EppsNet Archive: Coffee

Seattle is trying to discourage its citizens from drinking sugary beverages by imposing a 1.75-cent per ounce tax on all sugary drinks sold in the Emerald City. A $15.99 case of Gatorade at the Seattle Costco now has an added tax of more than $10. A case of Coke is now $7.35 more expensive than the Diet Coke or Coke Zero. Sticker shock! What will people drink instead of sugary beverages? Coffee. Seattle drinks a lot of coffee. Is coffee good for you? What if you put sugar in it? Beer. At these prices, it’s cheaper than soda. Diet soda. Are artificial sweeteners better for you than sugar? Fruit juice. Not taxed but contains a lot of sugar. Should there be a tax on all-you-can-eat buffets? How about a tax credit for eating a vegetable? Or maybe — just maybe — the tax code was not designed for and shouldn’t… Read more →

Starbucks Chile Mocha Review

by Paul Epps on 9 Sep 2016

It sounds like a prank, putting chile powder in someone’s coffee. To be honest, the chile is a bit punishing on the palate, but then coffee itself is a punisher, pummeling its consumers into a state of heightened alertness. So while I wouldn’t order another chile mocha myself, I can understand how some masochists might appreciate the extra kick. Read more →

What Would Jesus Think of the Starbucks Boycott?

by Paul Epps on 10 Nov 2015

Outraged Christians boycott Starbucks over ‘politically correct’ Christmas red cup design — Mirror Online There’s a line in an old Woody Allen movie: If Jesus came back and saw what’s going on in his name, he’d never stop throwing up. Read more →

The Coffee Goes to 11

by Paul Epps on 14 Sep 2015

We stopped in at the Nespresso coffee bar at Geary and Grant just before leaving San Francisco to drive back to Orange County. For the iced latte that I wanted, the menu offered a choice of three coffees ranked by “intensity”: 4, 9 or 11. The 4 seemed too low, and I saw no reason to go with the 9 and leave the extra two intensity points on the table, so I selected the 11. I didn’t notice any off-the-charts intensity as I was drinking the coffee but it kicked in on the drive home, somewhere near Salinas. I could have driven straight through to South America, such was my level of alertness and energy. Read more →

Lose the Pastels and the Mopey Attitude

by Hostile Witness on 9 Jul 2015

Americans love gay people. Since this photo has been posted, it has 60,000 shares, 60,000 comments (including presidential candidates) and 640,000 (that’s six hundred and forty thousand) likes. In the short time since the Supreme Court’s gay marriage ruling there’s been a national competition to see who can demonstrate the most elation about it. (OK, if you’re gay, a few bad apples will dislike you based on that alone but that’s true if you’re identifiable as a member of any group, which we all are.) I’m afraid about the future. I’m afraid people won’t like me. Leave out the part about being homosexual and you could post a picture of anyone. The percentage of Americans who can’t get through the day without medication — I’m including self-medication via alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, food, etc. — is a lot closer to 100 than it is to zero. Nobody’s life is a fairy… Read more →

Sugar Substitutes

by Paul Epps on 12 Dec 2014

I’m trying to find some sugar for my coffee in the break room . . . I see three kinds of sugar substitute — the pink kind, the yellow kind and the blue kind — but no actual sugar. The number of sugar substitutes concerns me. Why are there three different kinds? It’s like they’re not only substitutes for sugar, they’re substitutes for the other sugar substitutes. Sugar is a natural substance that grows from the earth. I don’t know what any of this other shit is and therefore I’m not putting it in my coffee . . . Read more →

This New Coffee Place is Not Going to Make It

by Paul Epps on 5 Oct 2014

Trying out a new coffee place by our house . . . I order an iced coffee and pay $4.50 for the only size they have, about the size of a Starbucks grande, which at Starbucks is less than three bucks. I take the coffee over to the condiment station, taste it and decide to add some sugar. The proprietor surprises me by walking up and saying “Taste it first before you add sugar.” “I did taste it,” I assure him. “Does it need sugar?” “That probably depends on who’s drinking it. If I’m drinking it, it’s going to need a little sugar.” I think I’ll stick with Starbucks. The coffee is cheaper and the staff lets me do whatever I want with it, no questions asked. Read more →

First World Problems

by Paul Epps on 15 May 2013

When I get coffee from the break room, I try to cycle through the creamers — French Vanilla, Hazelnut and the regular Half & Half. Today I got coffee and I couldn’t remember where I left off in the cycle. I’m in a quandary . . . Read more →

Twitter: 2010-09-16

by Paul Epps on 16 Sep 2010

RT @serafinowicz: Tea = Gay Coffee # Amplifying Collaboration with Guerilla Facilitation http://t.co/ZJNXzVz # RT @eddiepepitone: This new car better be the answer to all my sorrows and regrets. # Read more →

Twitter: 2010-08-12

by Paul Epps on 12 Aug 2010

RT @ChelseaVPeretti: When someone's telling you something is it ok to say "who cares" if you do it tenderly and touch their arm? # RT @eddiepepitone: Just drank a coffee the size of a Buick. I think I will write an outline of the history of civilization. # Read more →

Twitter: 2010-04-29

by Paul Epps on 29 Apr 2010

RT @OnSluts: Don't let mr judgy Barista tell u a double shot americano at 12 and 6 pm is too much caffeine. He doesn't know your pain # Read more →

Thomas Jefferson on the Health Care Bill

by Thomas Jefferson on 23 Mar 2010

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny. — TJ My fellow Americans — This is a glorious day in our great nation! No, I’m not referring to that tragedy of a health care bill, which I’ll get to in a moment. I’m talking about Free Pastry Day at Starbucks! Who doesn’t enjoy a tasty scone with his morning coffee? Now, on a more somber note . . . Goodbye, representative democracy! Farewell, consent of the governed! President Obama today signed into law a far-reaching measure that will affect everyone living in these United States, now and in the future. It is opposed by most of the country and it is now law. I would never have believed that the government I helped to establish would one day engage in this kind… Read more →

Hearing Voices

by Paul Epps on 27 Jan 2010

I’m getting some coffee in the lunch room . . . no one else is present. One of my colleagues walks in and says, “Are you talking to yourself, Paul?” “No, actually I wasn’t saying anything.” Which I wasn’t. “Maybe you’re hearing voices,” I suggest. “And ironically, you were just insinuating that I was nuts.” Read more →

Twitter: 2009-10-28

by Paul Epps on 28 Oct 2009

RT @Aimee_B_Loved: BRAINS! BRAAAAAAAINS! BRAAA– I'm just kidding. I'll have a tall skinny vanilla latte, thanks. # Read more →

Twitter: 2009-10-02

by Paul Epps on 2 Oct 2009

http://bit.ly/2djWf1 via @TheOnion – Federal Judge Rules Parker Brothers Holds Monopoly Monopoly # I just poured hot coffee in my shoe. No, not on purpose. Yes, it was on my foot at the time. # RT @Aimee_B_Loved: I think Chicago needs a hug. # Man bites dog biting dog: http://bit.ly/i9fhA #news # Read more →