I enjoy going to Starbucks, McCafe or Gloria Jeans once in a while after a hectic week at work to have that odd cup of coffee and enjoy the soothing jazz music in the background as I get absorbed in a novel or a magazine or even update posts in my blog. This helps me destress and unwind. Entering a near to empty coffee joint that offers good coffee and ambience is a welcoming experience in itself. The plush comfortable sofas and soft lighting enhance the decor making it somewhat feel like home. Having a place to chill out other than the home and away from the mania of the workplace is what Ray Oldenburg calls ‘The Third Place’. It’s a public place that one can go to for a chill-out session or to congregate for social meet-up sessions. The Third Place is a very welcoming place for me as I destress and shut my mind off work. The atmosphere, coffee and music make it a very relaxing experience for me as I happily sink into one of those cozy dark brown sofas and leisurely sip my beverage as I watch the world go by from the tinted glass window.
Coffee works as a perk me up in the mornings to me and I take just one cup a day. The beverage can also be a social drink to me, a beverage consumed when catching up with friends. Since I love chocolate and coffee, naturally I’d go for mocha that has the best of both.
If you feel like having a mocha at home on a cold winter’s day, try this. Make coffee using normal procedure. Heat 1/3 cup of milk in a microwave oven. Mix one heaped tablespoon of cocoa or Milo with two flat tablespoons of sugar at the bottom of the mug. Add a few tablespoons of the hot milk and stir to blend. Stir in the rest of the milk and then add the coffee. Sprinkle a dash of cocoa powder or cinnamon. If you want it to be rich, squeeze some whipped cream on the drink. Voila! You’ve made your very own mocha.