Changes...

So...that second job I mentioned took more time than I realized. And it was set up in such a way that I just...couldn't make it work, without changing my schedule. And once I changed my schedule, it took a while to get adjusted...which I dunno if I really am...but...

Excuses, y'know. But the point is, I'm back. And ready to try again. But with a twist...

I'm not so sure about this coffee shop thing as an immediate goal. Maybe some day, but as my next career move? Nah uh. No thanks.

So...does that mean I like coffee, or coffee shops, or coffee paraphanelia less? Absolutely not.

I'm still in search of the right blend...but just reasonably sure it won't be my own for the next few years.

So watch this space for more coffee loving stuff, including

• Coffee shop reviews!
• Coffee drink recipes!
• Coffee blend reviews!
• Coffee fiction! (?)
• Coffee tool tips!
• and probably more...

Mugs

Call me crazy...but I think what holds the coffee is important. Not as important as the coffee inside...oh no no. But when I'm at home, I gravitate towards certain mugs. Whether because it's a style, or a color, or a message. I like my Billy Joel 2008 mug, for instance, because I love the hell outta that guy and got to see him in concert this year. I also have a half-size mug I picked up when my grandmother moved, and it's just so small and unusual looking I can't help but use it.

Most coffee shops give you a disposable cup by default. My one complaint about Dunkin Donuts is they use styrofoam cups...I mean, c'mon now. That stuff will be puzzling the archaelogists for eaons. I think the paper cups that White Castle use really are part of the flavor...you can't help but pick up some of it as the coffee flows through the mouthpiece. Paper is also nice because you can recycle it, and make the cups themselves out of recycled material (watch for that when I open my shop).

Something that just tickles me pink when I go to a coffee shop is when they offer a mug to their dine-in customers. Caribou does this (I believe...though now that I've typed it I'm 2nd guessing myself). Lookout Joe's does for sure. I've even seen Starbucks do it. It makes the shop that much more like home, makes my Wednesday night date or meeting that much more like Saturday morning at home.

So...I think...when I open my shop, there will be an emphasis on providing mugs. Not some standard set from Sysco. Maybe thrift store mugs. A mismatched set. Odd looking ones. Different sizes. Something to provide character, because character brings in repeat business:

Cafe Hound Joe: "Man, I really want some coffee, but...no idea where I want it from."
Cafe Hound John: "What about that place with all the crazy mugs?"
Cafe Hound Joe: *Floors accelerator*

Or something like that. Joe and I were much better at remembering the names of places, for one thing.

More about the selection process, later. But for now, think about it. Do you like a place for coffee because of their cups? Do you hate a place because of their cups? Are you more or less indifferent?

Life Rears It's Ugly Head

So one of the keys to getting a coffee shop off the ground is having the savings to live off of before you actually make money.

Right now, I'm carrying a bit too much debt and have precious little savings. This necesitates a 2nd job, which at first I thought would only be a couple days a week, and wouldn't slow me down much.

However, somewhere in my development I picked up a few things that are detrimental to having an easy time at work:

1. Work ethic (I don't like standing around at work)
2. Initiative (There's spilled food on the floor...so I clean it up)
3. Ability to grasp simple concepts (If the sticker says 16" pizza, the sticker goes on a 16" box!)

This means I now have more hours than I know what to do with. I like this, because money is nice. I may actually have enough soon to actually buy coffee from a shop someday soon.

How does this affect you? I'm getting jealous of my free time, and need to scale back the blogging. For the time being, I'll only be posting once a week, on Wednesdays. I'll make sure they're of amped-up quality and worth the wait, but otherwise can offer nothing but apologies if this disappoints.

Thanks for the eyeballs!