I’m a drip coffee lover through and through. Flavored coffee isn’t my thing, and don’t even think about adding any syrups to my black cup of bliss. Every so often I do branch out of my black coffee hole and I get a latte. A double short half decaf soy extra foamy latte to be exact. Oh yeah, I’m one of those people.
I am very aware that not everyone likes their coffee black as night. Strong, thick, dark, and intense doesn’t always suit everyone, but when I can see through my coffee something needs to be done. I usually make my coffee in a french press, so it’s easy to make strong.
After discovering my family likes their coffee a bit different than me, I knew just what to do. I decided to go for a run, and you’ll never guess where I ended up.
I like my coffee dark, but I don’t always want a lot of caffeine (fun fact: the darker the roast the less the caffeine, the lighter the roast the more the caffeine.) so to get a richer flavor without added caffeine I got some decaf VIA packs to add to my morning brew.
Perfect addition for a strong flavor, without the added jitters.
Same cup of coffee, but with the added VIA packet. Dark and bold. Round trip the run was about 5 miles and I had some wonderful views throughout. I’m loving the sun.
Living so close to not only Starbucks, but also to Sprouts is a perfect excuse for a run. I came home and enjoyed the great views from my dads back patio. Great place to enjoy a dark cup of coffee. Just enough to fuel me for a bike ride, and an afternoon hike!!
Q: Do you like to run/walk/bike to the store for things you need? I LOVE to.
52 thoughts on “To Each His Own”
Catherine @ A Two Storey Home
Nice! I opt for soy-no-foam when I get a latte 🙂 I do love to walk places whenever I can!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
What a huge difference that VIA packet made! I very rarely run/walk/bike to the store here in the States, but when I lived in China I always walked to the store – it was my only option. I was a lot more careful about how much stuff I bought, that’s for sure. Only what I could carry. 🙂 Enjoy the sun!
PS – LOVED getting that note in the mail from you!! The stationary suits you perfectly.
Brittany
YAY, I’m so glad you got the letter!
Britta
Oh man do I ever love a good, strong, BLACK cup of coffee. Sometimes I put in some milk and a latte is a wonderful thing here and there as well. 🙂 I walk EVERYWHERE. Grocery store, work, yoga – if I need to go somewhere I always walk. Unless its raining of course!
so we are the same… surprised?!?! Glad you’re having a wonderful time at your Dad’s, soak up those sunny rays for me!! xo
sharonpimento
I could do with a really really strong coffee about now 🙂
sincerelylily
okay, first of all, is father a sultan or something b/c that back deck and scenery is AMAZING. seriously.
secondly, please enjoy the sunshine.
third, i had NO IDEA that there is more caffenie in light coffee (i like my light)! i love the fact that you ran and found a starbucks and fixed your dilemma. i would have done the same… coffee is the start of the day and if it is not the way i like it, the rest of my day is in a funk. ENJOY YOUR VACATIONNNNNNN!!!!
Brittany
He is a sorcerer, but DON’T TELL ANYONE!
Kailey (Caffeinated Runner)
I feel like I am a hybrid – I dont like creamers anymore because I really can’t taste them but I don’t like regular black coffee. I like flavored coffee beans 🙂 haha Does that make sense?
Brittany
That makes complete sense, and I know exactly the types of coffee you speak of! 🙂
Change of Pace
Oh my goodness- take me away! Where in AZ does your dad live?
Ha- I love the description of what you order from Starbucks. Totally one of those people!
I love to take my cruiser to the grocery store! My basket snaps on and off the front, so I take that right in with me!
apartmentwife
“fun fact: the darker the roast the less the caffeine, the lighter the roast the more the caffeine.” – sending this to my husband asap. he always get dark because he says he needs the extra caffeine (i’m a lighty). thanks for the little factoid 🙂 oh, and glad you’re enjoying that arizona sun!!
kelly @ racesrepsramblings
WOW never knew that about lighter coffee having LESS caffeine – I always assumed it was the opposite. Very good knowledge to have on hand!
apartmentwife
ps, thought of you : http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4x3iusjqo1rw5en8o1_400.png
Brittany
Bahahaha! I love it.
Alex @ therunwithin
I am so boring in the coffee department, black all the way! But i had no idea about the lighter/darker coffee.So interesting!
kadeecramer
I never knew the difference in caffeine levels.. interesting!! I’m not a fan of black coffee but I have found that the longer I go on drinking coffee every morning the less Stevia/creamer I add, so maybe one day I’ll be there!
We don’t have any of the places in my town I’d like to run/walk to. I have to drive a town over (BOOOO) but I do live near a few little antique and junk stores and have been meaning to take a little stroll and check them out 🙂
Davida @The Healthy Maven
You legit just schooled me on coffee and I’ve never been more grateful. No wonder I get the jitters even though I drink Blonde Roast! Walking to the grocery store is fun for me in the summer but the arctic that I live in means it’s a no-go these days 😦
kathy@vodka and soda
you know what they say…once you go black, you never go back AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
i got the starbucks coffee sampler thing for christmas and i’m so excited to try it all!
Brittany
YES!! I LOVE that box…so freaking adorable.
Meghan @ fitnesscrEATures
Girl stop. I can’t handle all the beauty that you get to enjoy. First you live in the most gorgeous of all the states and now you’re in my other favorite spot!! I’m so jealous!!! But that’s awesome that you get to jog up to get coffee and other things. I absolutely love my coffee the same way you do. If I can see through it, we have issues. However, I do love my Starbucks flavored drinks… don’t ever take a white chocolate mocha out of my hands unless you want to see a whole other side of me.. enjoy the rest of your vacation beautiful!!!
hisnhershealthynhappy
I didnt know that!! And I drink a lot of coffee. So light roast has LESS caffeine? My mind is blow right now.
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Black coffee all the way. I can handle a little foam, but even when I get a cappuccino, I ask for it bone dry so that it has a really intense coffee flavour. Lattes are way too milky for me. And I remember being completely boggled by the idea that lighter roasts have more caffeine… Nothing is as it seems…
Oh, and I love walking/biking to run errands, but definitely NOT at this time of the year… and my dogsled is in the shop, so I have to resort to using the car 😉
brickhousechick
I had no idea darker meant less caffeine! You are always educating me, Brittany! 🙂
Laura
I am so particular about my coffee and I really only drink Starbucks when I’m not at home. At Starbucks, I order a Venti pike place (or Christmas Blend) with two in hear of soy milk… Yes, I order in inches! 🙂
Brittany
You’re not even close to the only one that orders in inches!! 😉
katalysthealth
OMG sprouts…that place is like my heaven. So many bulk bins!! And you cant beat the prices on their produce. I swear it’s the cheapest I have ever seen. And Im with you girl, I like my coffee how I like my men, dark, strong and black…oh wait…. 😉
But I do like me some dark coffee!!
Brittany
Bahaha I love saying that line about coffee and men, except it’s not even true really..but I still go with it!
A Tablespoon of Liz
I always think that I like coffee… flavored coffee at least. Then I’m disappointed when it doesn’t taste like the flavor. (For example- Dunkin Donuts chocolate donut coffee tastes like maybe someone dipped a chocolate donut in it.) The moral of the story is, I don’t like coffee, haha.
jessiebearwhat
Coffee you can see through?! No thank you!
Amy
I’m right there with you — give me the flavor, not the caffeine!! I had no idea about dark vs light roasts and the caffeine content… That’s super good to know! 🙂 I’m SO jealous your dad lives near Sprouts! I’m not sure if it’s vegan (probably not), but I love their dark chocolate covered honeycomb. My friend bought me some as a hostess gift last spring, and I devoured it SO quickly. Absolutely amazing!
And heck yes, I love walking to the grocery store! That’s partially why we live where we currently do… It’s only about a 1/2-mile round trip to the grocery store and back. Perfect for sunny day walks!
Brittany
Technically the honeycomb isn’t vegan..HOWEVER I eat honey..so I am a fraud haha. I’ll have to see if there is any dairy in the chocolate, because that sounds SO GOOD!
Amy
I was always tempted to eat honey during my vegan phase… I hate bees because their stings hurt, so sneaking a little honey every now and then didn’t seem like a huge crime! 😉 At least it’s dark chocolate, so there IS a chance it’s dairy-free!!
Luv What You Do
We made the most amazing egg nog lattes this weekend with soy milk. Yum!
That looks like a beautiful place to run! Happy 2014!
Katy @ iFuckingLoveFitness
I love my coffee with a splash of skim milk.. that is all. I can’t take the bitterness / strong taste of black coffee.
Matt @ Runner Savvy
Black with a splash of milk for me!
PNWRunner
I haven’t tried the VIA packets yet, but I have heard that they are good. I dont drink coffee often, but when I do it is typically a skinny vanilla latte or mocha. Yum! I rarely even drink the entire thing. It’s more of a treat for me. I walk when I can especially when the Seattle weather permits!
ahellams
Thank god you fixed that cup of coffee, that is an abomination, haha!! So glad you are having a great time with your family and running in a beautiful, non-freezing place!
jessielovestorun
If theres any one fact I know is 100% true about you, it’d be your love for coffee. You my dear are the coffee queen =) Ha Ha!
Brittany
Haha I know, I know…I talk about it wayyy too much!
Mary
Beautiful views!
alexvegginout
I’m not a coffee drinker, so I can’t exactly relate, but I’m pretty sure my parents would agree with you… they have to make their own coffee every morning or they complain that it’s too weak. Perhaps someday I’ll understand 😉
I used to love riding my bike to the grocery store, but since my bike got stolen, I haven’t done that for a while. 😦 I always want to run to the store, but I lose a bit of control while buying food, and think I would be too weighted down to run back…haha
B.
For some reason I have this crazy affinity for walking to coffee shops. Maybe it’s something about being warmed up with my favorite beverage after or a cold walk or being cooled down with my favorite (iced) beverage after a hot walk…but I appreciate my coffee/latte so much more when I walk to get it.
I still haven’t run to get any coffee yet. I’m not sure most coffee shops and Starbucks are ready for my red sweatiness!
An Unrefined Vegan
Dear Barista Brittany,
I prefer my soy latte with no foam. Hey, I ain’t payin’ for bubbles – I want more coffee and milk! But when I order lattes this way, I’m often told that “that isn’t a latte” or my request is just flat out ignored completely and I get a big cup of warmish foam. It makes me sad and mad. Like a coffee leper. So, tell me the truth: do baristas look down on no-foam-latte people?
– Foamless in Oklahoma
PS (I have to add that the baristas at Starbucks make my latte with no foam about 99% of the time.)
allieksmith
I love to walk anywhere (as long as it’s semi-warm!!) for anything haha. I had no idea about the caffeine content of light vs. dark roast!! And YES to foamy lattes!
Missy
See through coffee? Crime against humanity.
Even I know that and I am not a big coffee person.
JUST NO!
Life After Swimming
I used to LOVE to bike/run/walk everywhere when I was in Shippensburg. I am still getting familiar with this area though. I also haven’t ever tried black coffee. I don’t know if I can do it! haha
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Coffee should not be see through. Get that weak shit out of here.
I drive to the store always, but I would love to start biking. I just need a bike. Minor detail.
Rach @ This Italian Family
We ended up at Starbucks over Christmas too! Though we drove there, haha! And several times. 😉 My cup is always all marked up too so I hear ya. 🙂
P
I love running/walking to stores/cafes/restaurants! So eco-friendly, and it’s a great motivator to get a run in and then reward yourself afterwards by buying something afterwards :P.
Melissa @ Al Forno Mementos
since you live in seattle .. I’m guessing you’ve been to the original starbucks? haha my brother got to go there during his business trip and got me a tumbler from them! hoping one day I can go myself! 😛
blissfulbritt
Heck yes I’ve been there! I’ve only been inside once because it’s always so busy, but I’ve walked by it many times.
di @ life of di.
I’m a huge fan of drip coffee too. There are very few flavored coffees I’ll drink but there are a few 🙂 My Starbucks order is: Venti Blonde Roast, no room!