Black Ice
On Saturday, I went to Portland Brew in East Nashville with a hankering for coffee. I should preface this by saying I don't really drink coffee very often, just when a hankering comes along or when I'm so tired that three Dr. Peppers won't do the trick. At any rate, my wife and I each ordered an iced coffee, added a little cream and sugar, and headed home. About a half-hour later, we both started feeling jittery. By an hour later, I was trembling and felt so mixed up I couldn't finish my lunch. I thought:
1. Did I wake up this morning with the worst hangover in the world and decide to take a bunch of speed?
2. Maybe I did 15 rails of coke and blacked out for the part where you feel awesome.
3. Is this what smoking crack is like? That would explain a lot about Whitney.
Now, I'm aware that coffee houses typically make a stronger brew for their iced coffees, to offset the weakening that happens with the pack melt. But, damn, that stuff about took my head off. Perhaps we should make a jolt meter or something and assign each cafe a number. Call it fair warning.
Comments
If my ice coffee doesn't make me feel anxious, agressive and paranoid, I don't feel that I've gotten my money's worth. Actually, I think Portland uses toddy, and they dilute it with water. So it can vary dramatically depending on how much toddy your barista puts in. But I like it strong....
Posted 07/07/2008 at 12:45:43 PMi had a 'mocha glacier' from the 12 south store last week & experienced the same things you're describing.* i felt insane for the better part of the morning. and i think i even remarked to my husband that the drink seemed laced with something. that being said, it was still delicious.
Posted 07/07/2008 at 07:52:13 PM*i also don't drink coffee that much.
Garsh,
Cause and effect - drink more coffee and mebbe you will have the opposite effect - withdrawal when you don't get your fix. About 32 ounces of say, French or Italian roast is just right.
By the kiddies - no need for ice, milk, or sugar. Good coffee needs nothing to detract from it.
signed,
Mr. Coffee Nerves
Posted 07/07/2008 at 09:40:34 PMWhen I was in college my girlfriend was a barista, as were most of her friends, so I drank espresso from one end of the town to the other. When I finally quit the stuff I had a headache for a week. It was more painful, physically, than quitting cigarettes, though not nearly as hard. (Coffee I quit on the first try, cigarettes took me a dozen plus.)
Posted 07/08/2008 at 10:50:25 AMIf you think kicking caffeine is hard, try kicking high fructose corn syrup. At least manufacturers don't sneak coffee grounds into every damn food product on the market.
Posted 07/13/2008 at 09:59:28 PM