I never had considered myself a coffee drinker. When I was a kid I would get the occasional capuchino as a special treat when I was somewhere with my parents. As a teenager the only coffee I drank was mostly milk with a dash of coffee in it. And a lot of sugar. At the age of 17 I had to embrace the fact that I could no longer digest milk. When I entered college I used to tell people I didn't like coffee because I couldn't drink milk. Besides the occasional Starbucks Caramel Macchiato with soymilk, which I didn't really like anyway but its Starbucks only completely dairy-free option, I didn't drink coffee.
That was until I studied abroad in my junior year of university. During spring break I flew out to Milan, to stay with my friend and her family in Piacenza. There they drank espressos like it was water. I remember my friend making us espressos in the morning and me telling her, "I don't like black coffee" And she told me "This isn't black coffee this is espresso".
It was a life changing moment for me as I realized I did like espresso and could drink coffee without milk.
Now that I've spent the last two years of my life living in Puerto Rico I have developed a preference to Puerto Rico coffee. The brand I personally use in my house is Yaucono. I use regular ground coffee and make it in my small french press. I sweeten it with locally grown raw cane sugar.
I spent the spring in Argentina and picked up a new coffee habit there. I have never been a fan of seltzer water or soda. The very first time I ordered a coffee in the airport waiting to leave Mendoza to go to airport they gave me a small glass of seltzer with my coffee and I didn't understand why. A few coffees later after never having touched the seltzer that kept coming with my coffee, I drank it because I was thirsty. I discovered why they gave it. You know that after coffee taste that clings to your mouth for while after drinking coffee? The seltzer is a complete palate refresher. No gum or tic tacs or post coffee teeth brushing needed.
I generally prefer to drink coffee when I am having pastries or sweets or around the mid afternoon energy drop. I don't like to drink coffee because I need to to function but rather because I am sitting down and enjoying a moment to myself or in a nice cafe with someone.
Besos,
LTY
