I started out having to put a ton of splenda or sweetner or even hot chocolate and cream in my coffee; but that was because I was used to drinking office swill or something similar. Even at coffee houses, it was always a mocha or something of the sort. Then a few years ago at a Panara bread, they had some fresh stuff on and it smelled so good. My friend was like, "your really should try it black and try to savor the natural flavors."
So I did, and surprisingly, it was kind of good. I didn't drink coffee much back then, but every now and again I would do it black if it was from a good coffee house.
Then, one day on a weekend, I caught a talk radio show while driving called "coffee talk." These were coffee afficionado's who basically talked about coffee for an hour; how to brew it, different types of beans, different blends, and so forth. And they made it sound SOOO terrific.
They way they got into it reminded me of Cigars (of which I enjoy also). Smoking Cigars isn't like smoking cigerretes. Your not just trying to serve an addiction or habit. Cigar smoking for me can only be described as a "zen-like" experience. To the non-cigar smoker, there is no real understanding of the difference between a party store grenadier and a Padron Anniversario. It all smells and tastes unpleasent. But to someone who is really into it, you really begin to taste the suttle differences in blends, and the smoke is actually very clean (compared to cigarettes), and they put you in a particular contemplative mind state. Really Cigars are a whole experience to be enjoyed for the afficionado, not something done out of addiction or habit.
After hearing that show, I realized that coffee was the same way for those who were on the air. So I started getting into it. I started with the pre-ground stuff. Then, last year my mom got me the "bullet" kitchen blender set for Xmas; perfect for grinding coffee. Now I grind my own coffee fresh daily. And let me tell you, there is a big difference between grinding your own blends and really tasting the suttle flavors and drinking instant or office swill.
And man, do I love it. Coffee for me is also very zenlike, and healthy for my mind at least. I don't drink it out of habit or addiction, and I generally don't "need" my coffee fix every morning. I drink it anytime of day, really, or I go without some days. It's nice to know that it might be healthy for the body too.
Cheers to coffee! :cheers:
