Ever since I started working in the coffee shop, I have spent a lot of time thinking about how to make the perfect coffee drink. I am not a coffee drinker, not really, but I do love what I have discovered to be cappuchinos, especially when they are well made, the perfect temperature, and covered with thick foam. The thing is, when you buy a luxury coffee drink, which we must admit, in the current economy, a cappuchino is, you spend a chunk of change, and on account of this, you want it made right. Right?
So...what is "right?"
The problem is "right" is different for everyone.
I have a scale in my mind I use to describe the correct temperatures of different drinks. Here is how I see it... Hot Chocolate should be hot, but it should be cool enough that you can gulp it without burning your mouth. One step up from this should be a Chai Latte and/or a Cappuchino, hotter than hot chocolate, but not singing. You should be able to sip or slurp it without burning your mouth, but you don't want to gulp it so it can be hotter. Next in my scale would be tea. I like my tea hotter than both hot chocolate and cappuchinos, but still not so hot it singes your mouth. It should be hot enough that you have to let it sit for a minute or two before drinking it, hot enough that you drink it slowly, enjoying the clink of the cup on the saucer as you set it down. I don't know where a regular cup of coffee falls on this scale because I don't drink coffee.
Unfortunately, not everyone has this same scale in mind. Some people like their drinks really, really scorching hot and others love so much cream that the coffee is no longer hot at all.
My favorite drink right now, and I have had some time to practice and perfect my making of this drink, is a chocolate cappuchino. I don't like lattes, they have too much milk. I want to be able to taste the espresso. I like a tiny bit of milk with lots of foam, and I like it to be a comforting hot, slurpable, but not gulpable. If you are in the Albany area, stop on by, I'll make you one and you can see what you think.
But...in the interest of trying to make coffee drinks that satisfy people other than myself, I want to ask you a question...
How do you like your luxury coffee/tea drinks?
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