Adventures in coffee drinking
By Jennifer Voldness, Jayplay writer
I walk into Starbucks one morning, smiling like I always do when I am about to see the love of my life: my grand nonfat latte. I look at the comfy chairs and the friendly staff and I begin to think about all the other coffee shops in Lawrence. I don't believe anyone should be as inviting as this. I often look at these other cafes I didn't, however, think about how much coffee I would need to consume in order to do my research.
Java Break, 17 $^{7}$ th St.; I have often driven by this coffee shop and wondered what it's like. Walking up to the counter, I see the large menu of hot drinks, teas and specialty drinks and realize I am definitely not in Sambucks anymore. Among others, the menu boasts the Gradey Sex Bomb, a hot and creamy drink the clerk tells me is quite popular among Java Break regulars. On the recommendation of the clerk, I order a chocolate-flavored lced Alexander and a latte as well. (I had to know how it stacks up to my usual.) I take a sip of the each and am pleasantly surprised. The lced Alexander is fantastic. I have had my fair share of frapuccinos, and this ranks as high. I then try my latte. I am a hard sell, but this is surprisingly tasty. It has just the right balance of milk and foam, and definitely of caffeine. I sit for a while with my treasures taking in the ambiance of the shop. Some people are cheerers opt to listen to iPods and play on laptops. It looks like they aren't going anywhere for a while. I finish my drink and decide to continue my research.
La Prima Tazza, 638 Massachusetts St.: Walking into this shop is tough for me. It's across the street from my usual coffee locale. I look straight at my destination, only noticing Starbucks out of the corner of my eye. I feel a wave of guilt for cheating on my love. But I remain steadfast and go inside. I have past some small tables toward the counter and notice a large table of older gentlemen chatting while sipping coffee out of mugs they clearly brought from home. When I ask the man behind the counter what he recommends, he says his favorite is the Iced Indonesian. He tells me it is the most sophisticated of iced drinks. I go with that. No latte this time though, I am already feeling the caffeline.
I noticed that La Prima Tazza shares some of the same menu items as Java Break, the lced Indonesian being one of them. Also on the menu is my last treat, the lced Alexander. When he brings my drink, he waits until I taste it, looking at me in anticipation. It's different, I tell him, but flavorful and delicious. He turns away, satisfied with my response. I decide to sip on this, because with two shots of espresso, I feel I should take it slow. After reading two chapters in my ethics book in record time, I look at my empty cup in astonishment. I had polished the whole drink off without realizing it. I decide I am fine, though, not too wired yet.
Borders Books, Music and Cafe 700 New Hampshire St.: I look over the menu at this small bookstore cafe, and decide on a chai tea latte, something else I have returned in abundance at Starbucks. Iavor, I am satisfied with the Borders version of the cinnamon flavored tea. I look around. The environment is different than my other stops. No one is talking, most people are solo, and nearly everyone is reading. I sit and watch a clearly stressed-out young man drink three cups of coffee. I figure we are probably both on the same level of caffeine consumption.
Photos by Kit Leffler
It's now after 10 p.m. and I decide my research is complete. On my drive home I think about my day. Starbucks, I decide, will always be my first love; the one that I compare all others to. However, it cannot be my only love anymore. I have seen and tasted other things, and I decide it would not be fair to me or to Starbucks to remain monogamous any longer.
bucks to remind me hemafice When I get home I realize it's past my bedtime. After tossing and turning for three hours with not so much as a yawn, I decide although I had an adventurous day on my coffee quest, this is the last time I will be drinking five cups of coffee in one day.
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9.9.04 Jayplay