07 February 2009

Into each life, a little coffee must fall

After boxing this morning, I treated myself to a nice cup of Starbucks coffee.

I cannot survive without coffee. Anyone who knows me can pretty much say that coffee is in my bloodstream. I have it everyday after lunch. My body literally slumps when I go without caffeine--but this happens only on exceptional occasions (like when I'm traveling for hours or when my hyperacidity is really acting up).

Most of the time, Starbucks is the coffee of my choice, but on days when I'm making tipid, I am content to buy a large cup of cappuccino from the nearest 7-Eleven (which costs an amazing 55 bucks only and came highly recommended by officemates).

Every day during the Christmas season, I get my favorite: grande hot Toffee Nut Latte, nonfat, still with whip. While the presence of whipped cream may negate the effects of choosing the healthier option that is nonfat milk, I can at least enjoy my coffee with less guilt. Besides, I've tried a nonfat, no whip version of Toffee Nut Latte, and it wasn't that great.

But because Toffee Nut Latte is a seasonal drink, this is what I usually have for the rest of the year:


Isn't this chart thing-y cool? (Of course it won't be so cool for some people to discover the actual calorie content of their grande mocha frappuccino with whole milk and whipped cream.)

I go to Starbucks' website to check out the nutrional info of the beverages whenever I'm in the mood to try something new. Depending on the supplies used to create the beverages, the calorie count may differ slightly from country to country--but at least you have a general idea how many calories you're packing in for every drink of Starbucks coffee you take. This nifty little calculation tool helps eliminate the guesswork while you're customizing your beverage.

And it also helps that Starbucks baristas are willing to supply you with the nutrional information of the in-store food they serve. I guess some people might think I'm being anal for calorie counting, but, well, that's my thing.

Just to put a little variety in my coffee drinking, I trade the usual Caffe Mocha for either of these two:


Interestingly enough, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's vanilla latte concoction is really yummy and--I have to say--much better than Starbucks' version. (Aside: So when you're in Coffee Bean, try the vanilla latte with the chocolate muffin. Oh. My. God. Heaven.)

I can't imagine life before espresso coffee. Of course, in my younger years, before Starbucks and other cafe stores took the country by storm, people drank 3-in-1 if there wasn't brewed coffee available. Never liked 3-in-1 even back then--I think my taste buds were developed at an early stage to savor only real coffee. Hahaha.

Just so you know, I have a gag reflex when it comes to 3-in-1. So if anyone wants to torture me, just tie me up and force 3-in-1 coffee down my throat. It'll work! I'll confess to anything!

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