Sip of Experiences

Recently, I told my friend I needed a new book to read. He opened his backpack and handed me a book he had on him. “Setting The Table” by Danny Meyer. I’m only through the 3rd chapter, but a section of the book resonated with me, as I drink a cup of coffee…

About 6 months back, I moved into an apartment in Venice, CA where I started to befriend the folks at the local coffee shop next door to me, Little Lunch Coffee + Snacks. I told the owner, Chris, I’ve always been fascinated by the technique of latte art and wanted to learn how to do it one day.

One morning, I went into the Little Lunch and Chris and his business partner, Jordan, who knew about my interest in doing latte art, told me to come in a little later in the day and they would help me out.

So later that day during my lunch break from work, I went back to Little Lunch, where Chris first showed me his charts and diagrams of how to make the perfect espresso for the latte. It measured everything to the dose, gram and seconds to extract it depending on how old the roast is. It’s truly an art form.

Then, Chris proceeded onto explain how to steam the milk. He said not all milks are the same and you never want the milk to bubble too much (That, I still have yet to get even close).

As Chris steamed the milk because I couldn’t get close for the milk not to bubble, he made me his puppet trying to mimic the technique of how to pour the milk into the espresso. As we finished the pour, Jordan said, “Nothing like a good penis latte art.”

I’m grateful for the opportunity Chris and Jordan gave me. Learning from experts that took time to master their craft was unbelievable. 

But there was something else that stuck with me more than the tutorial of the latte art.

After extracting the roast for the espresso, Chris told me to take a sip of the coffee, which he made very potent and bitter, but the aroma was at its strongest.

“Can you tell what the taste the hint of the roast?”

“Mmmm. Not really”

Chris then proceeded to name off the flavors in the coffee and nailed every single one of them. He then picked up the bag of the roast and said, “Yup, I was right.” Maybe he already knew what it was, but then why would be look at the bag if he knew?

I asked him how did he know the flavors.

One, he said from years of being a barista. 

Sure.

Two, he said from past experiences. He says whenever he drinks new coffee, he tries remind himself of something, whether if its a favorite memory, grandma’s homemade cookies, the strawberry fields, or home

As a coffee drinker for a while now in my short life, and been drinking my coffee black since 2010 (Thanks Logan and Danny), I never really thought anything of it expect to wake me up in the morning.

Looking back, drinking Folgers dark roast hotel room coffee that tasted like motor oil will remind me of when I would stay up late night for work and texting my friend that was in another city as we were starting our journey as a Broadcast Associate at Fox. 

Kirkland’s Keurig Breakfast Blend watered down coffee will remind me of drinking coffee with my former colleague at 3 pm on a Saturday during 10-12 hour day in the TV production truck trying to get through the work day.

And currently, as I sip a filtered coffee on a rainy Monday morning at local coffee shop in Santa Monica, CA, this flavor at this coffee shop will remind me of a time I asked someone we should meet up for coffee, at a place I've never been before (rolled the dice on this one).

Making coffee drinking an experience has completely has been a game changer since I stepped foot into Little Lunch that day. I realized that there’s an infinite amount of things to experience out there still.

So when you try out a new coffee or go to a new coffee shop, let every sip of coffee bring you new experiences.

Jun