During our Christmas celebration, Pelé chuckled with chagrin and announced "We really do turn into our parents as we get older."
Pelé is a bit of a hedonist and is usually very conscious of how other perceive him.
Then Pelé shared that he started drinking instant coffee in the morning.
Like all coffee, instant coffee starts to go rancid quickly once opened, so he buys small jars of it and tosses them after three weeks. The main reason he gave for making instant instead of purchasing foo-foo coffee from an boutique-outlet overstaffed with theater-kids is that it means he can sleep in another 10 minutes. The cost savings is a side-benefit. He is spending $4 every 15 working days instead of $120 (if you include the tip).
It is as if somebody is paying him $8 to sleep in. Brilliant!
Pelé is 34 years-old.
""We really do turn into our parents as we get older." I'm luckier than that: my wife is turning into my mother rather than her own.
ReplyDeleteAs for me: it's certainly true that I reflect more and more on my father, my later childhood, and my youth. I'd probably reflect on my early childhood too if I could remember anything about it.
I buy the big jar and use it until empty. Thought the odd flavor was just my upper lip... Roger.
ReplyDeleteSame here - besides, the first cup is down before I taste it. A little funny flavor works for me as long as it doesn't decrease the caffeine kick.
DeleteOne of the curses of Covid is non more bank lobby coffee speaking of cheap. Roger
ReplyDeleteI am shocked how much like my father I have become.
ReplyDeleteI, on the other hand, am happy to have finally become like my father.
DeletePercolated coffee from a pot as old as I am. "Off the shelf" coffee too. I have a couple of jars of instant "just in case" though...
ReplyDeleteIt's oddly funny that we are surprised to become like our parents.
ReplyDeleteI give that young man credit for outgrowing expensive cafe coffees although the getting paid to sleep in is a sigh. One step at a time :-)
Really unless you had a poor example of a father you should be proud that you grew up to be worthy to be his son.
Put it in the freezer, and you can keep it for years (at least nobody dared complain). My parents didn't drink coffee, but kept a jar of Folger's in the freezer for visitors (specifically, one relative and one friend). After I got married, we had some relatives periodically come over for dinner, who needed coffee after, so I adopted the practice, thus taking the first step towards being my parents. Starting to make my own jelly a couple years later, when the mint took over the backyard, was a big second step.
ReplyDeleteYou can save even more time and money if you forgo coffee entirely. It's one habit I never acquired. Kind of ironic since I can get my coffee free. I have a daughter and two son in laws who work for a Starbucks roasting plant and have access to free coffee. But I never developed a taste for it and rarely drink it.
ReplyDeleteIf it is just the caffeine someone is after (as opposed to the ritual, or having a hot drink) one can buy a bottle of caffeine capsules. For example, Nutricost 100 mg caffeine capsules, 500 count, is $17.95 on iherb. Caffeine content in coffee varies but averages 140 mg. Quicker to prepare than instant coffee, and if one takes two capsules, for 200mg, it would cost about 7cents per day, or $1.07 for 15 days. The caffeine capsules might take a bit longer to take effect than the liquid coffee.
ReplyDeleteA simple funnel-like, one-cup brewer and adventure blend ground coffee from Aldis ($6.47/12oz) is just as quick and easy as instant. And a whole lot better
ReplyDeleteI very often make the coffee in our office (I'm the 1st person in every day). I've learned that after the 4 scoops in coffee basket, simply pouring water without removing old grounds works just fine. If you want to add half a scoop after three more cups of water, just as good.
ReplyDeleteSort of like toothpaste - you don't have to cover the entire bristle brush. A pea sized amount of toothpaste will do just fine and tube will last much longer.