Review by Catherine’s Cabinet
Every morning I wake up in a groggy haze of sleep-deprived angst. I’ve even been known to throw my blankets over my head in protest while proclaiming aloud “noooooooooooooooo” or “I don’t waaaaant to”. The only thing that changes my grumpy zombie-like state is a fresh smoothie, green tea or coffee. Yes, I said the “c-word”. Hello, my name is Catherine, I’m a Holistic Nutritionist and I drink coffee.
I’ve gone for months sporadically without drinking it, off and on for years now. It was when I moved to New Zealand that I really gained a deeper appreciation for the art of coffee. I learnt How to make a tasty Espresso
and after that, I was hooked. It just tastes so good!! I will go on record to say that some of the best coffee I’ve ever had was in that beautiful country. I can recall heading to my local cafe across the street quite often, which was also conveniently located RIGHT where the ocean was located. Yes, we lived on the beach. Yes, I’ve had a horrible life so far.
Now that I’m living in Toronto, I thought I would struggle in dealing with my coffee-snobbery (I’ve actually sent coffees back… ’cause I’m THAT person now). But surprisingly, cafes, whether chains or local, are really stepping up their game nowadays in this highly competitive industry. Hands down if I see it on a menu, I order a Flat White because it’s by far my favourite way to enjoy it. So, when I found out that Second Cup was going to be introducing it to their menus nationwide, I was beyond excited.
Originating in Australia (although my New Zealand friends would likely disagree), the Flat White was developed in the 1980s. “Flat white,” which is loosely defined as an espresso with milk, is contrast to what our lovely friends from down under call a “short black” (an espresso shot) and a “long black” (an espresso shot with water added – similar to an Americano here).
Okay so what’s a Flat White anyways? Well it’s an espresso-based coffee made with a double shot, velvety steamed milk and a thin layer of micro-foam. I just love that term “micro-foam”. It sounds so cute and bitchy – all at the same time (OMG, I’m turning into Julio). Micro-foam is produced when the milk is steamed to create ultra-fine bubbles throughout, instead of the more common foam that’s stiffer and full of larger bubbles. “The texture of the micro-foam is very creamy, glossy and velvety, and it provides a smooth taste and mouth feel.” It just comes down to personal preference.
It’s available only in one size, an 8 oz or 250 mL cup, to ensure the proper ratio of espresso to milk. I told you guys, it’s an art! Second Cup is using their signature Espresso Forte beans in the Flat White, which are 100% Rainforest Alliance CertifiedTM. This international non-profit organization works to conserve the environment and promote the rights and well-being of workers, their families and communities. Certification helps support sustainable development in coffee growing regions. Working on saving the world while getting my coffee on? SCORE!
Okay, but why are they introducing this now? Other than the fact that it’s my favourite beverage and I’d like to think that I have some sort of amazing energetic influence on this world, it’s quite a simple answer. At Second Cup, they just love good coffee and are always striving for more. They were the first to define specialty coffee in Canada, so they’re going back to their roots by being ahead of the game.
“Premium coffee expertise and innovation are at the core of the Second Cup brand and the introduction of Flat White is an example of our brand rejuvenation and renewed focus on bringing the best coffee experience to our customers,” says Chris Sonnen, Vice President, Operations and Coffee Experience, The Second Cup Ltd. “With Flat White, we are excited to offer even more choice to our customers, and to share this unique taste sensation with Canada’s coffee community. Second Cup is proud to give espresso lovers a reason to rejoice.”
Now from a health standpoint, there’s a lot of mixed information when it comes to coffee. Is it good for you or is it bad? The answer is that you should always make an informed choice before deciding either way. Some things in this world are obviously just plain bad for you, but caffeine itself can be used in sports nutrition as an effective stimulant. Yet, I’ve seen reports on how bad it can be for your digestive system. Just be informed about what’s going in your body and what it’s potentially doing to it.
I’ve always tried to do my research but ultimately it comes down to biochemical individuality and the choices you make based on this theory. What works for you may not work for someone else and vice versa. I drink coffee because it’s good for my soul but is also a stimulant (and obviously required for my morning zombie-mode). Hey, some of my nutrition friends are even using coffee for enemas – but that’s a whole different post, my friends. Please don’t start sticking coffee up your butt just because I mentioned it once though. Just stick with maybe trying a Flat White at Second Cup. Yeah, please start there. #JustSayin
The Flat White Piaggio truck will travel across the country throughout September and October 2014.
Second Cup has been piloting the Flat White in select locations over the summer and it has received tremendous response. The Flat White is available now at all Second Cup cafés, and will be followed by special events featuring unique Piaggio sampling trucks, providing free tastings in key centres. Watch for more details on the Second Cup website, Facebook page, www.facebook.ca/secondcup or by following #espressoloversrejoice on Twitter.