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My petty gripe: I don't begrudge your coffee addiction – but do you have to be such a bore about it?

My petty gripe: I don't begrudge your coffee addiction – but do you have to be such a bore about it?

The Guardian2 days ago
I get it: you really like coffee. And you have an addiction. I'm not judging that. You're beholden to Big Bean, hopelessly hooked on the world's most consumed psychotropic drug. But, err, do you have to be such a bore about it?
Does it really need a mention on your dating profile, as though a fondness for hot brown liquid is a personality trait?
Is a coffee not truly a coffee unless it's conjured from scratch by a barista? And do you really need to be such a grump in the morning if you don't get it?
Should you really be entitled to an extra hour's work break so you can stand in a lengthy cafe queue both morning and afternoon? (Before you delay yet another work meeting in favour of a protracted caffeine-foraging mission, let me introduce you to the office espresso machine and – don't give me that look – this jar of instant coffee.)
Sure, you want an excuse to gossip with your colleagues*, get some fresh air, get your daily steps in or leave your lonely work-from-home station to have the only in-person interaction you'll have all day. All very worthy causes.
But then on the weekend you'll make me tag along with you while you search for another overpriced cafe coffee just 20 minutes after you imbibed the first because the milk in the first cup of joe was under-steamed and you simply can't continue with your day until you've overridden that abomination with a quality flat white.
Or on our camping trip you'll snub the moka pot-brewed campfire coffee and jump in your car and drive out of the wilderness to the nearest town to buy an artisanal long black in a takeaway cup. Waiting for you to return from your one-and-a-half-hour round trip ate up most of our precious morning, Peter!
Granted, I don't know much about latte art, but I do know swans belong at liberty on shimmering lakes, not confined atop your morning beverage.
As the world descends deeper into economic hardship, environmental doom and the clutches of authoritarian nutjobs, coffee snobbery inexplicably endures and strengthens, like cockroaches after the apocalypse.
Apologies if I sound a bit bitter, tired and irritable, as though I have a mild headache coming on. Perhaps a shot of single-origin locally roasted ristretto will sort me out.
* This article does not reflect on any of my Guardian Australia colleagues – I love you all
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My petty gripe: I don't begrudge your coffee addiction – but do you have to be such a bore about it?
My petty gripe: I don't begrudge your coffee addiction – but do you have to be such a bore about it?

The Guardian

time2 days ago

  • The Guardian

My petty gripe: I don't begrudge your coffee addiction – but do you have to be such a bore about it?

I get it: you really like coffee. And you have an addiction. I'm not judging that. You're beholden to Big Bean, hopelessly hooked on the world's most consumed psychotropic drug. But, err, do you have to be such a bore about it? Does it really need a mention on your dating profile, as though a fondness for hot brown liquid is a personality trait? Is a coffee not truly a coffee unless it's conjured from scratch by a barista? And do you really need to be such a grump in the morning if you don't get it? Should you really be entitled to an extra hour's work break so you can stand in a lengthy cafe queue both morning and afternoon? (Before you delay yet another work meeting in favour of a protracted caffeine-foraging mission, let me introduce you to the office espresso machine and – don't give me that look – this jar of instant coffee.) Sure, you want an excuse to gossip with your colleagues*, get some fresh air, get your daily steps in or leave your lonely work-from-home station to have the only in-person interaction you'll have all day. All very worthy causes. But then on the weekend you'll make me tag along with you while you search for another overpriced cafe coffee just 20 minutes after you imbibed the first because the milk in the first cup of joe was under-steamed and you simply can't continue with your day until you've overridden that abomination with a quality flat white. Or on our camping trip you'll snub the moka pot-brewed campfire coffee and jump in your car and drive out of the wilderness to the nearest town to buy an artisanal long black in a takeaway cup. Waiting for you to return from your one-and-a-half-hour round trip ate up most of our precious morning, Peter! Granted, I don't know much about latte art, but I do know swans belong at liberty on shimmering lakes, not confined atop your morning beverage. As the world descends deeper into economic hardship, environmental doom and the clutches of authoritarian nutjobs, coffee snobbery inexplicably endures and strengthens, like cockroaches after the apocalypse. Apologies if I sound a bit bitter, tired and irritable, as though I have a mild headache coming on. Perhaps a shot of single-origin locally roasted ristretto will sort me out. * This article does not reflect on any of my Guardian Australia colleagues – I love you all

My petty gripe: I don't begrudge your coffee addiction – but do you have to be such a bore about it?
My petty gripe: I don't begrudge your coffee addiction – but do you have to be such a bore about it?

The Guardian

time2 days ago

  • The Guardian

My petty gripe: I don't begrudge your coffee addiction – but do you have to be such a bore about it?

I get it: you really like coffee. And you have an addiction. I'm not judging that. You're beholden to Big Bean, hopelessly hooked on the world's most consumed psychotropic drug. But, err, do you have to be such a bore about it? Does it really need a mention on your dating profile, as though a fondness for hot brown liquid is a personality trait? Is a coffee not truly a coffee unless it's conjured from scratch by a barista? And do you really need to be such a grump in the morning if you don't get it? Should you really be entitled to an extra hour's work break so you can stand in a lengthy cafe queue both morning and afternoon? (Before you delay yet another work meeting in favour of a protracted caffeine-foraging mission, let me introduce you to the office espresso machine and – don't give me that look – this jar of instant coffee.) Sure, you want an excuse to gossip with your colleagues*, get some fresh air, get your daily steps in or leave your lonely work-from-home station to have the only in-person interaction you'll have all day. All very worthy causes. But then on the weekend you'll make me tag along with you while you search for another overpriced cafe coffee just 20 minutes after you imbibed the first because the milk in the first cup of joe was under-steamed and you simply can't continue with your day until you've overridden that abomination with a quality flat white. Or on our camping trip you'll snub the moka pot-brewed campfire coffee and jump in your car and drive out of the wilderness to the nearest town to buy an artisanal long black in a takeaway cup. Waiting for you to return from your one-and-a-half-hour round trip ate up most of our precious morning, Peter! Granted, I don't know much about latte art, but I do know swans belong at liberty on shimmering lakes, not confined atop your morning beverage. As the world descends deeper into economic hardship, environmental doom and the clutches of authoritarian nutjobs, coffee snobbery inexplicably endures and strengthens, like cockroaches after the apocalypse. Apologies if I sound a bit bitter, tired and irritable, as though I have a mild headache coming on. Perhaps a shot of single-origin locally roasted ristretto will sort me out. * This article does not reflect any of my Guardian Australia colleagues – I love you all

Parish priest in Co Louth opens his own coffee wagon
Parish priest in Co Louth opens his own coffee wagon

BreakingNews.ie

time2 days ago

  • BreakingNews.ie

Parish priest in Co Louth opens his own coffee wagon

A Parish Priest has been busy following his passion for caffeine by opening up his own coffee wagon. Fr Paddy Rushe is determined to make evening coffee a trend in Drogheda, Co. Louth, where he operates 'An Trucail' at least four times a week. Advertisement The popular Parish Priest of Monasterboice is renowned for his love of coffee and even uses 'Paddystarbucks' as his social media handle. He has been operating his coffee wagon since December at a decommissioned church 'Gerrard's' on Mary Street in Drogheda between 6-9pm and has built up a growing regular clientele. Fr Paddy's venture began out of a love of coffee and a podcast on coffee shops which he started on February 29th - leap year - last year. The 'Beansandmore' podcast has notched up 22 episodes to date on coffee shops around his native Armagh, Louth, Meath and Dublin. Advertisement "The podcast is another of my passion projects," he laughed. "But it is about community and how the coffee shops have played a part in building on that and any meaningful experiences they have had. "I love the interviews, the editing and all the technical side of things. "I was dropping a leaflet on the podcast into a shop one day and I noticed a horse box beside it so I asked about it and was told it was for sale. After much deliberation and research, I decided to buy it and give it a go. Advertisement "I've tried a lot of coffee over the years and I decided on making my coffee using the Dundalk firm GreenBean which is marvellous. I named the wagon 'An Trucail' as a nod to my late brother Eoin Pól, who was a Gaelgóir and who passed away two years ago with cancer." He opened the wagon on St. Stephen's Day last in tribute to his late sister Mary Ann who passed away suddenly in her sleep at the age of 33 in 2017, and also because Fr Rushe knew there wouldn't be a lot of coffee shops open on that day. "Mary Ann shared my passion for coffee which actually came from our mother. As soon as we were old enough, we learned to make her a coffee and then our own coffee and it stemmed from there. "When my mother retired from teaching, she opened up her own coffee shop so it really is a passion at the heart of our family." Advertisement Fr Paddy says he can't understand why coffee is considered a 'day' thing and aims to get caffeine trending in Louth at night, as it is in much of the continent. "I'm trying to provide a service in the evenings. I don't think you can get a good barista coffee in the town in the evening, unless you go into a pub, hotel or restaurant. "A lot of coffee wagons have their own signatures, some do baked goods but I just do a simple wrapped treat like a KitKat or Toffee Crisp. "I would like to make the An Trucail experience about chilling out in the evening and relaxing in a lovely location in the company of friends. "I think evening coffee is starting to become fashionable but I also serve caffeine free drinks for those who fear falling asleep will be a problem later in the night, " he laughed. More about Fr Paddy's An Trucail journey can be found at or on Facebook @AnTrucailCoffee and Instagram @antrucailbeansandmore.

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