coffee

its been a sad month in my life. in addition to coping with my bollo's withdrawal i have resorted to drinking instant coffee. sick, i know! perhaps this is a true mark of an addict, willing to feed her habit any way she can. my apartment is spacious, nicely decorated, and comfy but there's one thing missing: a coffee maker (ugh, i knew i should have packed my french press. yes, i seriously was planning on it.) so my morning coffee fix now consists of some maxwell house grounds, a little hot water, splenda, and some heat-treated milk. tastes about as good as it sounds. 

my only reprieve is that coffee shops are about as common as malls around here (translation: at least one per block.) there's no drip coffee like we're used to in the states. regular coffee is an americano. columbus cafe calls regular coffee 'american coffee.' i find this humorous (columbus cafe, american coffee...you following?)

i spend most afternoons in a coffee shop. not much has changed in that regard. i probably spend equally as much time observing as i do attempting work. so for all you coffee shop kids out there, here's some things i've observed.

1. most coffee chains are from the united states or canada. almost all coffee shops are chains. starbucks wins. 

2. there is little/no fair trade or organic coffee movement here. one coffee shop (costa coffee) uses rainforest alliance coffee but doesn't advertise. 

3. no one drinks straight coffee. frozen drinks are the most popular (i guess this makes sense given the heat.) 

4. most coffee shops put your beverage in a to-go cup. there's no mug option. 

5. customers leave their empty cups on the table. an employee cleans up (not unique to coffee shops though.)

6. the artificial sweetener of choice is sweet-n-low not splenda. 

7. there's a smoking section in coffee shops. 

8. no free internet. 

9. you must ask for milk. it's too hot to keep it on the counter. 

10. coffee is expensive! anywhere between $4-$7 per beverage. 

for those of you in the 'burg please patronize bollo's for me. i miss it.