I remember having my first cuppa coffee with my godfather, Uncle Ed, at a Wendy's when we were on a break. It was my first "official job," and he was a contract office cleaner guy. He'd drive me around in his pickup and we'd vacuum and wipe-down and take the trash out of offices and stuff like that. He coached me through my first cup. Although he took his black, he suggested I put in a lot of sugar so I could "handle it." I still remember reading all those old-timey advertisements on the table at Wendy's while we finished our cups.
I do have to mention that corporate-owned coffee chain, if for just a moment. I worked my way through college at one of those places, and became the go-to barista for the morning rush. My personal favourite was the Americano: hot or iced
water and espresso. After finding that love, there was no need for creamer, sweetener, or additives of any kind. I would joke (well, I still do) about how that drink described my ideal lover, in lots of colourful simile I'll omit here. I opened the store most weekdays, and went in early, like 4am, "to make sure the espresso machine was working." I'd make an Americano, then have a half-hour to myself before any other staff showed up to open the store. Quietest time in that
city.
After I stopped working there (it was a good 4+ years), I stopped supporting that company in particular altogether. I'll just keep it at that.
Nowadays I have a handful of friends in different parts of the country who roast their own beans, and I go out of my way to either pick up a few pounds or regularly order from them and have their beans shipped to where I live. Although nowadays I brew my coffee then store it in an insulated thermos, I reckon I'll steal some of these cold-brew recipes you all have posted here and try them out.
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