Coffee or Crack?? You decide.

For anyone who shares my coffee addiction, this post is for you.

Sometimes it amazes me how far I've come with coffee.  From hating the smell of it on my mother's breath every morning as a child, to requiring (and I do mean requiring) at least three cups a day, it has been quite the journey.  While I thought I knew what a quality cup of coffee was (Dunkin Donuts, medium, cream and sugar-$1.95), I had no idea what I was missing out on until meeting the king of the coffee grounds himself, otherwise known as Daniel.

Previously, I thought anything other than Folgers half caff was pushing it.  A Keurig cup was reserved for special holidays only, and Starbucks was so 2002.  And then, one magical day, my eyes were opened to the endless possibilities of a coffee grinder.  Never in my life had I smelled fresh ground beans brewing from my four cup pot, but never again did I want to go without them.  There is something about the smell and taste, that just "makes life better" (That's for you Regions people).  Maybe Regions Bank should adopt the coffee bean as their brand symbol, instead of the beach cruiser bike.

Since living in Los Angeles, I have also been introduced to Peets coffee.  At first, I thought it looked and tasted like motor oil.  But after a few very late nights and early mornings in the office, it has seriously become my greatest companion.  A small cup of Peets and you won't blink for at least two hours.  This is the big leagues...what real women drink...and will put "hair on your chest", as my dad says.

There are a few things I would like to acknowledge about my experiences at my local Peets.  For one, the employees are always pleasant, helpful and look genuinely glad to see you.  They don't mind taking your order while you are on the phone, and this is a welcome change from the place across the street from my office.  They do not lock their bathrooms, and have multiple stalls so you are not forming a line in front of about three tables of people who would rather not watch you squeeze your legs together.  

I have, however, had some heated moments at the coffee prep station.  Why is that people feel the need to dominate the entire area, especially around 8 am on a workday?  There are two thermos' of half and half people!  Plenty of room for us all.  Quite often, the line to sugar is longer than the line to order coffee.  And speaking of sugar, people often appear to be judging me for the amount that I use.  Occasionally, this makes me so insecure that I body block them and hover over my cup so as not to reveal how many pours, I mean sprinkles, I actually put in.  Nevertheless, I will continue going to Peets...Peets, my grinder of good coffee, my early morning key to happiness, my friend.