No Mas 'Americano'?!

Coffee Around the World, in case you are tired of the 'Americano'

Buzzfeed always provides the best hacks and videos for almost anything. I cannot tell you how happy I get and how many times I wanted to run to the bathroom from laughing so much over the most hilarious videos.....ever! 

So as I woke up this morning, and surprisingly I'm up before 10am, I go to my little kitchen and prepare the Italian Espresso. I look out the window and see all the people driving out of their driveways and off they go to be stuck in traffic and rush against time.

I'm lucky I can work from home at times which lets me concentrate on my projects and ideas and drink as much free coffee as I want, and with great quality. 

I open Facebook, Twitter, Emails, and switch the TV on for any updating news. It seems I have an easy life right? I wish... 

No, I just happen to open those websites to procrastinate on some work emails I need to respond and apartment searching on Craigslist. 

So then I run through Facebook and I see this!

I posted an international guide for those of you who are traveling, lucky, but this video shows you how to prepare just a few of the greatest coffee's around the world!!! 

I'm already eyeing the Irish Coffee! 

A Pocket Guide for Your Holiday Travels

I found this article online and I just want to share with you all the great tricks and travel guides if all of you may be traveling this year. Take this Pocket Travel Book with you for all the Coffee Stops and even journaling ideas too. 

Click to read the Full Article. 

Finally, the Ultimate Travel Guide for Coffee Lovers! by  Jordan Valinsky

There's nothing more awkward than going to a cafe in a foreign city and struggling over the menu until you surrender and just keeping pointing at the espresso machines in the hopes of getting something hot, caffeinated and drinkable.

Confused travelers forced to deal with the daunting task of understanding the difference between a cafe au lait and a cafe bombon may finally have their caffeine cravings sated without resorting to pantomime. Cheapflights, a British-based travel website, has compiled a list of 31 popular drinks from two dozen countries. Finally, you can expand your coffee vocabulary beyond murmuring "Americano." 

The most specific-sounding coffee drink is the ca phe sua da from Vietnam It takes a very carefully measured amount of boiling water, just two tablespoons of condenses milk and an exact 15 grams of ground coffee to get right. 

Italy is home to the largest number of coffee bars per capita in Europe, so it's smart to brush up on the lingo if you're heading there. In the north, espressos are served with more milk, while the south serves a less creamy, more pungent version. The most exotic espresso is the Espresso Romano, which is served with a slice of lime. Yum?

The tastiest option comes from Spain, which is home to the Cafe con Miel. It's a mixture of espresso, honey, steamed milk and drizzling of cinnamon. That'll wake you up if the plate of churros didn't do it.

All of these countries have their own spin on coffee, but were most interested in the Turkish king. A tablespoon of coffee and a cup of water is topped with a cardamom pod, a type of Indian spice that's loaded with health benefits. Maybe they've figure out the way to have the best of both worlds.

In Hong Kong, the yuanyang mixes both black tea and coffee for the ultimate caffeine boost. That sounds like a bit too much, but Mexico's cafe de olla sounds delicious with its mix of cinnamon, water and coffee. 

Voyageur du Temps

This is what I like to call "My Little Heaven", there are moments that I feel overwhelmed with my To-Do List and several others matters that come into mind. So to think of this as my "Little Heaven" is just too good to be true. My lovely hubby introduced me to the #VoyageurCafe and we indulged in a Croissant and Danish Pastry. The setting was beautiful, it was a sunny Saturday morning, I forgot to take pictures but I at least took a picture of the #LatteArt with the Pastries.
It was really relaxing and sweet to spend the morning with my loved on and my puppy. They allow you to bring your Furry Pets to sit outside in the balcony. It had several tables with shading to enjoy a French Cafe vibe.
On their website they have a Menu, Gallery, Contact Information which is located in Los Altos, CA, and even a Career Page if you want to join them!
So if you are in the area, check them out and taste for yourself because as they say in their website:

"We believe in preserving the timeless values of craftsmanship, so we take We believe in preserving the timeless values of craftsmanship, so we take care when folding a new and playful spirit into methods proven by generations. Where past and present intersect, we see beauty. This is a voyage worth taking. when folding a new and playful spirit into methods proven by generations. Where past and present intersect, we see beauty. This is a voyage worth taking." (voyageur.com) 

Enjoy the French Music too! :) 

If you are Traveling, have this List with you!

25 Coffee Shops Around The World You Need To See Before You Die

Caffeine addicts all over the world, unite.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/yezminvillarreal/coffeeshops-you-need-to-see-before-you-die

A list of coffee shops around the world that may be the perfect destination spot for the Travel Bug in you. 

Take a look at this web as provided by BuzzFeed that will give you a glance of all the different places to see and taste! 

Happy Travels my Friends! 

 
 
 
Just a couple of the great photographs to see from the site! 

Oh Paris, Paris, Paris, What can I say.

"Paris is known as the city of love as it has a favorite destination for couples wishing to enjoy their honeymoon. It has historical, dramatic places and minutes after you can watch the Seine River going by while quietly sitting on a bench. Paris dazzles a person's eyes with the aforesaid reasons. The beauty of Paris and its contrast from one's own city also bring a feeling of excitement and experience that one has not felt before. Great place to relight romance and fall in love again because it's spontaneous rather than routine." Something I researched on Google there. 
And I thought, what makes this city so grand? I saw San Francisco when I traveled to Paris but with more people and Museums; it was an adventure through the Metro stations and walking miles a day to avoid traffic with a car. The night I saw the Eiffel Tower was the night my eyes became exactly like the "anime eyes" on TV. I was struck with beauty and how magnified the tower was in front of my eyes, I couldn't believe I was standing in front of it so close that I can see the details of the architecture. I fell in love, not because of the "city of love" but because one of my dreams came true, seeing Paris and the tower has been on my mind since my childhood. As a little girl I read the stories of "Madeline" a little french orphan who attended a private catholic school that had numerous adventures in Paris. The pictures of the city were marvelous and I told myself," One day, just one day I can see what she saw." And true, I was in the city of my Bucket List, and it was amazing, because ever since that first glimpse of the tower on TV, magazines, websites, etc, I knew I just had to see it in person. After being mesmerized by the "dream come true" feeling, I had to stop for coffee because it was cold and I needed to sit, sip, and enjoy the sensation of Paris. Many cafes to choose from, so we went to the corner cafe and ordered a "cafe con creme" which was delicious! Not sure of the milk they used or the beans they roast but the taste was so warming it was a hug to my skin as a welcome to the best city in France. I couldn't absorb all the sensations my body and soul were experiencing but it was magnificent because I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world and as said by many, "The beauty of Paris and its contrast from one's own city brings a feeling of excitement and experience that one has not felt before." 

Piccolo Italia

I'm not sure how many times I have been to SF, but every time I do visit I feel I discover many new aspects of such an industrial city that comes to mind as memorable. Walking the streets feels like a small walk compared to taking a taxi or even the bus. I enjoying walking because I can discover the small shops, alley restaurants and corner shops. If you have been to SF the main spots are evident; Shopping Center in Downtown, Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, etc. But what I find fascinating and most can agree is the art of the buildings themselves. Easily distinguished some of the buildings still carry the history with a modern style of today. So as I was walking down the main streets a gentleman with an accent that I can call "hollywood Italy" introduces me and my fiancé to the building. I say hollywood Italy because it simply reminded me of a film I've seen earlier with a similar accent. So we sit and take a second to quickly look at the art within the walls. There were paintings of Italian villages and women draped in the silk beauty, there was green vines surrounding the corners and even spanish music in the background? Well I assume the restaurants can do this considering most of the people who come in are foreigners and are oblivious to the culture. So I was full from eating Mexican food while watching Costa Rica loose to the evil Netherlands in the World Cup, which is why the dessert menu was up and ready to be looked at. A nice way to sooth the taste buds from spices and onions. I remember while in Spain I ordered a Tiramisu with a Cortado, great combination because it was sweet and moist the lips. So I ordered a tiramisu to try to remember the taste from Spain and indulge in the romantic scenery with my fiancé and sip the coffees that connect us both. I will say this was best for us in the day because the tiramisu was moist and sweet, had cocoa powder and a creme very sweet to the mix of a cappuccino and a cafe latte. Recommended because its a great way to end the day full of thoughts and to-do list and so far a marvelous satisfactory need. 

Chocolate bar

In a simple and easily edible way to describe this is..... Chocolate Bar. That's it. I mean look at it...can you see how mouth-watering this looks. It's a dream come true for me. After a long day of getting lost in the famous Louvre, I was ready to collapse with exhaustion and say "I am done". But no... must fall into protocol and be like all Paris folks...sit, order, drink and enjoy. What better way to raise energy for the walk back home? Well this seems to be the number one way to hit diabetes but in fact my dear friends it was a ride to heaven that soothed the muscles from the walk and sent chilled down ones spine. I enjoy many chocolatey things because it seems to be the way God would intend it to right? I ate or rather I drank it because it was my message from above. People, when you see chocolate in front of you, do the merciless world a favor and eat it because if not...then it is a sin my friend.  

Macchiato exquisite

What captures the mind from distractions and To-Do List? A book, music, food, sex, etc. What really sets those into the explicit world of taste and adventure? It's a world of adventure and tastes to be discovered that sets the soul to travel and begin seeing what truely sets the heart to beat. France had that taste of wonderness and delights. A simple sip for a 5 minute break of walking the streets sends the elaborate relaxation the body yearns for. I look at this beverage with loads of caffeine as a natural drug that can be enjoyed with no guilty, rather it be a guilty pleasure. This Macchiato was average for the Paris Community, the sips were like water on the go and it was easy and quick to purchase. Outside with a cigarette and the cup in one hand was a message of "I have things to do but I will stop and enjoy my Me Time". Interestingly I found this fascinating because although the smell of tabacco was not as pleasing, it was normal for the community to do so. It was artistic in a way that I may never be able to explain, Americans do the same, but it is on the go. French folks see it as a reward and down time, the cup is small, can be sipped in 3 or 4. So as I sipped mine, I look at the folks walking, sitting and enjoying themselves only to realize that I too can do the same without feeling "late" or "behind". 

Tiramisu fancy

This was yummy, like "diabetic" yummy, like "go to the gym ASAP" yummy. I remember sitting in the cafe and thinking,"How do Europeans stay so small?" The amount of sugar and condensed milk these things have is simply too much, or maybe Americans just think too much and should just shut up and enjoy the little things. The first taste was similar to pudding but much much more tasteful and magnificent. The Tiramisu was heaven, pure sweetness and great companion to the cortado (cafe with milk). I think I enjoyed it so much because I worry too much about what to drink or eat, "counting" calories when in fact I should just enjoy it. Of course to be healthy an all but when on vacation, there shouldn't be any boundaries, the world is a path to walk and fun with. And if a Tiramisu is on my path then by all means I will drink with a smile and wish I was European. Haha. I do recommend when traveling in Spain to ask for this delight because it is such a reward to your taste buds and you most definitely deserve it after many miles of walking and even getting lost every once in a while. 

Passion grows

So as it is displayed, there is a passion as some may say. The love an admiration of a beverage has grown tremendously over the decades, as a means of traveling the world to taste the different spices to flavors and even smells. Coffee makers have a manner of making designs on the foam of styles and characters to be seen as a cat or a heart. The growth of the coffee industry will remain as a constant consumer for all the world to seek and taste. I created this blog as a means of expressing how the experiences have altered my perspectives of caffeine and the atmospheres, sounds, cultures, and traditions. I will continue to drink coffee, hopefully I can taste the world around me and know the beans of all the corners of the world. It would be amazing to do this as I know I can do it because I have my whole life to do it and it is a pleasure to do so. So I say to you all, if you all love coffee as I do, and I'm sure you do then take on the challenge and go out to explore your local coffee shops. Even to buy the beans from other countries in grocery stores is worth the try too. If you can roast the beans at home is great, or buy a grinder and have fresh grounded coffee each morning, the smell is brilliant. I bought candles with scented espresso and it was worth every penny. Go out and enjoy what the world offers and enjoy the experience because it is a pleasure to the soul. 

Sip by the beach

The beach, a primary destination for most folks on vacation that love to prep themselves to wear a bikini and show off that summer workout...or like most of us...just walk in shorts and tanks. The beach is where, in my opinion, people walk to find something that will enlighten them on some kind of self-discovery. A journey that leads to infinite lines of seas and hear the waves trending to their ears to deliver a message of solitude. Amazing that most people go to the beach to play beach volleyball, tan, build sand castles, eat, etc. But then there are the ones that walk the shore lines in search for meaning, in search for that motive to be entailed with stories, the search for humanity and the challenge of well anything. So here you see a Cortado from the beach shores of Mijas, Spain. It was small, inexpensive and so so delicious, but I believe the reason I was enduring the magnificent taste is because the view captures the essence of the cup and sent a heart warming sensation of pure sanity. I look ahead of me and see the blue waters sparkling with the sunny shine of the sun, a perfect temperature with cooling winds. The scenery was like a painting seen in museums, the bright colors, details of the buildings and the streaks of the water lines. A combination perfect to sit in a small chair with a cup in one hand, the picture displays the brown color of the cup with a sweet milk and added with brown sugar. Easily describable because life can be easy, if you just make it that way. 

Match made in heaven

When two people meet in the most random places, the sparks fly and the smiles sparkle on the face to show interest. Seeing the "one" can only mirror the images of romantic scenes that seem to little to be true because of the slight reality hitting the mind with discouragement. But one day as you walk into that little coffee shop in Barcelona after attempting to enter the famous church "Sagrada Familia" with no success, you find that spark in your face with a match made in heaven. The church must have rubbed off on you because the sweetness of the croissant and the creamy cappuccino makes you want to stand on the tip on the Titanic and spread your arms.....wheres DiCaprio? The two are a great couple because not only are you filled with love and calories but the match looks so amazing to be photographed! Alright, the point is that every match in the world has been known like salt and pepper, so now cappuccino and croissant are on the list. 

Size Matters: Quantity vs. Quality

Spending a night in the car to save money from Motels and with an average of 10 degrees Celsius outside can cause you to say several things...in your mind of course: "why did I agree to this", "I need a shower", "I'm about to freeze to death like 'Titanic'", "Awesome experience...maybe", and of course, "get me my coffee now...please!" So, yes I agreed to spend the night in the car because I wanted to save money and I knew it was not going to be so bad...apart from being cold. In the morning  I was awoken around 6 am to the sound of church bells, a bit creepy considering we were in the middle of  a small forest and I can see the tree branches waving from the wind but I knew I was safe from any harm. Waking up to finally start the drive towards Paris from Belgium we stopped at a little itty bitty cafe in the middle of the freeway. It was a little french village that seemed friendly and quiet, I remembered walking in and, from the little french I know, I asked for a cafe. Keep in mind that coming from America and consuming to what seems to be a small from a Starbucks is nothing compared to the quantity Europe provides. This cafe was an Espresso with a wee-bit of creme, it was literally sufficient enough to get you started for the day. And that is when I realized that the quality of this cafe was all you needed, no need of a 16 oz of coffee with sugar and milk, I finished this cup in a few sips but the atmosphere of it was so soothing. Early 7am, watching the french news (like I totally knew what was going on), sitting next to my loved one, and realizing that sometimes a small taste of something is all you need to start the day right. 

Amster-special

There I was in Amsterdam, a country completely unknown and waiting for me to begin the miles of walking and sightseeing. Apart from my excitement to see things and be aware of my surroundings, I saw the opportunity to explore the many tastes of coffee in different aspects. Like so, this here is called the "Italian Special Expresso" observe how simple it looks, there's no whip cream no colors or even a special cup for that matter. It was only 2 euros and for my health concerns I asked for a "soy" substitute; the taste was so confusing at first because I simply could not name what I was drinking. If you hand me a Mocha I can immediately say that it is a mixture of chocolate and coffee because that is what makes a Mocha. But somehow this Italian was difficult to point out considering I got in Amsterdam which is thousands of miles away from Italy. My first sip was.....well I hardly knew what to say. I was in a guessing game and I was naming every flavor in the book I can come up with to name this flavor, my closest flavor to describe this was Christmas. I know...that's not a flavor... but it was the word to describe it and I was stuck on it, I thought of peppermint and sunset scenery. How does that even go together? But as I drank it I began to reassure myself that peppermint was in here somewhere, and this Italian Special was indeed...Special. 

More Tea Please

Now do not get me wrong, I enjoy my "Cup a Tea" too...I decided to ask my friend to accompany me on a trip to SF and explore the Japanese Garden. It was absolutely beautiful, architecture was built extraordinarily and the garden was magnificent. There was a small tea place where tourist can sit and eat plus drink organic tea, we ordered a soothing green tea to warm ourselves over the cold weather. The tea was delicious and herbally, the scent was pleasing and the entire atmosphere sent tranquility. Body, Mind and Soul were at peace with the sound of a water fall near by and of course having the company of my dear friend. I looked at my surroundings and I was falling in love with the Japanese  mini world, the waiters in the traditional clothing, the chairs and tables were small, and the sound of chimes hitting due to the breeze; it was all mesmerizing because I felt at peace within me. I looked at my friend and thanked him for bringing and accompanying me on this little adventure with a peaceful smile. 

Saudi-licious....

My best friend is Saudi- Arabian, a dear friend and companion; we said our goodbyes for the summer and departed in our adventures. So as a memory to hold for the summer he gave me some Arabian  coffee that is prepped in this little gold cup that is heated on the stove. It has a strong consistency that its a espresso on steroids (I kid you not), any time I drank this my eye lids were wide open. I mixed this with sugar because it is too strong to drink plain, at times Abdul would mix this with dark chocolate that gave it a sweet touch. It is interesting how this little gift for the summer was my way to remember my best friend considering the distance; talking on the phone was great but drinking this was a touch to it. Smelling the rich intensity and imagine sitting on a desert with an umbrella to protect me from the sun and feeling the cool breeze through my skin, sends a beauty to my senses and I feel as I will embark on an adventure in this international middle east drink. 

FourBarrel Cafe

Oh San Francisco, my love, my admiration, my hear and soul, you embrace and welcome me into your arms and give me peace. You provide luxury and endless adventures that I am willing to jump to, I visit you as much as I can and every moment I spend with you I imprint in my brain. Needless to say you hold one of the top cafes in the nation, FourBarrel Cafe, a list was released some years ago by the New York Times and this cafe could not be missed.  After getting lost on the way and making turn after turn looking for parking space, I finally made it. When I walked in, I felt I entered a warehouse; the building smelled of freshly grounded coffee beans and there were a lot of people in line waiting for their orders and I said, "Yup, definitely not a Starbucks.." And that was the beauty of it, this coffee shop held coffee from all over the world; Africa, Middle East, Colombia, Mexico, and Guatemala.I was in the middle of the globe smelling the beans from different places, it was extraordinary. First of all, I have never gone on a mission to hunt down a coffee shop I read on Yahoo news by the NYT's. Second, I became obsessed with the search to taste anything from this shop and document this all. As I was waiting for a Cappuccino to be made, I observed the methods in which the workers were preparing everything. Old machines, factory like setting and fast pacing movements, a Willy Wonka Chocolate factory for coffee as it seems and I was impressed by how busy the shop was. The intriguing thing about this shop was that there were no outlets, nothing to plug in your laptop or anything, the tables and chairs were all wooden carved and there were dim lights. That was the beauty of, it wasn't a busy shop to go online or charge anything, it was a shop to relax, converse with friends or loved ones and simply forget a busy schedule and actually speak to someone face to face and be assertive. I saw people laughing and conversing, eaves dropping I heard a couple discuss their honeymoon and how they want to repeat it. And then it struck me, people today are loosing that communication skills and are more concerned with their updates online. I look to my right and I see the Pour-over method, which is the freshest way, provided on the side of the store and there was a long line for that. Pour-over is when the filter of the beans is placed over the cup and hot water is slowly poured, letting the grinds soak in and drop the liquid into the cup. It is the freshest way in my opinion to enjoy. Fairly reasonable price too, I paid a dollar less than in I would in Starbucks and the size was relatively the same. So here was my momentum of traveling to my homeland and know that I have rewards waiting for me to sit on the table, forget my laptop, and enjoy a pour-over. :)

Beacon Coffee & Pantry

A taste of something bold, a hint of story behind the cup, the process of a bean which made its may to the grinder to be drowned in water and land in a cup is precisely the objective behind this post. You see, my family is from Nicaragua, a country that has suffered tremendously in poverty, war, drugs, sex exploitation and natural disasters. Yet it stands still and vigorous in the triumphs of being know in Central America as the largest country with marvelous beaches and forests. My memories are somewhat vague through my travels early in my childhood, but the one aspect I remember is the spirit and light of being in a country with history and stories to be shared for the next generations down. This post is to commemorate the victims of hate and crimes during the Cold War, the Nicaragua Civil War and the natural disasters that destroyed homes and landscapes; as assured, the spirit of the people stand strong with food, music, and of course el Cafe. Just the growth of the coffee beans has provided thousands of jobs for farmers and provides the millions of income for this country to prosper again and be once known for something positive and impactful. The Sandinistas Rule has caused a halt for manufacturing of the bean and created an unstable political system to renovate and grow, but as the war came to an end the bean was once again replanted. Through unfortunate events of economic crisis, the export and import business has slowed but companies such as Cup of Excellence and the creation of the Nicaraguan Specialty coffee Association are working hard to destabilize the system and have this coffee exported worldwide. So when you happen to go to any grocery store where a variety of coffees are provided, see if Nicaragua is on the counter, if so help to rebuild the economy again and continue to allow those farmers to work and make a living.