Coffee and Anime

I love coffee and anime with the same fervor. In fact, I can't imagine going through a single day without having a small dose of both. The only difference is that I have been appreciating coffee long before I ever became interested in anime.

It should therefore come as no surprise that the prospect of combining two of my favorite things will always have my undivided attention. So in this post, I am giving in to my fondness for both by focusing on scenes -- real or imagined -- featuring anime characters (a few of them look familiar, some not so much) drinking/serving coffee inside or outside a coffeehouse.

matcha latte

It's cold. It's been raining for hours now. And it's such a struggle to maintain my focus when all I really want to do right now is to hit the snooze button and sleep for at least 10 hours.

But I can't, because I have tons of work to finish and that dreaded word -- deadline -- is hanging over my head with ever-increasing pressure. So I'm wishing for the next best thing: a soothing, invigorating cup of matcha latte, preferably prepared the way Mochicream Cafe makes 'em.

A Starbucks Freebie

Yesterday I got lucky again and got myself another free drink from Starbucks.

As I was paying for my order (a tall hot latte and a waffle), the cashier pulled out this extra long receipt and wrote something on it before giving it to me with a smile.


It took me a while to figure out what she was saying, but the gist was that I've just earned myself a free drink (of my choice) on my next visit to any Starbucks store -- that is, after completing several steps, the first of which is the log on to their customer survey page (MyStarbucksVisit) using the 16-digit code found on the receipt.

Latte Art

Latte art is a method of preparing coffee created by pouring steamed milk into a shot of espresso and resulting in a pattern or design on the surface of the resulting latte. It can also be created or embellished by simply "drawing" in the top layer of foam (Wikipedia)

Latte art is one aspect of coffeemaking that combines fun, art and technology. At a glance it looks rather like a whimsical and playful activity, but it is actually a serious topic for baristas around the world, because it requires learning a painstaking technique, a certain amount of precision and dedication to pull off, as well as a basic knowledge of chemistry.

Of Coffee Cups and Coffee Mugs

When we drink our coffee, typically our main focus is on the beverage itself (taste, temperature, amount of sugar, amount of cream/milk), and not so much on the cup or mug (and saucer, for some). And for those who are on the go, a paper mug or a styrofoam cup is usually a practical and convenient choice.

But for those who have the time and inclination to linger over (or savor) their drink and the social act itself, sometimes the cup or mug -- its size, design, color, or texture -- can become a convenient focus of one's attention during conversation lulls.

We're all familiar with the functional (and somewhat uninspiring) white-cup-and-saucer setup, and the usual variations of the mug-with-a-handle outline, but occasionally we do get surprised by the odd, whimsical, unusual, sleek, and kitschy cup designs.

Another Week, Another Blog

I wasn't supposed to open another blog (not for a few months yet, anyway) -- but for some reason it has been slowly creeping into my attention that in most of the blogs that I had created in the past, sooner or later coffee-related posts would eventually comprise about 20% to 30% of my posts. I remember thinking one day, if this goes on I might as well just start a coffee blog and let the whole thing take off on its own.