EEEKKKK!!!! I've become a coffee drinker!

I have to admit, I've never really been a coffee drinker. The only times I can recall really enjoying coffee is when I was a kid. I would sneak a sip of my grandmother's cold coffee (which was mostly cream) while she was cleaning house.

I have always been a hot tea drinker. Dark English Breakfast tea with Sweet-n-Low and a little evaporated milk. There's nothing better than that with a piece of my Aunt's homemade shortbread.

One day....many weeks ago...while at a meeting with a friend/colleague/mentor and all around great guy, I was introduced into the world of coffee. That was all it took. I kept saying to him, "I don't like coffee." He suggested Chai Tea as an alternative. I replied that I had tried it and didn't care for it.) So, he suggested the Milky Way Blast at Taylor Books. When the Taylor Book staff member described it, I got a mental image of a milkshake with a hint of coffee. (I know, how dumb??) I wasn't disappointed, though. It is a frozen delight with milk, espresso, and caramel and chocolate syrups. As the great Rachel Ray says, "YUMM-O!!!!" That day, I was hooked!

I work in St. Albans, but days that I am anywhere near downtown, I give the City of Charleston some meter money and visit Taylor Books for a Milky Way Blast. Since the first day of being a coffee drinker, I have tried a few at Starbucks and one at Capitol Roasters. (The German Chocolate one is great at Roasters!)

One of the drinks that I tried at Starbucks was not great. It was a frozen drink (like Taylor's Blast) but it had chocolate syrup and mint chips. It was not that great and for the price, it REALLY wasn't that great. I'll stick to my Taylor drink, thank you!

Then, this morning....I went to the United Way Day of Caring event in Charleston and I stopped at Starbucks at the mall (only because I was already parked at the Civic Center...otherwise, I would have went to Taylor!) So, anyways...I got a Caramel Macchiato. I wanted something warm for a change. OKAY YUM again! Actually something from Starbucks that is worth "wow-ing" over. My friend got a Pumpkin iced thing and it was good too.

So, while Starbucks has a few things worth trying, I'll stick to the local Taylor Books. The people are great and the coffee is great too!

So, a special thanks to the wonderful (and local) Taylor Books who has some great stuff! (and my friend who suggested giving coffee another try!)