My life has been taken over by chemistry. If I’m not doing chemistry- I’m working. If I’m not working – I’m running. If I’m not running – I’m eating, and if I’m not eating – I’m sleeping. Catch my drift? It amazes me how I ever got through chemistry when I first started college a few years ago. Either I wasn’t dedicating enough time to the subject, or…no that’s about it.
I am now spending HOURS on my homework everyday, and I am only taking one class!
I found myself with a free afternoon last week and while I would have loved to be out exploring the mountains, time did not permit such an activity. Instead, I drove 40 minutes out of my way for a cup of coffee and some grocery shopping. Starbucks + Trader Joe’s = BlissfulBritt. <–corny.
Trader Joe’s wooed me with its fall themed charm, and infamously cheap squash. Where else can you buy all that squash pictured above for $10? No where I tell you..a single honey crisp will cost you $3, and a spag squash of this size could easily cost $6 elsewhere. Joe-Joe’s are priceless…
Conveniently tucked next door to this TJ’s is a Starbucks Reserve store. This is why I drove out of my way. Actually it’s the combination of the two stores, but this post has coffee in its title so I’ll focus on that. The Starbucks I work at is not a reserve store, so in order to enhance my coffee knowledge I like to try the rare coffees that these stores sell. Plus after 3 hours of straight chemistry I needed to study something I was actually passionate about.
Unfortunately what I asked for is not what I got. Knowing very little about these coffees (precisely why I want to try them) I asked the barista working which of the five they offered had the most cocoa notes. What he gave me happened to be the complete opposite, but I drank it anyway. This is what I get for not doing my homework before I walked through the door. Lesson learned.
I’m not a fan of “bright”/ highly acidic coffee’s, and this one was very citrus-y. I wouldn’t buy it again, but I took some notes to add to my memory bank, and now I know how to describe this blend. Mission accomplished. Coffee and squash made for the perfect afternoon.
While at TJ’s I briefly (all of 3 seconds) contemplated purchasing their pumpkin spice coffee. I realized how absurd this would have been due to the fact that I have pounds and POUNDS of (free) coffee at home, and all I needed to do was add my own spices to my french press. This morning that is exactly what I did. I added 1/4 tsp of pumpkin pie spices and 1/4 tsp of cinnamon to 5.5tblsp (and about 24oz H2O) of the already subtlety spiced blend Komodo Dragon.
Life is good.
Q: Do you ever go out of your way for something you really want? Food and coffee usually warrant an adventure.
Blissfulbritt 
46 thoughts on “Coffee Tasting for One”
wishfulthinking
YES…will totally go out of my way for something I want!!!
P
Oh man… o chem was definitely one of those classes that sucked up my time. But I did enjoy it more than inorganic chem!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
That e-card is hilarious.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
Oh yes! I will always go out of my way for a food adventure. It’s always worth it.
Bunny Eats Design
I love to travel for food adventures. Especially if it is rolled up in a bargain.
Kate @ Another Clean Slate
I don’t mind going out of my way for things I want. Trader Joe’s is out of my way but I like going every now and again.
apartmentwife
i didn’t know starbucks had reserve stores, but now i want to find one and try some secret blends 🙂 oh, and your equation? love it, but i’d argue something about running belongs in there…
Amy
To answer the question in your first picture… In a dry box. Always. Because otherwise, you get really big water peaks in your NMRs. And publications hate that. And make you retake them. Whew, I haven’t completely lost it all! 😉 Glad you’re surviving chemistry, and ohmyGOSH thank you for the reminder about TJ’s squash!! Definitely heading there this week. So excited!
Brittany
I love you. End of that story. This comment (specifically the beginning) completes this post.
Amy
Aww, I love you too! And I’m so glad my chemistry nerdiness can make someone else smile. 😉
di @ life of di.
I need to get to Trader Joe’s this week! I’m out of a few things and I want to pick up some of their pumpkin themed foods 🙂 Also – I didn’t realize they sold cheap sqaush! I will definitely make sure to get there now. I spend far too much money on squash during this time of year.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
The Hubby can feel your pain. He spends hours every single day studying, and he is not a fan of chemistry. I just give him great food, coffee and monkey love to keep his spirits up. I’d happily share the first two with you as well. 🙂
Brittany
I’d only accept the first two anyway, your husband mows over cat poo so who knows what he would do to me if I stole his monkey love!
Matt @ Runner Savvy
I will totally go out of the way for something I want!
Ellie
I do for sale items. If I know something [clothes, food etc] are on sale I will drive or walk to the farther location =)
Brittany
Walking makes it 10x better, and 10x more worth it.
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
Ahhh you’re never too old for a chloroform joke 😉
I love how detailed coffee can be. I really had no idea. I barely know dark vs. medium roasts haha. I really need to stock up on squash from TJ’s! I had no idea! And great idea adding the spices to the french press. Considering you already get free coffee that’s an obvious DUH 🙂
Melanie
Oh I can’t believe you got ALL of that pumpkin/squash/apples stuff for $10! Awesome. I love TJs and want to go there NOW. I wish there was one closer to my house, dang it, but I think I’ll make the 20 minute drive to the nearest one. I miss TJs!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
OMG. you say the world ‘squash’ and you get charged $10 in Australia.
I would go out of my way for a good restaurant which is warranted. Unfortunately, it’s not very common.
Brittany
OHH forget that Australian nonsense!! As much as I’d love to visit your lovely country, the price of squash just might scare me away.
Choc Chip Uru
If there is a bargain out there, my mum has her name on it 😛
If there is something out there I want, I will drive an hour for it 😀 So I totally get it!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
P.S. Good luck with chemistry – horrid subject I never touched!
Ashley
I will totally go out of my way for food. Specifically for ice cream… gotta try those cute little ice cream shops!
Charlotte
YES! I walk a mile out of my way to hit up whole foods. i’ll also walk a half-mile out of my way to go to the good thai place (which doesnt deliver whyyyy) but yeah i’ll get off my booty and pick it up. its that good.
Brittany
The fact that you walk makes it 10x better, because it costs you NOTHING TO GET THERE!
Rach @ This Italian Family
Oh man, I go out of my way for food all the time. Like way more than I should, haha! Also, I need to get to a Starbucks Reserve store!
Aja
I wish I had something other than just Safeway, Fred Meyer, and Grocery Outlet where I live. I’m glad you seem to be enjoying your chemistry stuff, though. I actually liked high school chemistry. Don’t forget to take more time for yourself!
Brittany
I am FAR from enjoying chemistry, in fact it’s the bane of my existence right now. I just have no choice but to devote all my time to it, otherwise I’ll surely fail!! I am going to take your advice and spend the rest of my evening blogging, aka ME TIME!
Christina Does It All
You get an A+ for always making me feel happy fall feelings. Aghhh Chemistry. I luckily was able to avoid that with my Comm major, but even easy peasy Biology had its challenging moments for me. I am NOT a science person. More power to you, girrlllllll.
Christina Does It All
You’ve also inspired me to visit my nearest Trader Joe’s ASAP
Khushboo Thadani (@KhushbooThadani)
I seriously love how much a coffee connoisseur you are!! Sooo I may or may not have driven over an hour on a few occasions to get my Pinkberry fix ;)!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Will travel for food! Will actually go all the way down to the States -just- to be able to hit up Whole Foods and Chipotle since we don’t have them up here in my neck of the woods. Okay, so I usually have more important reasons for heading south, but you better believe I’m always making sure to make pit stops at those two places!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
Eric Betzig, Stefan W. Hell and William E. Moerner are awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry — You need to hit these dudes UP!
Brittany
I totally heard this on NPR today, twins moment?
GiGi Eats Celebrities
BAHHH HA HA AH AHA HA HA AH AHA HA AH AHAH! SERIOUSLY THOUGH! Whenever I think or read anything about Chemistry, I think of you now! LOL!
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The Vegan 8
Oh yes, I go out of my way all the time! I live in Houston, TX where everything is a good driving distance for the cool stores. I have a lot of places near me, but I’m used to driving 30 mins or more to go places, so it’s totally normal and I don’t mind it at all! Your adventure sounds like fun but that stinks that he didn’t give you what you asked for….citrus coffee doesn’t sound too good!
Nicole Marie Story
Every. Single. Day.
But it’s not really out of my way if I want it, right? 😉
allieksmith
I have heard organic chemistry is really, really hard. More power to ya!! I’m glad you were able to get out and about to TJ’s and a Starbucks Reserve store!! I have heard that adding spices to coffee grounds is good, but I’ve never tired it! I didn’t know Komodo Dragon Blend could get any better. Yummm!
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Reason for Being Vegan
I have to drive 2 hours to get to Trader Joe’s, so I always stop there when I’m in St. Louis. I recently bought some of the pumpkin spice coffee and it was so good. After I ran out I dried some orange zest and added it with a little pumpkin pie spice to my regular coffee and it was pretty good, too!
Atheria
This post mentioned 2 of my favorite things! Starbucks (Keep drinking it as I need my stock to go up!) and Trader Joe’s! 🙂 I will also make pilgrimages to IKEA…6.5 hours away in Denver. Heck, when you are in love, you’re in love.
Atheria
Can I ask where you live? I’m suspecting the Pacific NW, but I’m not sure. I used to live in Portland, OR.
Brittany
You are correct, I live in Washington! Portland is just a hop skip and a jump away, I love that city! 🙂
Atheria
It must be hard to stay devoted to running in that climate! I need to start running (bone density issues…ugh) and can’t even handle sunny Albuquerque in the cold winter season. 🙂 I do yoga INDOORS instead. I love your perky (from caffeine?) energy! HA!
Brittany
Thank you!! YES it has been tough to stick with running, and I’ve been maxing out at 3 milers INSIDE! I’ve been a big fat wuss with the cold. HA.
E H Whitesides
I feel your love for TJ’s. I told my husband that one of my requirements for our “dream retirement home” is that there had to be a TJs I wouldn’t mind driving to at least 2x a month!