Happy Valentine’s Day!!!! Yeah for some anyway......

The happy and in love revel in it, smugly smile and boast about their loved ones spoilings, and the single and longing loudly claim “it’s just commercial bullshit anyway.”

Should Valentine’s Day be just about the flowers, gifts and chocolates?

When we look back at the noble origins of the day, it all began with St Valentine. He lived at a time when the Roman’s persecuted Christians and was said to have been executed for secretly marrying soldiers to their loved ones, who were forbidden to marry as it was believed this made them better soldiers.

The legend has been embellished over the years. But it is said that while he was imprisoned St Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer and then wrote before his execution “from your Valentine” as a farewell to her.

Chaucer, Shakespeare, Donne and Spenser and many more have written Valentine verse as have most of us in the throes of adoration and love.

Isn’t it funny that when we’re in love and content, Valentine’s Day feels like a magical day filled with love that compels you to profess your adoration to the one closest to your heart. So why be so cynical during the “love drought” of 2013?

So keeping all of this in mind, if you’re single and have no official Valentine, remember that St Valentine sacrificed his life to bring others happiness. So tomorrow wish ALL those you love a happy Valentine’s Day and in doing so celebrate and honour the memory of a man who put the love of other’s before his own and filled many lives with love.

New Year’s Resolutions, what was I thinking?

January  1^st: It’s that time of year again. I’ve just come off the tail end of the ultimate bender. Christmas and New Year have combined into one massive overindulgent feast and the ultimate weapon of restitution has presented itself, The New Year’s resolution.

Woo Hoo, I'm going to be able to fit back into my favourite shorts and not be harpooned at the beach, if I just stick too my simple New Year’s resolution, to eat and drink healthily and start up a new exercise regime.  I will definitely not consume coffee, fatty foods, chocolate, cakes and alcohol. I will definitely dust off my gym membership and use it at least 3 times a week, pick up that tennis racquet and pound out a couple of forehand winners at least twice a week, use those Christmas vouchers to the Sydney Dance company and continue to attend classes at least once a week, Swim a k run a mile and do my 30 minute pilates routine every second day.

January 2^nd: PUMPED! Just Finished my pilates and went for a swim, um more like a paddle, but hey my head went under the water for more than 30 seconds, so swim accomplished. Oh have decided running is not for me after watching Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Walking is so much more civilised.

January 4^th. OOPS guess that Chocolate Martini was not part of the plan

January 7^th: Crap!!! Second day back at work, sooooo tired from all the exercise, really need a coffee. No will be strong and abstain.

January 9^th: Who am I kidding, I’m not cut out for this tennis thing, it’s so much more fun to watch it on the TV.

January 12^th. How on earth can I not eat cake today, it’s my BFF’s birthday. Still no coffee, I’m a star.

January 15^th: It’s all gone out the window I’ve eaten everything I said I wouldn’t and have not done anything I said I would. What was I thinking? New Year’s Resolutions, New Years Resolutions, New Years Bloody Resolutions. AAAHHH need a coffee STAT!!!!!

January 16^th: Have realised the error of my ways, it is supposed to be a New Year’s Resolution, not, New Year’s Resolutions.

January 17^th: Have resolved that for future years, no more resolutions!

Why the torment, what was I thinking

January 25th: WOO HOO, have decided to treat myself to a delicious cup of coffee everyday, and in doing so everything else will fall into place. Fingers crossed.

We all know fresh is best, there is no argument there. Whether it be produce, poultry, flowers or coffee, especially coffee! Everyone boasts freshly ground, but is it really fresh? Freshly ground likely, but freshly roasted, now that's a big ask......

A lot of coffee served locally is sourced from overseas and more often than not is shipped here already roasted and packed, then loaded into cargo containers. 3 months enjoying an overseas cruise, then waiting on clearance from customs, to the factory and then to you. Only a "few" months after leaving the roasters pot.

Some people argue that vacuuming sealing, maintains the freshness, which does help, but does it maintain optimum freshness and flavour?

We should savor and enjoy our coffee with all our senses. Does it carry that intoxicating aroma, can you visibly see the thick golden crema, or begin to sense the affect of the coffee even before it reaches your lips......?

My preference is local roast, local delivery. Sometimes I get the coffee too fresh and have to give it a week for the oils to settle. Like other produce, coffee is a natural product, that we play with to optimize taste and effect. So isn't fresh best....?

Yes!!!!!! Rhetorical question. You can't and won't convince me otherwise.

Our Baristas at the Hyde Park Barracks Cafe, play with the grind daily. The roast changes with the weather and climate, so it has to be altered for optimum quality, texture and flavour.

I often get asked what coffee we use, Calima, with a "C", roasted in Australia with Columbian beans. "Where can I buy it?" "Right here, at the Hyde Park Barracks Cafe," I say. The general consensus is that it's a great cup of coffee, full bodied flavour, no sugar required. In most coffee dens, I have to add sugar, as the coffee is way too bitter and acidic on the palate, and I normally don't have sugar in my coffee.

I don't want to sound like a snob, all I really want is a good cup of coffee! I'm even happy to to pay extra for it, if it means the person making it is a professional who understands the logistics of making a good coffee. Now think about it, you want the best, you've got to have the best and be willing to pay for it.

Even hairdressers have embraced the concept, "you get what you pay for." Some Salons offer different levels of stylists at increasing prices, dependent on the stylist's skill set and experience. I'm not saying that we in the coffee industry should go as far as creating "Coffee Stylists," but I'm totally apposed to the concept of the $1.00 coffee or coffee as an add on and afterthought.

So if at the end of the day it costs me a dollar or two more for a great cup of coffee, I'm not going to complain, and now that you know all about the importance of a truly fresh grind, neither should you.

Personally I'm a massive Chai fan, but as we all know Chai is not everyone's cup of Tea.

What is it about that aromatic blend of delicious spices, that drives some people crazy? Have these anti Chaistars actually tried a good Chai? Maybe I've just hit the nail on the head. Maybe most of the Chai haters out there have been disillusioned by a really crappy Chai. I'm fortunate enough to have tried the perfect Chai. In fact our amazing Baristas at HPBC make an awesome Chai, whether it's full cream, skim or soy milk, it's always Chairiffic.

However, I will be the first to admit that sometimes a Chai just doesn't cut it. There are those mornings, when a coffee hit is the only thing that will jumpstart higher brain function. So even though I'm a self confessed Chai Lover, I'm not a total convert. I suppose a good hot beverage is like anything in life, in order to be truly fulfilling there needs to be a little variety.

So as our famous Barista Jimmy says, "If at first you don't like Chai, Chai and Chai again."

Decaf, Soy, Skim, Lite, Weak, Regular, Double Shot, Triple Shot, 2%, 4%, Caramel, Hazelnut, Mocha, White Chocolate, Iced, Spiced, so many variations where will it end?

What happened to enjoying a classic cup of espresso coffee, touch of milk, touch of sugar, perfect..............

I'm not saying we should revert to the bland old days of filtered coffee, God knows I'm the first one to order tea on a plane, but I am beginning to wonder whether a plethora of coffee options is reflective or even partly responsible for the general populace of Sydney's need for over stimulation and lack of commitment.

So you stand in line for 10 minutes, in need of your morning caffeine hit. You get to the front of the line and the Barista asks "What can I get you?"

You look at them blankly and have no idea what you want.

"Just a coffee," you say.

The Barista looks at you with disdain, (they're very busy you see, so many docile people in need of caffeine) and asks "What type of coffee would you like?"

"Flat White thanks," you answer.

"What size?" they ask, as if addressing a dim witted child. "Any sugar, have here or take away?"

Now these are simple questions, why do we find it so hard to answer them even after waiting 10 minutes in line and listening to the Barista ask the 5 people in front of us the exact same questions. Is it a matter of too many questions, too many choices, too many things to think about?

The World is a serious place and full of many life altering decisions, but coffee is not one of them. So, the Barista has to wait an extra 3 seconds until you decide what you want? That's fine. If Sydney and the rest of the planet have indeed gone mad, and coffee among other things can be served in a million and one ways, let's embrace it. Why can't we choose to have a triple shot, soy, white chocolate mocha, with a hint of hazelnut and 2 equals? Lets channel all those choices into positive energy and think of how lucky we are not to have to drink powdered coffee anywhere other than our Grandmother's kitchen.

So next time you're queuing for your morning coffee and pondering the day's serious decisions be bold and celebrate the madness. Once you get to the front of the line and you don't know what you want, try something different, look up at the menu board, and randomly pick your morning caffeine hit. 

So I was having a lovely lunch with a girl friend who I haven't caught up with in a while who just happens to be lactose intolerant. On questioning the waiter "Do you have soy?" He disgustingly replies "I'll check". On his return he begrudgingly tells us "Madame, we DO NOT stock soy milk". My friend embarrassingly replies "Don't worry, normal milk is fine". Suffice to say I was surprised at her embarrassed reaction and said to her "You have nothing to be embarrassed about. It's 2012!" As the two "full cream milk" cappuccinos were PLONKED on our tables I glanced at my friend and laughing said " This will help with your lactose intolerance". The waiter walked away without a second glance.

When did we develop snobbery when it came to coffee? It is supposed be one of life's simple pleasures. I certainly know that there are some difficult people in the world, especially after 20 years in the food service industry, but allergies are not in the same category. A simple request for Soy milk did not warrant such an exaggerated reaction. Is it really that difficult, to stock a couple of bottles of long life soy milk? Walk into any Starbucks in the world and you'll see there is way to many choices. But I don't think I'm asking for much. So to all you Baristas, Restauranteurs, Coffee Shop Owners, Cafe Operators, Waiters and Coffee Aficionados hear this; Soy milk is not the enemy, rather it helps those who cannot enjoy the good graces of Beautiful cheeses, deliciously creamy desserts and yummy ice cream, enjoy one of life's simplest pleasures, Coffee.