For those of you who are unaware, coffee is what makes me a whole person. Don’t bother writing in with [insert crazy argument here]…all I will read is blah, blah, blah COFFEE blah, blah, blah. I will then make a cup of coffee, thank you for the suggestion, and go about my day.
Anyway, I’m only mentioning this to those of you who have never had the pleasure of knowing Morning Me before coffee: she ain’t pretty. And the point I’m so long windily trying to make is that it is a rare occasion where I turn down a cup of coffee.
As mentioned in my prior post, there was an announcement that my delayed flight would soon be boarding. I was torn in two. Coffee or getting to the gate on time? Okay, there wasn’t that much tearing…especially given there was no line at the cafe three gates away (probably because most people don’t drink a lot of coffee at 8:30pm….except perhaps the baristas, who were, in fact, bouncing off the walls). I asked for a breve latte. Actually FIRST I asked how many shots where in the size I wanted. Three. Wow…really? That’s fantastic. Then I order a breve latte. All the baristas stopped momentarily to see if I was actually a person. A real-live-ordered-breve-and-no-skinny-anything latte.
Then the barista at the register said something magical: would you like an extra shot? It’s free. I’m sorry, FREE COFFEE? Oh honey those are THE TWO BEST sequential words on the planet (except for maybe FREE BEER or FREE WINE). It’s coffee and it’s free. I know that extra shots are not normally free, but who am I to argue with a barista who was being extra nice [read: don’t go visit and start demanding extra free shots]. Too bad there wasn’t a lottery place in the airport, I would have totally played because I was feeling so lucky.
I think normal people might balk at 4 shots of espresso at 8:30pm. But not me. Oh no, not me! With gusto I said “of course I do…that would be fantastic!” I didn’t even question why it was free, I just went for it (I mean, really who would turn this down???) As I was gushing my profuse thanks I could see a realization of the late time start to sink into the barista’s brain and I could read his sudden perplexed expression like a book: no, no decaf–all regular please!
Thankfully my gate was near by because it was so creamy and so delicious, I needed to sit down. Colectivo Coffee is a Milwaukee based coffee and roasting company who has been contributing great coffee to the fine folks in and visiting Milwaukee since 1993. You can even go to their store on Humbolt Avenue and watch the whole roasting process–which is not only fascinating, but smells amazing! Trust me, if you’re in the Milwaukee area visit one (or more of their stores)–you won’t be disappointed: the freshly roasted beans shine through in every cup they make.
My coffee reverie was interrupted by nice flight attendant, who very graciously announced final boarding for my flight. Once in my seat with my seat belt buckled and tray table in its upright position, the aforementioned reverie continued until the last drop of creamy coffee was gone. And before you write in and chide me about 4 shots of espresso at 8:30pm, just know that after I finished my delicious breve, I napped allllllll the way to MSP!
The Epicurious Texan 