Coffee Etiquette?

Yesterday, I met up with a friend for a cup of coffee. It was a cute little coffee shop right by where I live—it was quite cozy, which was great on a gray winter day. We each ordered a caramel macchiato—I've never indulged in this drink before, but I was in a daring mood. I'd definitely call it a liquid confection, for its sweet caramel flavors swirling around amongst two shots of espresso made my mouth feel like it was twirling on an ice-rink.
My friend began pouring our her heart with regards to her current rocky relationship, while I sipped on my warm drink. As I listened, I realized how fast my coffee was leaving my cup. In between offering advice and unveiling her vulnerability, I slyly glanced over to the coffee table to see if her mug was still full. I was a little disappointed when I saw that she had at least thirty more minutes, before finishing her drink. We had been sitting with our coffee for at least fourty-five minutes, and I was just three sips away from an empty mug.
I began to wonder if there was a certain standard, for how fast one should drink in the presence of a fellow comrade. Was it rude that I drank so fast? Was she just too slow? What does this say about me? Is it unacceptable that I like to drink my coffee while it's hot?
An hour and fourty-five minutes passed before my dear friend finally finished her coffee and sorted out her life. I doubt her last sip warmed her up like mine, but hopefully the company did.

Readers, what do you think about coffee drinking etiquette? Are there some rules I'm missing out on?

Crossing Lines between Coffee & Tea

I’m a devout coffee drinker—it’s genetic. My beautiful family wears their loyalty on their teeth, with coffee’s powerful staining ability visible at just an inch of a smile. Avec le diner ou le dessert…café au lait, espresso, petit, grandé—you get the point.

For most coffee lovers, coffee ice cream is like a dream come true. With every bite taste buds become energized and a smile peels away revealing those not-so-white teeth. I am definitely not a moderate when it comes to loving both coffee and tea, but I can appreciate the divine taste of Green tea.

It wasn’t until recently that I tried Green tea ice cream at Vitali’s favorite Japanese restaurant when we were on a double date with his brother. Although sushi-loving Vitali enjoys the sweet wonders of cookies n’ cream ice cream, he cringes at the sight of Phillip’s favorite frozen delicacy—green tea ice cream.

I absolutely detest those preserved “cherries” that ice cream parlors top off a sundae with—so I was quite hesitant when I saw how the ice cream was served. The wasabi-colored scoop threw me off a bit, but Phillip insisted I try it. I slid my utensil through the striking green concoction, pulled out a spoonful and looked at it one last time before setting it in my mouth. Fireworks went off inside, with strong green tea flavors permeating through every inch of my mouth. The natural taste made for a surreal experience with sandy textures working in tandem with a strong earthy taste to taunt my tongue. I wanted more…but I feigned the will share.

You don’t have to be a tea connoisseur to appreciate this wonderful Japanese frozen delight, but it may bring you to the "I Love Tea" borderline.

"Clouds in my coffee"

The lyrics to Carly Simon's "Your So Vain" rang in my ears when I was on my family vacation to South Dakota last week. I had an enjoyable trip, hiking, bicycling, inhaling cool crisp air and looking out at the breathtaking scenery of  the rolling black hills and mountainous rock formations. The skies were perfect with clouds resembling dollops of whipped cream, scoops of softened vanilla ice cream, and "clouds in my coffee." 

Please don't judge me for associating nature (and just about every commodity in the world) with dessert— you're just as guilty for splurging in this read! 

I know there is a deeper and darker meaning for the term "clouds in my coffee." These words do not simply refer to the cream slowly changing the dark color of a freshly brewed cup, nor to the blanket of froth comfortably resting on top of the hot liquid ready to leave a mark above your upper lip (milk mustache). As I pondered the meaning of Carly's words I tried coming up with a more positive interpretation, separate from this classic song. Looking out at the picturesque clouds in the sky brought images of my favorite treats like vanilla bean ice cream and light and fluffy whipped cream to my mind. This moment of truth is analogous to my thoughts when coming across across those four words in Carly's song; I can't get myself to think of anything but a creamy gourmet luxury. It is very frustrating since my interpretation of these words do not fit with the rest of her song, but maybe Carly was trying to teach the world a lesson that amongst conceited people and bad tasting food, lies clouds of cream and sugar. Clouds in coffee can be good— especially if you like milk in yours. Clouds in the sky are imperative, for they provide moisture for cocoa beans to grow properly and your cakes to turn out perfectly. 

So you may be wondering, how the bitter words of "You're So Vain" remind me of the great delicacies in this world. Let's just say that I look for the sweet aspects in life. After all if life is like a box of chocolates, there must be at least one truffle inside that will satiate your soul (if not your sweet tooth).