When you’re running around or driving around in winter, and it’s cold, and you’re busy, and exhausted, what’s better than a nice cup of coffee? Well, first you have to find a nice cup of coffee. Not so easy in these here parts, if your definition of “nice” means the stuff is freshly-made.
I am sick, sick I tell you, of people who talk about Dunkin’ Donuts bleedin’ coffee, and how bloody wonderful it is. In Queens, NY, where good coffee is hard to find on the run, I have been into three Dunkin’ Donuts establishments in as many weeks, in my errand-running, and the stuff was sludge: sitting-around-all-evening-coffee. Nasty! And yes, I did actually go in just for coffee. I guess that is my mistake. What people mean when they rave about Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is that “it’s so good when there’s a doughnut stuck in it.” I’m so disgusted, I even hate that little apostrophe where they’ve cut off the “g” from their name.
Come to think of it now, I did once have good coffee there, but it’s so long ago now, and it certainly was not in NYC.
Yes, yes, I hear you say, it’s the old big-business-capitalism-sucks truism, well of course. I’d prefer to frequent the businesses of real people, but mom-and-pop-deli’s coffee has been sitting for hours. And to be sure, it goes without saying I would much prefer a nice one-of-a-kind-cafe in my ‘hood, like Brasil or Ten-63 or if I’m on that little island next door, The Porto Rican Importing Co. (They don’t have the seating or ambience of Ten-63 or Brasil, but they have some dynamite beans, including Fair Trade varieties, and coffees-to-go.) But sometimes, when you’re out and about, travelling an hour back home to go to a decent coffee place just isn’t convenient.
If being American means we like Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, then I am definitely not American. Come to think of it–and after 11/2, this does warm the cockles of my heart–maybe I’m not actually living in America. After all, more languages are spoken in Queens, NY than in any other place on earth. Now if someone on Northern Blvd. or Queens Blvd. could just sell me some coffee right quick–and it goes without saying, there’s no Starbucks when you want one–when I’m away from dear old LIC, this could just about be a perfect place.
2 comments ↓
Hmm… so when I show up there this week.. lead me to where the good coffee is. Im a maté man.. but Ill give it a whirl.
hi bm! you must be about ready to come over? have a great trip! i will definitely show you some good coffee. i am sure you can get a mate in NY too though I haven’t sought it out.