I was talking with an ex-manager of a Starbucks store recently and as he was telling me how much he hated Starbucks, which I hear often from ex-employees, he also told me how they burn their espresso roast and add oil to the beans. I have never heard of adding oil to coffee beans and can’t understand what effect this has on the product. I can find nothing online documenting this, I am not saying he is lying, but I would like to know why this is done. Any employees of Starbucks (ex or otherwise) or anyone else that might know the answer?

I am a coffee drinker. I drink less in the warm months than in the winter, moving to tea in the summer, but I still drink my share. Typically, I detest “American Coffee” or Sock Juice as I like to refer to it and stick with espresso but I just found a really good bean for Sock Juice. I picked up a bag of Ethiopian Yergacheffe on a hunch and this stuff is good! It is a very light roast and has flavors that I have never tasted in coffee. It’s not bitter or stale tasting like I think most conventional roasts are and I highly recommend it. If you do plan on picking up a bag the only place that carries it in the Nashville area is Wild Oats.

Do you find yourself ever getting lazy when it comes to cooking for yourself?  I do.  I think I eat veggie burgers three times a week.  To me, veggie burgers are the ultimate lazy vegan junk food.  They’re quick, simple and processed.  They are probably the one processed food I still consume regularly.  I guess I could resort to PB&J but a couple veggie burgers and a few tater tots just spell delicious simplicity to me on some nights, especially after working and not really wanting to spend much time in the kitchen.