Coffee Cocktails, Anyone?
Coffee and alcohol – what better combination can you think of? For those who need to have their fix of these two “drugs,” then here are some recipes for you to try out. I stumbled upon them at the New Straits Times, courtesy of Kitty Kaye, who swears by them. Here are two most interesting ones.
Caribbean Coffee cocktail
This one is surprisingly masculine in flavours, despite its feminine appearance.
You will need:
l half a measure of dark rum
l a cup of coffee, hot
l whipped cream
l 2 tsp sugarSimply mix it all together and end it all with a generous spritz of whipped cream.
Dark rum and coffee – now doesn’t that sound wonderful??? Of course, the whipped cream just got me all excited. Just take a look at this:
Cold Comfort Coffee cocktail
Ah, a favourite! It has everything I look for. Simplicity in flavours and simple to prepare. This is for serious coffee drinkers who like their coffee black and sugarless.
This one is bitter and showcases the familiar flavours of coffee with whiffs of alcohol.You will need:
l half a measure of dark rum
l half a measure of Southern Comfort
l a dash of creme de cacao liquer
l a cup of coffee, chilledShake together all the ingredients and serve in a short tumbler with some ice cubes.
I can just imagine making this on a lazy Saturday afternoon. You know, the kind that you have when you spent all night Friday getting drunk? Talk about hair of the dog…with the added benefit of caffeine.
On A Starbucks Quest
And I thought I was addicted to coffee! Have you heard of this guy from California who is on a quest to visit every Starbucks store in the world? Rafael Antonio Lozano Jr., who now goes by the name Winter, started his quest way back in 1997. I was actually a bit surprised to hear that because it is only now that I came across his story.
Anyway, to date, Winter has visited around 9,100 Starbucks store in various countries. He is currently in the United Kingdom, where he is hell bent on visiting 400 locations spread all over England, Scotland, and Wales. His activities have even created a new word:
Starbuck – also Starbucking; to purposely visit Starbucks branches.
After his Great Britain “tour,” Winter is set to go Starbucking in other parts of Europe – Spain, Germany, and Portugal. So what does this coffee addict (or maybe Starbucks addict?) do when he visits a Starbucks? He says that in each branch that he visits, he orders a cup of regular brewed coffee, takes a picture, and then of course, documents it. He has a web site, aptly named Starbucks Everywhere, where he posts his pictures and writes about his endeavors.
I paid it a visit and I think that he could use some help in web site design, seriously. You can’t complain about the content, though. I love his entry on the Stone House Square (photo shown above), which, according to Winter, is the prettiest store in all of Maryland.
Anyhow, if you want to follow his adventures, visit his web site and join in the fun!
More Than Coffee
Coffee has had more than its share of flak, we have to admit that. While there are a LOT of people who will swear by this drink, there are also a lot of people who see nothing but its negative side. That is why, when I read about coffee shops and companies doing extra work to help others, I feel a sense of pride. You see, coffee even people who can’t live a day without coffee can make a difference!
The most recent story that I read is about a Sioux Falls coffee shop. The shop is called Dunn Brother’s Coffee and is located off Arrowhead Park in east Sioux Falls. So what are they doing to make a difference?
I am sure that you are aware of the effects that the current economic crisis has on people and their jobs. Now, more than ever, we have a lot of unemployed people who would want nothing more than to get back on their feet and find a means of living. What the people at Dunn Brother’s are doing is to hold a series of sessions aimed at helping the unemployed.
Dubbed Coffee Connection, the sessions feature life coaches who are specialized in counseling the unemployed. The sessions welcome anyone who needs help and also offer the chance to establish networks, which can be an important factor in getting a job. The sessions are still on going, in fact, there is one scheduled on the 25th of May. For registration and more information, call (605) 271-8038.
Mexican Coffee SAFE
Talk about prejudice! I have to be honest and say that I do have my own share of prejudiced notions, but I am not proud of that. Still, I guess it is human nature to have a healthy dose of this negativity. The only way we can battle it is through information.
Why am I talking about prejudice when this is supposed to be a blog about the best drink in the world? Well, there is a company called Mexican Coffee Company, based in the UK. It is run by a couple, Rafael and Alison Hernandez. The relatively small family business has experienced an alarming 50% decrease in sales due to the on going outbreak of swine flu. If you’ve been following the news, which I am pretty sure you are, you’d know that the flu originates from Mexico. Hence the prejudice.
It is pretty obvious, however, that the flu is not passed on through coffee. In an effort to lend what little help I can to these guys, I thought that I’d write about them. I may not be able to buy their coffee from where I am from but, I hope that word can get out to help them. Here’s a short description of what they do:
The Mexican Coffee Company brings you premium quality coffee from one of the world’s finest coffee producing regions. Our coffee is grown by native Mayan farmers living in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. We buy direct from the growers to ensure that they receive a fair price. Our coffee is organic, shade-grown, high altitude and roasted to order.
Do visit their web site and see what they have to offer. And again, their coffee is safe from swine flu!
