If you’ve met me, then you likely know I have a special affinity for coffee. On occasion, I have been called a “coffee snob.” I only find this mildly offense…mostly because of the way snob was used in such a derogatory way during my middle school years. But if we’re being honest, I do have a strong preference for quality coffee. I have a go-to order at a coffee shop (cortado) and a preferred roast (light to medium) and even a favorite processing method (natural…aka unwashed).
Being in a new place has given me a whole new coffee scene to explore. Entering a new coffee shop is a full sensory experience. You’re taking in the sights, the smells, the sounds, the feel, and eventually the taste. You notice the lighting, what the seating options look like, and how friendly the baristas are. All of this can impact whether or not you want to spend time there.
The real test, though, is whether or not a coffee shop can make a cortado. The espresso has to be pulled so that the flavors emerge without being bitter. And the milk needs to be steamed till the perfect moment before it gets too frothy. (The “coffee snob” might be peeking through.)
The first place where I ordered a cortado, the barista asked, “What size?”
I should have walked out…because a cortado is served in a standard size with equal parts milk & espresso. That question should not be asked when someone orders a cortado. But I stuck around, only to be disappointed by the drink and the pastry. Looking around the little coffee shop, everyone else seemed happy with their order. It’s a store that has several locations around town and the online reviews are all positive. But…it wasn’t for me.
A dozen coffee shops, cortado, and pastries later…I’ve found the places that are for me. I know which coffee shops make my favorite cortado and I know which places have other menu items of interest.
I know where to find my favorite pastry or a loaf of bread. I know the coffee shops that play funky music or don’t offer WiFi. And I know the ones that get busy and make me feel antsy.
The journey to find a cortado – while it may seem snobbish or obsessive or petty – is actually a beautiful reminder of our existence as humans. We’re all just looking for something that makes sense for us.
For some, that’s a place with jaunty music and extra large coffee beverages with whipped cream on top. And for others, it’s a snobbishly crafted espresso-based beverage with a splash of steamed milk. And, then there are some who don’t drink coffee and will just take a Coca-cola from the vending machine…please & thank you.
Whoever and however you are…don’t let anyone tell you it’s wrong.
From Sunsets to Storm Clouds 