'Poor man's latte'
If you want an iced latte but don't have latte cash on hand, "You can order the espresso over ice in a big cup," suggests our barista. "Then you can walk right over to our condiment bar and use our carafes of whole milk, half and half, and nonfat."
"It's way, way cheaper. You'll save a lot of money." In general, she says, only about "one customer every couple hours" has figured out how to buy straight coffee and espresso and use the free condiments to mix their own beverages -- and they never get called on it. "We can't do anything about," she says.
Now, I'll admit I can count on one hand how many times I order iced lattes, as I am a faithful consumer of warm beverages regardless of the current weather conditions. However, this sounds like a trick worth the try. Except, I still can't decide if I would be bold enough to do it. It'd have to be a busy Starbucks in a big city, I think. Would you do it?
Right now I'm pulsing through a little over four hours of sleep. I could definitely benefit from a nap. My mind is starting to beg for one. However, it's October 1st, a beautiful day, I can make coffee, I am about to clean, read, and make pumpkin bread, and I just don't want to take one! Afternoon power-naps turn into afternoon large hunks of sleep time. Then, after waking up and realizing 2 to 3 hours of my afternoon is gone, it take me a good half hour to become mentally aligned and content with the fact that I woke my body up unnaturally at a random time. Plus, I just have the weirdest dreams during naps. Weirdest. How do you feel about these kind of naps?
Now, because I have frequent media quizzes in my media writing class, I have to keep up with news stories like when segways drive off cliffs and Katy Perry is too inappropriate for Sesame Street (You think?!) Since keeping up with the media and pop culture is kind of fun, I haven't been doing too poorly on these quizzes. However, one the other day was bad news. I guessed Britney Spears was banned from Japan instead of Paris Hilton, and Lady Gaga was the one 'popping out' on Sesame Street instead of Katy Perry (it was a good guess though, right?) Turns out Michael Douglas has throat cancer, and Lil Wayne hasn't recently flunked a drug test. I find it ironic that one of the few quizzes that has more to do with pop culture than relevant world news stories and politics is the one that I fail. I knew Bristol Palin was on Dancing With the Stars, though! Hooray for retaining the most useless of information!
Anyway, one question on the quiz today had to do with Stephen Colbert's appearance in congress to talk about immigration. Okay, folks, I've read a few news articles on this, I just don't get it. They knew he was going to be in character. They knew they were asking a comedian to speak in a congress meeting. Yet, they all are upset now because they felt he made light of a serious situation?! I asked my professor why Zoe Lofgren (the D-rep from Cali) even invited him to testify. He just laughed and said, "Apparently she thought it would be a nice, light break from a serious meeting, and he had worked alongside illegal immigrants at a farm one time." If this is all it takes for a person to be qualified to speak in congress, I am scared for this country. Props, Colbert. Props.
I've been trying to put my finger on good music for fall. A Fine Frenzy seems to fit today for so many reasons. I feel like she would be a lover of fall, as well. He covers, photography, clothing, hair color, and music videos all seem to just suggest a feeling of warmth and autumn.The perfect fall music video: Come On, Come Out by A Fine Frenzy
Reading: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Listening: A Fine Frenzy
Watching: Marcel the Shell With Shoes On (SO cute. Watch this. Please!)
I work at a coffee shop & I've learned you can essentially also do it with a few shots of espresso. Just buy however many shots is your fancy & go to town. The only thing you'll be missing is the froth. However, I don't know if that would be more expensive than a latte.
ReplyDeleteUsually I'd have a problem with this but since it doesn't have an impact on the income of the barista then I don't. I always get mad when I'm serving (at that pinnacle of class, Applebee's) & people order a water with extra lemon, then dump out practically all of the sugar & make their own lemonade. This directly impacts my income because the check will be lower, meaning you don't tip as much. However, most of the time the people that make their own lemonade aren't going to tip very much anyway.
I love fall, too. It's my favorite time of year. It's starting to cool off some here & I don't actually mind being outside.
Now if the leaves can start changing a little faster...
A Fine Frenzy is the personification of Fall, I'm pretty sure. I also just want to be her best friend and if I had money and wasn't lazy about up-keep, I would dye my hair the same color as hers.
ReplyDeleteAnd Katy Perry not getting to be on Seasame Street? It was a little stupid because from the clip I saw, it wasn't THAT much cleavage.
As for the coffee thing- I would say to do it on days where you want a latte, but can't really afford it and then the next time, go and get the actual thing so you aren't completely jipping Starbucks (though I generally hate Starbucks, it can't be avoided when it's the only coffee shop in town), but you're saving yourself some dough too.
Andrew - I never thought about the direct impact on the barista, but you are right... essentially, it doesn't impact them at all. So I suppose I shouldn't feel bad!
ReplyDeletePaige - Her hair is GORGEOUS. But upkeep would be so tedious. I feel like I would have to put way too much money into maintaining that rich of a color all the time!
Actually, it makes our lives easier because it's one less bar drink we have to deal with. I say GO FOR IT!
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