I eagerly told the lady at the pharmacy in France that I was traveling “all by myself” to New York for a conference, and sadly did not realize how ridiculous I sounded until I had left the store holding my bottle of cranberry pills. What am I – three years old?
But there was something about traveling “all by myself” to New York that made me so happy, whether it was for the adventure, or the chance to meet all my blogging friends and heroes, or whether it was simply to watch movies on the plane.
I watched one movie – what I believed to be a comedy – wherein Kate Hudson ended up dying from cancer and I ended up bawling quietly in my seat. I ate my little meal, stepped off the plane, and I soared into the City for the BlogHer conference after a peaceful little overnight retreat at my friend Rosalind’s house.
It was so fun to meet everyone, and I’ll probably share some of the highlights in another post if I can sort through the PTBD (Post- Traumatic BlogHer Disorder) overwhelm.
But what really struck me was the caffeine-withdrawal headache that accompanied me everywhere I went throughout the conference – and this even when I ditched the hotel and went to Starbucks for coffee.
I am almost certain that the Starbucks coffee is stronger in France than it is in the States.
I was invited to the Starbucks sponsor suite to check out their new Verismo machines. I went because I was invited (and nobody else had invited me to anything). I also went because I was having caffeine withdrawal and I hoped they might be able to help.
Okay, the machines are sleek, are they not?
In all these different colors? The burgundy one would be so pretty in my pink and granite kitchen.
They showed how a properly brewed espresso will have different colored layers, like a strata of sedimentary rock. They showed how you could stick a cool little milk capsule in and let the machine froth it into a dreamy latté cloud. And they explained how you could take your coffee capsule and turn it into a brewed cup rather than a latté, accompanied by some explanation about pressure sensors on the capsule depending on what you wanted to accomplish that was so fly it flew right over my head.
And when I complained about the weak American coffee, because that was what I was there for, they said next time I should order an “Americano” because that was the stronger version of their daily joe. And I was all like – hello irony.
So then we got to try making one. Of course I asked immediately if I could have a double latté and they immediately said yes.
It was fun. And steamy.
Probably the steamiest thing I did the entire conference. And when I tasted it and wrinkled my nose a little bit, they asked if I wanted a triple shot, so I nodded and put my cup back under the machine. And it was finally what I considered to be a proper cup of coffee – three coffee capsules and one milk capsule later.
I left this friendly crew of people with my triple shot latté and a gift certificate for $5 in hand, and finally had the necessary caffeine to head over to the Serenity Suite.
And then in the morning I went over to Starbucks to use my $5 gift certificate on a grandé Americano, took one watery sip and wished I was back in France.
Or at least sipping a triple shot Verismo latté.
* I was compensated with a triple shot latté and a gift certificate for attending the demonstration. But I wrote the post of my own volition so that I could complain about American coffee.
Jennie– I’m sorry to hear of your bad experience with US coffee! I can relate (but probably on a weaker level)! I’m always surprised when I go to NYC and am rudely reminded of how difficult it is to get a cup of good, strong coffee. Amazingly enough, the other really awful coffee experience I’ve had was at the Starbucks at LAX. Apparently, cosmopolitanity (is that a word?) of city does not correlate to strength of coffee. But next time you come to the States, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to land in Seattle!
Yeah I was actually surprised about NY because it’s not like I went to a diner for it. I guess you need to know where to go.
Besides the irony of the Americano, I also love that you had a triple shot latte before heading to the “Serenity Suite.”
Perfection.
I was wondering if anyone would pick up on that. 😉
See… this is a perfectly good reason why I don’t drink coffee! I will stick with Diet Coke for caffeine… it’s the same no matter where I go, right?
Now you know what – you’re absolutely right about that. Diet coke is the same everywhere. I like that more in the afternoons.
The first time I had coffee in France, I think some of my hair fell out from the shock. Then I couldn’t get enough of it. I tried to replicate when I got back to the States: bought the arabica beans and a French press. Not even close. I’ve finally resigned myself to the fact that I will not have a great cup of coffee unless I’m in France or Italy. And that’s OK. Gives me another excuse to go back.
Exactly! Your description gave me a good laugh though.
LOL Oh when I had coffee in Paris I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest! Amazing how we become accustomed to our own coffee.
Again, so sad to have missed you, next time we are in the same country we shall have coffee! (a watery one for me!)
I’ll just pour half coffee, half boiling water when you come.
My first experience with French coffee was in a little cafe in Rennes and I thought I was going to die about 15 minutes afterwards; I could have swore I was having a heart attack. Now I’m back in the U.S. and I would give my right leg for an IV of it.
On another note, that Kate Hudson movie ruined my Saturday night. It was a good film, but I was NOT expecting a tear jerker when I picked it out.
Right? It looks like a comedy doesn’t it? So frustrating.
I would never make it in France. I drink SB decaf lattes!!
Well fortunately you can get those here, but you’re right. That’s not the run of the mill.
I know what you mean.
I lived on Tylenol while at BlogHer, missing my double tall breve latte from back home.
I LOVED MEETING YOU, and everyone here? This woman is an angel. Wrong planet, darling…you are an angel.
xo
No you’re the angel. No you are. No you are. (chuckle) – loved rooming with you.
There is no match for a cup of good French or Italian coffee. There are some local spots in San Francisco where I can get it, but otherwise I just make own Nespresso at home!
Yeah – I knew you would be a connaisseur.
If only I had known! I could have brought you a nice strong cup of ‘Joes’ coffee from Grand Central Terminal. It’s really very good. I wish you had tried it. Vastly different to Starbucks. I wood have liked to know what you though of it, being an American woman in France. How’s the tea over there?
Oh shoot – would have love to have tried that. There are so many cute tea shops here with all sorts of varieties, like little blue mountain flowers mixed in with the leaves, etc. Do you like Lapsong Souchong?
Gosh, Lapsang Souchong! I haven’t had that in a while actually. I used to drink lots of it when I lived in London and my friends would take me out for dim sum in Chinatown. These days, I’m favoring the lightness (and caffeine free-ness) of Rooibos. But Smith Tea’s Lord Bergamot is my favorite of the black teas…with a bit if cake.. Ooh la la!
Coffee then serenity? You’re my kind of people.
See? Now you have to go!
Of course, in New York is one of the only places (in the world) where I can get a proper iced coffee: cold (strong) coffee, poured over ice. NOT hot coffee poured over ice. I realize that many people find iced coffee an abomination. But it’s what I do. I will say, in some misguided attempt to defend my home-ish town, that Starbucks & any coffee shop in midtown is going to serve crappy coffee. Head downtown to Stumptown Coffee, or the Mud Truck, or Irving Place Coffee, and you’ll get a proper hair-sticking-straight-up cup of caffeine. Lovely, lovely to meet you, and I totally get the “all by myself” thing: traveling alone (after years of emphatically NOT traveling alone) is real bliss, even if one is confronted by bad Kate Hudson movies.
Actually you’re right about that. NY is the only place I know of that has good iced coffee, and I do like that too.
This post made me giggle for so many reasons. I am jealous of the French coffee, I think. I would love extra caffeine 🙂
Hi Angela! The only downside is when you go places that have less caffeine you suffer.
OK, that’s funny. And I can relate to the ‘going to the NY alone’ part… except I didn’t go alone. When I told my mother I was going she insisted on boing with me. Mostly for my protection. Even though I’m 34 and raising 3 boys. 🙂
It was nice to meet you at BlogHer! I look forward to reading your posts!
That is so funny. You know it was just an excuse to shop. 😉
I got nice strong coffee in Alaska when the server said he hadn’t figured out how to use the new coffee machine.
Hi Maman – you’d think they would drink good coffee in Alaska where it’s so cold.
And I saw you minutes before leaving NYC in Starbucks! Loved spending so much time with you and SOMEDAY I will show up on your doorstep for a visit. So be ready. Though not knowing your street address, I may just be wandering your neighborhood asking for Lady Jennie. I’ll be the one with the red bracelet, non?
Yes! And I’ll make you some nice strong coffee. (And maybe some delicious food too).
I need more time with you to drink coffee. May I fly over next week? I would so love that. I miss you. And your weak coffee. xo
Okay. Come – bring the girls.
You are such a dream! I wish we had more time….and the funny thing? I can only drink French Roast coffee in the morning because it is the only one strong enough to start my day….& keep the headache in check!
See? You belong in France!
It’s true about the coffee! I had a friend move to France for a few years and when he came to visit he complained about the weak coffee.
Like Kelly said – French Roast all the way!
Also- thank you for being a gracious, respectful, and all around awesome roomie!
I love you, Darth Vader.
I laughed out loud when I saw Darth Vader.
I just had to chime in one more time, because I was interested in the whole question of caffeine content. According to About.com (with harvested info from starbucks.com), a Starbucks grande Americano has this much caffeine: 225 mg. This is more than the other double-shot espresso drinks, which have 150 mg for both grande and venti sizes…whereas a grande dark or “bold” drip coffee has 330 mg.
There’s a caveat that caffeine levels may vary in the drip coffees based on how they’re brewed (grumble, that’s what gets me, since I am usually a drip drinker).
SO– perhaps a couple of (properly brewed) drip coffees would help take care of your headache next time!
You know – I had suspected as much. I thought she might have been wrong about the Americano. Good to know!