A T-Rex Coffee Tasting!

About two weeks ago, I put my drip coffee maker away and decided to replace it with my espresso machine. In addition to providing more counter space, this choice also gave me a chance to switch it up, as I've been drinking drip coffee for many moons.

Today was a food prep day for me, so I was going to need some fuel before cooking a few large meals. I had a hankering for something sweet, so I decided to make an iced caramel macchiato.

Back in the day, this used to be my favorite beverage to grab from the local Starbucks. These days, sugar and coffee don't usually mix for me, so this was an exception.

I started off by heating up my machine while I ground up these espresso beans.

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I'm a fan of bitterness, so I brewed three shots of espresso and set them aside.

Then it was time to whip out the caramel sauce and drizzle the inside of my reuseable to-go cup. Most people top this drink with caramel as well, but this bit will be more than enough for me.

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After filling my glass with some coconut milk and several cubes of ice, it was time to pour over my espresso shots!

The creamy layer that sits at the top of the shots always gets me excited for my first sip.



And abracadabra! My coffee is ready to enjoy. It's always a bit mesmerizing for me to watch the espresso slowly creep down into the milk

Of course, I can only resist shaking it all together for so long. That too is satisfying!

As I sip my coffee, I can't help but to compare it to the same beverage from Starbucks. I decide that I like mine better for a few reasons. Firstly, no matter how light I ask them to go on the syrup at Starbucks, it's always too sweet for my tastes.



Secondly, this treat doesn't involve a plastic cup or supporting a mega corporation that invests in goodness knows what. I learned recently that the bucks has some shady business practices, and that makes me all too happy to avoid the third reason...

Cost! Gosh is Starbucks expensive! Due to the .80$ that they charge for coconut milk, and the 1$ for a shot of extra expresso (this same size only comes with two at the chain), this drink costs a whopping 8$! Comparatively, you could receive this beverage for a still steep 5$ at a smaller coffeehouse. My cup here breaks down to under 1$ in cost.

So, I think I'm winning in the coffee game, but you don't have to take my word for it! Let's hear from some voices in the neighborhood.

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"Grindan's house always has great coffee beans stashed away for friends and family. A cup of coffee from her, is a cup of love. Her espresso tastes like heaven, makes me roar for moar!"


-Franklin J. Dino, close family friend

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"Starbucks?! I wouldn't be caught dead there when I could head over to Grindan's for a way better brew!"

- Jeffery "I told you I was sick" Smith, neighborhood skelly

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"Grindan really makes coffee like she drinks the stuff, mhm. Looking for the crema of your dream-a? Hop on in! The espresso is always fiiiiiiine!"

- The owlets known as Jan and Fran, top Yelp re-woooo-ers.

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From the word on the street, it seems a coffee franchise may be in the cards for me. What do you think? Will I be slanging my creations through a drive through window soon, giving the mermaid a run for her seashells? Well, almost certainly not. It is a fun idea though!



Now that some time has passed since the switch, I can confidently say that I'm glad that I swapped my machines out. This new method is more time consuming, but it offers so many more possibilities!

Most mornings I settle on an americano, although a French press has made it into the AM rotation a few times. I enjoy both so much more than a drip coffee, so they are always worth the few extra minutes. I have a feeling this change will stick! Cheers to great coffee 😁☕️!

All photos are my own, taken with my basic cellphone camera.