Secret formulae

Well, not quite. I just have a problem. It's called Starbucks. Now, before you tisk tisk me in disgust, you have to realise that I lived in Brazil in my early 20s and although I didn't drink coffee before I lived there, I certainly did after. I haven't always been a devotee to SB, this new obsession began in November 2010, full on... hard core.

I now have a gold card and actually top it up. My name is Jane and I'm addicted to good coffee.

When I lived in the UK, I had my stovetop espresso and I made my own espresso for years. Not much of a story. I lived with the gay Italian and his hag and then a random 3rd person (first while it was Martha, then it was a guy who tried to come into my room in the middle of the night and said he thought it was the bathroom - I've blocked out his name, and then there was the gay Australian girl). The Italians used the stovetop espresso as I did. The thing was that I love flavoured coffee.

Enter in Starbucks.

So, when doing the EMT, there was a SB down the street from the school and I had to trudge across the city to the school, have a thing about sitting in rush hour so left early and arrived before the school opened... but SB was open. I sat there and studied. For 3 months.

Now, even though I've been done the coursework for almost 4 months, I still attend the church that is SB.

I'm trying to figure out ways to wean myself. I'm researching espresso machines out there because the stovetop just isn't tasting the same now that I have the blessed Grande Americano. Putting water into the stovetop espresso makes bitter espresso, but with SB it isn't bitter and gross. So. I'm thinking perhaps it is the grinder that is the difference. I'll buy that first and see if I can wean. If that doesn't work, I'll actually fork out the money for a proper unit... likely the Rancilio Silvia.

Back on track. The secret formulae. I don't have a sweet tooth normally - I'm a salty girl... but with SB, it seems to be all about the sweet. These are my two current favourite drinks:

2 pumps (each) white mocha, coconut, hazelnut

or

2 pumps white mocha, 1 pump raspberry, 3 pumps vanilla

Now, if you're not a sweet person and try these you'll curse the day you thought about reading my words. If you like sweet, give it a go.

The reason this is on my mind is because I found a recipe to make my own white mocha (theirs is slightly too sweet with the other syrup so I thought I'd try to make my own at home and save the $0.50 on the cup - some people charge, others don't so I'll just make my own and see if it is as good). I've just made a batch and will give it a go. We'll see if it is gross or as good as the real thing. :)