making my way

the latte. it has taken me 26 years to try the classic latte. and my oh my, i really like it.

i never particularly liked coffee or espresso, except for their flavor equivalents in ice cream or gelato. there was something about the bitterness that through me off, almost like a metallic taste that lingered relentlessly. i was always surprised by my distaste for coffee, given that i eat 88% dark chocolate by the  bucketful. and if you've ever had 88% dark chocolate, then you understand how bitter it is. for a morning pick-me-up or afternoon jolt, my choice beverage was always tea. coffee never seemed to have a place with me.

until this past week.

my aversion to coffee/espresso has limited me. in paris. in seattle. at the hipster-esque joints sprinkled throughout la. when g brews his coffee in his french press, my heart aches at the thought of him drinking it alone. i want to feel that excitement of trying a new roast, of deciphering different flavor profiles. i want to go back to costa rica and buy its precious coffee beans. i want to sit in the cafes in paris and order a cafe au lait with mama this october. basically, i needed to get out of this rut and make my way into coffeeland.

so i took myself out to a gem-of-a-coffeeshop and ordered my very first latte. to ease me into this other-world, i ordered it with almond milk. i paid for it, took it to my table, took a gentle sip, and then died and went to heaven with its silky loveliness. with the slightest layer of foam and hint of creaminess, i was pleasantly surprised by how subtle the bitter taste eased onto my tongue. i took another sip, and another, until my cup was left with streaks of espresso stains. 

it was a victorious day, a coming-of-age, if you will. i now look forward to drinking more lattes and venturing out into this grandiose world of coffee...and, you know, joining the rest of the adult population.