I say 'one' because I have a few that I deign with my presence. They are all cafes that are pretty consistent with what they hand over - hot, strong, not bitter and preferably with staff that know my order without me having to say a word.
I've been a soy drinker for a few years now. Ever since I realised that the stomach pains I was getting every afternoon were related to the cappuccino I was drinking every morning. I wasn't happy to have to make the swap but the lack of pain made it worthwhile. And I got used to the flavour pretty quickly. So now my coffee order just rolls off my tongue without it ever having to be processed by my brain - on the odd days that I have to actually utter it.
Seeing the sign which pronounced the offering of lactose-free milk presented me with a dilemma. Do I stick to my new tradition and just do the same-old-same-old? Or do I venture forth into a brave new world and try something new? Being that it was a public holiday (Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth II) and I was feeling footloose and fancy-free and just slightly reckless, I decided that I'd throw caution to the wind and try something new and daring.
"Could I have a tall cappuccino on lactose-free milk?"
I forgot to order an extra shot of coffee but luckily the girl behind the counter recognised me. Or could sense my need of the extra caffeine. She charged me the usual astronomical amount that I'm happy to pay because daily coffee, books, running shoes and now running bras it seems are not wants but needs in my existence.
Then I waited on the other end of the counter for my order to be called out.
"Double shot cap on lactose-free milk!"
I felt every eye in the shop turn my way as I went to collect the coffee. And I felt a judgement that I'd never felt before when ordering soy.
Soy has street cred. It's drunk by vegans, health nuts and the lactose-intolerant alike. By ordering soy I could just be viewed as someone who's a little anal about their diet or someone who is willing to make culinary sacrifices to protect every living creature. Either of whom are willing to stand up for a cause - be it health or their fellow beings.
Lactose-free milk has no street cred. What. So. Ever! It is drunk by one sort of person only. The sort of person who has a defect. The sort of person who becomes a ticking time bomb after ingesting milk sugar. The sort of person that makes dogs take the blame for their indiscretions and who, in Billy Connelly's words, will 'never trust a fart'.
I slunk away from the shop feeling just a little bit of shame. And then I tasted the coffee. It really wasn't that great. But at least I know that it won't have any deleterious effects. And I know that next time I'll be ordering soy again so I can leave the judgemental cafe set wondering which category of soy-drinkers I belong to.
Hey, it was worth a try! (What about making the coffee at home and then stealthily buying and adding your own lactose-free milk?)
ReplyDeleteI never drink coffee, so I don't have that problem.
ReplyDeleteCool - I had no idea soy had street cred!
ReplyDeleteoooh I feel your pain...I've given up cream in my coffee since we have gone dairy free and I miss it sooooo much!!! have you tried coconut milk creamer? it's actually not bad!!
ReplyDeleteI love your list of things that are needed for your existence! I have a very similar list. (Minus the running bras of course.)
ReplyDeleteI'm all about almond milk in my coffee. Although the shops don't offer it yet.
ReplyDeleteI'm just an all-around loser - I don't drink coffee or milk/soy/lactose-free milk!!!
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned in a recent blog post I'm lactose intolerant but ignored that fact until recently. I don't eat a lot of dairy - something I blame on the 1970s government policy forcing all primary school kids to drink little bottles of milk (which had been sitting out for hours) every day!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, I don't drink coffee or milk. Only one "cappuccino" in the morning.
ReplyDeleteSoy milk is a highly processed product, and besides that the traditional consumption was always fermenting soy first - and there is a reason for this, non-fermented soy is supposed to be harmful, and soy in milk is not fermented... Almond milk is much much better option. Coconut creamer excellent but kind of too fancy. Drinking coffee black is so sophisticated! Be courageous and don't give in to street credos :-)
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a coffee shop over here sell any of those. I don't get in coffee shops much I must add. I prefer to make my own and do so plenty times a day...
ReplyDeleteI've started using almond milk. But I bring my own as I don't see it offered anywhere.
ReplyDeleteLOL at the staring.
ReplyDeleteI have tried soy milk when I was figuring out my problems but I didn't like it in my coffee. Then I discovered my grocery store sold almond milk. That was better but expensive. So when my problems weren't related to milk I went back to milk in my coffee.
Have you tried almond milk or does that cause problems too?
Soy milk usually has cane sugar in it pretty high up.
ReplyDeleteThat caused me to nix it.
I use nonfat milk.
I vote for the lactose free milk for you vs soy.