A Coffee Shop, Opportunity, and a Sense of Adventure

How adventurous are you? What about with trying new things? Are you quick to try something new whether it's a food, new drink or a new experience altogether or do you find comfort in the routine?

At one particular coffee shop I frequent, I was faced with the opportunity to be adventurous on numerous occasions. Two of which stand out to me the most and led to two very different outcomes.

Each experience offered me a valuable reminder on the importance of taking a chance on adventure and trying something new.

First experience

The Breve Latte

When I visit one of my local coffee shops, I usually get that one of the same few things: an iced mocha, a chai latte or a simple vanilla cold brew.

Usually.

This time, however, I decided that I would get something different. A little shake up from the same old, same old. I glanced at the drinks one by one as the barista greeted me.

Iced mocha. Nah. Only had that like a million times.

Chai latte? Had that last time!

Then my eyes fell further down the list on a drink called a breve.

After reading the brief description, I was enticed.

“I’ll have the brev-ey.” I said with certainty to the barista. Was I even pronouncing it right?

A breve is an expresso coffee drink that is made with steamed half and half. It is also referred to as a breve latte or a caffe breve.

I also got to choose what flavor to add to the drink. I chose chocolate.

The breve was served in a short glass and had a frothy top layer. It was filled to the brim as I carefully carried it back to my table.

I took a slow sip being especially mindful of the flavor. The sweetness and the bold taste of the expresso blended well together. The breve was smooth and creamy but not too overly indulgent.

I will most certainly order it again. Next time, I’ll change it up with a different flavor. Maybe vanilla.

Second Experience

The drink with turmeric

I stopped at the same coffee shop I had gotten the breve latte and decided that I wanted to try something different again from the usual I get. But what?

As I looked over their featured drinks of the month, my eyes caught a drink called “Electro Heart”.

This coffee shop is always concocting up some wild drinks!

I read the ingredients which included pineapple and turmeric and two other ingredients I can’t recall now. I already knew turmeric had a strong bitter taste but ignored the hesitant voice in my head telling me to reconsider.

“This drink is an acquired taste just so you know,” the barista said. “It’s more bitter than sweet.”

“I’ll try it,” I said ignoring the barista’s fair warning.

The drink came in a tall cylinder-shaped glass with the ingredients layered. It was quite a conversation starter too as the table next to me noticed the drink and asked about it.

I stirred then took a few first sips, slow.

Wow! That is strong!

While it wasn’t an alcoholic drink (they don’t serve alcoholic drinks), it had the same feeling of drinking one. That feeling where you just need to take a few sips to allow your tastebuds to get used to the drink.

As I sipped and caught up on some reading, it seemed like it took forever until I had finished my drink.

What was I thinking to get a drink with turmeric in it? 😅

Finally, I had finished my drink with just barely a layer left on the bottom.

I sat the near empty glass on the counter and thanked the barista before leaving.

Well, that was fun! But next time, I think I’ll go with my usual.

Two very different drinks. Two very different results. A life lesson on taking chances learned from both.

Both of these experiences were a great lesson on being adventurous and trying new things because if I had not been a little adventurous and tried these drinks, then I would have never known if I would have liked them or not.