to invest in a Breville Barista Express espresso maker for our home. Little did we know, this machine would more than pay for itself over the years and become an integral part of my sacred morning routine.
When we went through our separation a few years later, having that espresso ritual was one of the few things that helped me feel grounded and at home within myself during an incredibly difficult transition. With my world feeling painful, horrendous, and sad, the simple act of making my own espresso drink in my new living space each morning allowed me to carve out a reassuring slice of normalcy. It was a moment purely for me - a routine to mark the start of my day with self-care and solitude before facing the challenges ahead. It may seem like a small thing, but having that calming ritual had an immense effect on how I started my days and chose my mindset.
Beyond the incredible at-home espresso convenience, the Breville has also opened up an exceptional way for me to spend quality time and money supporting local businesses. Now, one of my absolute favorite activities for friend dates or solo adventures is to visit different coffee shops, try their featured drinks and beans, and purchase bags of my favorites to recreate those flavors at home. There's no better way to maximize an amazing coffee hangout than by extending the experience through taking home the very beans you fell in love with in the café. It's the gift that keeps on giving while uplifting small businesses I admire.
Another avenue that has expanded my coffee enthusiasm is the subscription service Trade Coffee. These folks deliver bags of freshly roasted, fair trade coffee beans from roasters all over the world, shipped out within 24 hours of roasting for unbeatable freshness. With the subscription, I can choose to receive a new variety every 3, 4, or 6 weeks, and if I discover a particular roaster or blend that becomes a fast favorite (here’s mine), I can easily reorder it more frequently or set it as my default going forward. Having this service has been a fun, low-lift way to constantly experience new coffees while never running out of my staples.
I can't say I've always been quite the admitted coffee snob that I am today, but my standards and appreciation for a truly excellent cup of coffee have definitely heightened over the years. When treated to coffee out, my go-to order is simple - a small, piping hot latte made with whole milk, hold any syrups or additions. I want to experience and savor the coffee itself in its purest form, without any potential embellishments cloaking the true essence of the coffee's flavors and quality. A well-made latte with high-caliber beans needs no frills or sugar bombs.
Research shows that consuming a source of healthy fats alongside caffeine can help the body better metabolize the energy boost, preventing jitters and crashes. This is why I always opt for whole milk rather than skim or non-fat milk alternatives when enjoying a latte. Another prime culprit that can cause coffee jitters? Moldy beans! Being an agricultural product, coffee beans are one of the more likely grocery items to carry traces of mold. The shiny, oily coating you often see on bean surfaces is actually the coffee's natural oils being expressed through the roasting process - a beautiful thing that contributes to an espresso's velvety crema and aromatics. However, anything oil-based is perishable and prone to mold growth when not properly stored and consumed fresh. This is yet another reason I'm so committed to sourcing my beans from local roasters or respected subscription services that ship out super fresh inventory.
In my quest for the perfect latte, there are a handful of criteria I always evaluate:
Steamed Milk Consistency: I'm not looking for an overly frothy or dry cappuccino-style foam. My ideal is a silky, densely steamed milk with just a slight layer of micro-foam creating a smooth, wet paint-like texture that can hold latte art on top.
Emulsification of Oils: When an espresso bean is properly rested and brewed with quality, you'll see the crema (that creamy amber-hued layer) have an emulsified oil pattern blending into the steamed milk. It's quite beautiful and shows respect for the bean.
No Added Sugar: As mentioned, I avoid adding any syrups, flavors, or sweeteners (beyond perhaps a teaspoon of pure maple syrup at home) to truly let the bean's natural flavors and notes shine. Reading about different beans and their tasting profiles of fruit, nut, chocolate, etc. is one of my geeky joys.
Bold, Full Body: I gravitate towards beans described as full-bodied and syrupy, with a heavy, velvety mouthfeel from the oils and sugars. Higher altitude beans tend to have this density.
Proper Temperature: There's nothing worse than a lukewarm, lackluster latte. I want that first sumptuous sip to be lip-searing and the entire drink to maintain its molten lava vibes throughout. The sweet spot is milk steamed between 155-165°F.
Every so often, I dabble in alternatives to straight coffee like the mushroom-based beverage brand RYZE. Their Mushroom Coffee and Probiotic Creamer is a nice change of pace, and I still get to indulge in the ritual of steaming milk before stirring it in. Their Mushroom Hot Chocolate is also incredibly soothing for winding down in the evenings. Next on my list to explore is their Mushroom Matcha!
For anyone looking to dive deeper into the world of exceptional coffee, here are some useful links:
- This is the link to get your first free bag from Trade Coffee Co.
- This is the specific Breville espresso maker model I've been using happily for over 6 years.
- And finally, if you want endless coffee entertainment, check out my friend Maria's hilarious Instagram series reviewing local Columbus coffee shops.
