‘Midnight Bergamot Cold Brew is here…’
I’m usually an Americano-only kind of person, but last month, I randomly ordered Starbucks’ special drink, the Choux Cream Frappuccino with Panna Cotta, and it was so good that now I feel like I have to try every special drink that comes out. 🌟
Choux Cream Frappuccino with Panna Cotta felt like walking through a dream with every sip. I tried ordering it a few more times but ended up accidentally with a similar-looking Iced Cream Latte – they looked annoyingly alike – and then the season passed, and I couldn’t have it anymore. The thought that I might never taste it again was quite a downer for a while. 😔
Anyway, today I spotted a new seasonal drink on the menu, and without much thought, I ordered the pretty gradient Midnight Bergamot Cold Brew – the name is something – in a venti size. (I was super thirsty from biking.) The store was surprisingly empty, so my name was called quickly, and I got my hands on this massive transparent cup filled to the brim. How did they even manage to fill it like this? It looked like a sand bucket packed tightly, with the drink touching the lid’s bottom. Even from the side, the liquid level seemed higher than the cup. I thought, what a customer-loving barista! 😊
‘Hey, I added 20 grams more for you.’
It was my second time feeling so moved since the Baskin Robbins employee gave me a cheeky grin. The plastic lid had a straw hole, but it was covered, so to insert the straw, you had to lift the plastic cover and wedge it into the back groove. I don’t get why it couldn’t just have an open hole. 🤷♂️
‘Is it to keep the COVID-19 germs out?’
But it’s been like that for a decade. Anyway, lifting the plastic cover was tricky – maybe it wasn’t properly cut. As I tried lifting it, coffee gurgled out of the side grooves and back. Without a handle on the lid, and with my short nails, I felt like threading a needle for minutes, getting frustrated. Then, a brilliant idea flashed! 💡
There was a time in elementary school when the whole family went to the mountains. My uncle brought a large ice chunk, but there was no ice pick to crush it for drinks. Then, spotting a plastic bag big enough for the ice near the watermelons, I had an idea. I placed the ice in the bag and smashed it on rocks. It worked, but I ended up bruising my finger between the ice and rocks, sporting a bandage for a week. Of course, the family enjoyed their iced coffee. (Not me, as my finger was too sore.)
‘Why don’t I just use the straw to push the cover inside?’
Such genius! Even Steve Jobs might not have thought of this. I gently pushed the cover with the straw, but nothing happened. So, with a furrowed brow, I applied a bit more force. 😅
‘Pop~’
With a loud noise, the cover was pushed inside, and coffee filled to the brim splashed everywhere – on my clothes, bag, table, chair, face, and hair. For a moment, I couldn’t understand what just happened. Was the barista secretly plotting against me? Meeting an unexpected waterfall-fountain on a warm day, the couple across from me gave a refreshing expression. Without words, they seemed to say:
‘Thanks for the cool fountain show that washed away the heat.’
I smiled back slightly, acknowledging their silent thanks. 😊
It wasn’t that hot anyway…
Summer’s still far away, you know. 🌞
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