java
My two absolutely most worstest traits of my character are Procrastination and Perfectionism. The result? If I could have it my way, things would never get done.
So I'm just going to go ahead, OK?
NB: for the purpose of the coffee-tasting experiment I am going to stop using mouthwash. I apologise for those who come into close contact with at work.
NB too: for the purpose of the fight against Procrastination and Perfectionism I shall not attempt to hyperlink the hyperlinkable. Go Google yourselves.
Here we go then. Central London coffee guide: I aim at being unfaithful to my grande white americano to go from Caffè Nero and be tempted by other brews.
Monday morning: McDonalds. Three doors down from work (good). Recently replaced their perfectly acceptable filter coffee (£0.94) in which you could add as many tiny milk cartons as you wish (six, please) with some Kenko ground-on-the-spot pretentiousness with warm slighly frothy milk (£1.09). Listen, if I cared for good coffee I would not have left Italy. Give us back the dishwater, please. Straws ubiquitous (sp?).
Monday lunchtime: Nero. Across Trafalgar Square from work (good, unless there's a parade to welcome back the athletes from the Olympics and Parolympics. Or a bunch of bananas in your way. Or a Thunderbird). £1.70. Plus: loyalty card (one free coffee for every nine you buy) brings price down to £1.53. Good strong coffee with an intense aroma that on a couple of occasions perfect strangers next to me at the pedestrian lights commented on. Or maybe they were just coming on at me. Coffee cup put into another cup as standard. Straws on display in most branches.
Yesterday morning: Wild Bean Café at my local BP petrol station. Long-winded pompous name that translates into 'Half-asleep Polish girl pushing button on coffee machine that does the rest' (after 6am). Before 6am, the machine is turned toward the customers, who get the privilege of pushing the button themselves. And adding six mini-milks. Plus: you get 6 Nectar points for a £1.59 16oz cup, which means that with only 84 cups of coffee you get a free pass for a day for two persons for Cannons gym (see? coffee is good for you). Must learn how to ask for a straw in Polish.
Yesterday lunchtime: Costa, first floor of Borders bookshop, Trafalgar Square. £1.95 for equivalent-sized cup. Comes with corrugated holder/insulator (that unfortunately does not cover the bottom of the cup, hence slighlty singed pinkie). We are not impressed. Dusty straws on display had definitely seen better days. What, surely I'm not the only one drinking coffee with a straw? [looks around] Ok then.
To be continued…