A Nice Cuppa

Until last summer I had never been much of a fan of iced coffee. The coldness muted the subtle flavors in the coffee while accentuating the bitterness. By the time I’d get to the bottom of the glass, melted ice created a watery mess that barely resembled coffee. What was the point? I’d sweat through […]

If it weren’t for coffee, I wouldn’t be writing this right now. Seriously. When you have an infant and a toddler, you might as well have an IV drip of the strongest stuff available. Last night alone I went to bed at 11 and was up at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 … well, you get the […]

Senseo, oh Senseo, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways …
You whip up a fresh cuppa joe for me in seconds without the mess of grinding, measuring and pressing. You leave a thick head of foam that brings a smile to my face every time. You have a small profile, so you […]

There was a time, not too long ago, where my route to work included a pit stop at the Starbucks on my way to the office. Being that it was right around the corner, more often than not there was a second drop-in later in the day too. I love my coffee, and really love […]

I visited an exhibit at the Penn Museum recently called “River of Gold” about a pre-Colombian society that lived by a golden-laden river. I believe I have discovered a modern day river of gold: drinkable pumpkin pie.
I’m having trouble deciding on a name for this delightfully golden and incredibly healthy beverage. Liquid Pie? Fall-in-a-Mug? Hot […]

Last week’s Dining In/Dining Out section of the New York Times featured a short and sweet article about iced coffee. Turns out you can brew coffee cold. Who knew? Cindy Price writes that “without the bitterness produced by hot water, the cold-brewed coffee had hints of chocolate, even caramel.” And who […]

Getting a great shot of espresso at home is no easy feat. There are so many different variables, from the beans, how they were roasted, the grind, the dose, the tamp and even the ambient humidity that day. A great shot from the same batch of beans may be terrible the next day if you […]

Coffee culture is hot; it’s sophisticated and it’s everywhere. There are those among us who can rattle off the meaning of Espresso Con Panna, Macchiatos and Breve’s with nary a blink of an eye, just like some people can tell you what Malbec and Torrontes are. (they are the red and white wine varietals of […]

It’s about 2 am, you’re on your last ten pages of Milton, and you’re staring at the bottom of an empty coffee mug. Your throat scratches and your stomach grumbles…but your mattress is calling. Decaf is good enough. But delicious decaf? Much better.
There are lots of decaf coffees out there, and […]

As I sit sipping my French-pressed mug of coffee, I wonder: why do so few own this incredibly wonderful device? The electric coffee maker is snappy, to be sure. But the French press has simplicity and transparency that even the ultra-user-friendly pod-making coffee machines don’t offer. It consists of a small glass […]