There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
But here's the thing: I need energy. In the afternoon, I often find myself drowsy and have to resort to energy formulas to get some pep back (Currently using Gfuel and it works well for me).
So here's my question for you: How can I get into drinking coffee? Should I even bother, or would I be better off drinking some alternative or doing something else entirely?
I first tried energy drinks but the cons to it were too overwhelming to justify keeping to them (expensive, sugary, high acidity). I decided to try coffee.
The toughest part of coffee is when you first start learning to brew. You have to figure out what you like. A beans flavor profile can vary so much. - Origin (geographical location) - Age pre-roast - Roast method (cinnamon roast all the way to italian roast) - Age post-roast (time from roast until brew) - Ground or Whole Bean ( whole bean keeps the flavor significantly more intact) - Method of grinding - brew method -- water temperature -- water (minerals, etc) -- brew time -- pressure and I'm sure im missing parts to it.
BUT don't let this overwhelm you
Once you find what you like, oh it is just amazing
but don't fret! Coffee just doesn't sit well in some people's stomachs. in that case, maybe try tea?
Once you're in a good spot with that, then have a look at doing some cold/hot brew at home, pick up an Aeropress ($30-40), hand held grinder ($40-60 and a good quality locally roasted coffee bean, and get to work on brewing at home. You can swap out the aeropress with a filter holder and filters for pot over brewing too.
Drip, press, pourer coffee has much more caffeine than espresso based drinks, so take note if you are inclined to PSL it this festive season.
I love my chocolate milk, and recognize I've offered you an entry into coffee with lots of fat and sugar. But you will find over time the you can back off the volumes of both as your palate gets tuned into the coffee you like.
There are times I want coffee, and times I want caffeine. And If I want caffeine when I don't want coffee, I would much rather spend a penny or two on a pill than on a drink I don't want.