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Starbucks Verismo Espresso-Based Drinks: How to Make Them at Home

December 21, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Espresso is the basis for many of the great specialty drinks that I like to order at my beloved Starbucks, such as the Iced Americano and the Iced Latte (basically, if it’s iced, I like it!). Through lots of trial and error, I have learned how to make my own iced coffee at home on demand (I lack the patience needed for the 24 hour cold brew method) and it works well enough, but any time I pop into Starbucks to get one of their drinks, the difference in drink quality between what they make and what I make is painfully obvious.

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When my friends at Starbucks sent me their new brewer, called the Verismo System, to try out, I was excited but skeptical at the claim that I could make drinks that taste just as good as what I can get from my local Starbucks barista. But the pods for the system are all Starbucks products, which are top notch, and since this machine is note worthy for its ability to make rich, beautiful espresso (just look at those 3 layers of color!), I thought it was worth a try, especially since a drink with an espresso foundation packs a punch and should have some awesome flavor!

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This system will make espresso or coffee, but I think it’s big draw is the fact that it makes those beautiful cups of espresso. And that brings me to what I like the very least about this system: it has a very short clearance for your cup. It is most definitely not designed for the person who plans to make iced beverages, as you can see in the first photo above where my favorite tall coffee cup cannot fit. But to be fair, that’s not what the system was designed to do.

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It should also be noted that the Verismo system has its own line of pods, which are all Starbucks blends, so your K-cups aren’t going to work in this machine. These pods are much smaller, but trust me when I say that the flavor is totally there. And if you do like to have a cup of coffee, these pods make a very generous 10 oz size, which I was excited to discover.

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If you like to use milk or milk alternatives in your beverages, then I do recommend purchasing the accessory piece, which is the milk frother. This machine will warm your milk quickly and even froth it for you. I’m pleased to see that it even has a cold froth option for folks who are making iced beverages (simply hold the button down for about 4 seconds, until to turns blue, for it to stay cold. Holding it for just 1 second turns the button red and starts the heating process).

Cafe Americano (Hot or Cold)

So let’s break down how to make a few espresso-based drinks, starting with the Cafe Americano. To begin, load an espresso pod into the system and brew your espresso.

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Now all you need to do is press the hot water button to add 5 ounces of hot water and your Cafe Americano is ready for you to drink as is, or to add the sweetener of your choice.

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If you like it iced, like me, instead of adding hot water, add 2 Tbsp of cold water to your drink, and then pour it over roughly 1 1/2 cups of ice. I typically just add even more ice and skip the water part.

Cafe Latte (Hot or Cold)

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A latte is an espresso based drink that also uses quite a bit of milk. To make a hot version of this beverage, get your milk frother out, fill it to the line (it’s 5 oz) and make sure your whisk attachment is removed so that the milk is warmed up but not frothed too much the way you would want it for a cappuccino (oh yes, you can make those, too!). Brew your espresso and then add your hot milk to the cup. It’s so delicious!

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For the iced version, take your brewed espresso and pour it over roughly 1 cup of ice, and then add cold milk. I simply took the hot latte I made previously, let it chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes to cool down, and then poured it over ice. The iced latte just might be my very favorite.

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After trying out several different types of drink with the Verismo, I have to say that my beloved Keurig has been permanently unplugged. The flavor quality I’m getting with this system, and the fact that I can still make iced drinks quickly, makes the switch a no brainer for me.

If you have a coffee lover on your holiday list and you are looking for a last-minute idea, the Verismo is a big winner, I promise. I’d love to see some pods wrapped up for me! 🙂

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Super Easy Gift Ideas for Teachers: Starbucks for the Win!

December 14, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to Starbucks for sending along some seasonal flavors and products. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Today I’m working on the holiday gifts for my children’s teachers and I thought I’d show them to you in case you are still trying to figure out what to put together (and in case your Pinterest searches on “teacher gifts” stressed you out because it definitely stressed me out!).

Friends, it doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as this!

Give you children’s teachers a simple holiday treat that is sure to be appreciated. They have worked so hard with your kids over the last few months, and they are about to get a well-deserved break. They will even have time to curl up on their sofas with a delicious peppermint mocha (or 5!). 🙂

Each of my girls has 2 teachers in the classroom, so I’ll be multiplying the above gift times 4. If your budget allows for a bit more, or if your child only has 1 teacher so your funds can go further, here’s another idea for you.

Consider getting one of the absolutely gorgeous tumblers that Starbucks has available (this one is called Watercolor Hearts) and pair it with some hot cocoa (you can get K Cups or a mix).

Starbucks is something that puts a glimmer of joy in most everyone’s eyes, so it’s a safe bet as a gift. You can also feel good knowing that you picked out something beautiful and delicious that will be enjoyed and not relegated to a storage closet with all the “world’s best teacher” stuff. 😉

Do you have other teacher gift ideas to share? Let us know what you are doing for your kids’ teachers in the comments!

Creating Some New Fall Routines (and Drinking Awesome Coffee While I Do Them!)

September 28, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to Starbucks for sending along some seasonal flavors and products. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. My girls have been back in school for over a month now, and yet I am continuing to struggle with the hours of 3-5pm everyday, trying to fit in preparing a healthy meal for my family, making sure all Darah’s homework gets finished (including 20 minutes of me reading to her…we are loving all the Disney Fairies chapter books), and dealing with the emails that seem to pour in during the late afternoons when marketing and PR folks are trying to wrap up their to do lists at work.

I seem to get it all done, but I also seem to completely wear myself out, so that by the time Tim walks through the front door at about 5:15, I am ready to take my plate of food upstairs and go hide in my room. Which I often do. And this is not how I want my dinners to go, friends. Burning the candle at both ends of the stick just isn’t working.

So…I decided to get that whole “once a month cooking” thing a try. I spent a little bit of time each day last week physically and mentally preparing. And to help me keep my mood elevated and not give up before I started, I enlisted a little help from my Starbucks friends.

Isn’t that Starbucks fall tumbler just the cutest? It was my constant companion, filled with the fall blend K cups, as I selected recipes an created my shopping list and cooking strategy. I treated myself to a Starbucks VIA Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) as soon as I got home and unloaded my once a month ingredient haul. And it certainly was a haul; you’re only seeing about half of it in the shot!

In order to make the very most out of my tiny kitchen counter space, everything that ordinarily lives there had to be removed, including my precious coffee maker. But I knew that was going to be the case, and I was prepared, with some Starbucks Iced Espresso waiting for me in the fridge. Have you seen these in grocery stores? You can find them right next to the cold coffees. I reached for it frequently through the morning, early afternoon and yes, even the evening, as the slog of this work continued on.

In the end, two of the recipes were ruined by the wrong ingredient being used and one recipe couldn’t be made due to a shopping list oversight. I’m not going to lie, you guys…it was hard, sort of awful, incredibly time consuming (they aren’t kidding when they tell you that you will be cooking ALL DAY LONG) and at this point, I’m not really sure it was worth it. With that said, though, I did make a heck of a lot of food that is now waiting to simply be thawed and reheated, and as I make use of these dishes during those crazy busy weekdays, I may start to feel as though the pain was actually worth it.

I’m glad I tried a new thing. I’m still not sure that I’ll ever do it again. But I do think trying out this system has pointed me to a routine I DO want to get into this year: finding one freeze ahead recipe each week to make for my family. We can eat half of it on the day that I make it, and enjoy the other half of it on a busy weekday later on. Making one freeze ahead meal each weekend is totally doable and I can see how it will make a difference. And maybe, just maybe, once a month I might be willing to make 4 recipes at once. But not 10 or 12.

My weekend was rough, friends. But the coffee was on point. Gotta find those silver linings (or in this case, pumpkin spiced linings). 😉

Have you tried once a month cooking before? I’d love to hear about your experience! And what are you rockin’ in your coffee cup during this most wonderful time of the year? Is it pumpkin flavored or do you have a different #coffeepassion?

The Perfect Coffee for a World Traveler

May 8, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Thanks to Starbucks for sending along some rare-origin blends. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

My father-in-law is very much on my mind this week, as the family has gathered together in Phoenix now for his memorial service. Last night we watched an amazing video that was filled with photos and videos all about Dad. And as I looked at photo after photo of him, one thing became very clear: this man LOVED a good adventure. His curiosity and love of new things and places took him all over the world. He was easily one of the most well-traveled individuals I’ve ever known.

My father-in-law also developed an enjoyment of coffee late in his life (which I think is unusual…most folks fall in love much earlier in life if they are going to fall in love with coffee at all!). So when I opened a recent package from Starbucks and discovered a collection of rare single origin blends from all over the world, I immediately thought of Dad. These bags of coffee, in and of themselves, are fun little adventures. They are different from the norm. They are cultivated with great care and love. They have a unique flavor profile you simply cannot replicate.

They are, without a doubt, the kind of coffee my father-in-law would have loved.

These are such special bags of coffee, that I decided to pack one in my suitcase so that I could enjoy it on my trip. I’ve been experimenting with drinking it hot, or cold, or black or drowning in creamer. That’s how Dad would do it: by experimenting again and again until he found the most awesome way to make the coffee.

Starting with great coffee beans makes the process of experimenting easier (as every way I’ve tasted this blend so far has been yummy). But I have enjoyed the exercise of trying something different, and breaking away from my standard issue beans and my standard issue prep method.

I know almost all of you who read this blog have never met my father-in-law. But if I could make just one request of you: will you make one choice today that is the “adventurous” choice? Take a different route home from work. Pick up a fabulous bag of coffee and then make it a different way. Or go all out and book that trip you’ve been contemplating for far too long. That spirit of adventure is my father-in-law’s legacy, and I’d be so thrilled to know that he had an impact on your life as well by getting you to take a fun chance on something new today.

What I’m Learning: How to Grind Coffee Beans and How to Use a Pour Over Brewer

March 5, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

I am proud to be serving as a Starbucks Ambassador this year. Complimentary coffee products were provided. My experience and my opinions are mine alone, as always. Affiliate links included.

It’s been a rough couple of weeks, y’all. I’m not yet able to face things day to day, but I can go hour by hour. Some of those hours feel quite normal. Others feel just plain awful, and it’s during those hours that I have a really hard time doing much of anything. I know so many of you who read this have experienced loss in your own lives and you understand the feeling. I take a lot of comfort in hearing from others, as it helps me to not feel so alone with the pain of losing a loved one. And I am also on the lookout for interesting little distractions that can help me keep my mind off of sad things.

Coffee is one of my happy things. I make no secret about that. I’m an iced coffee gal, and am hopelessly devoted to my Keurig, unless I’m getting the occasional chance to swing by a Starbucks, where I will promptly treat myself to, you guessed it, an iced coffee. I brew Starbucks at home, and it tastes fantastic. But it’s even better at the store. I used to think that the taste difference was in my mind…perhaps because I had the cool cup I thought it tasted better? But actually, it’s because of the beans that are getting ground just before being brewed. Having the very freshest coffee really does seem to make a taste difference.

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So when Starbucks sent me a few different types of their coffee to try out (oh twist my arm!), I was a bit perplexed to discover that the packages were whole bean coffee. I mean, I knew that people ground their own coffee at home, but I never took the time to try it myself. Probably because I didn’t have a bean grinder. After researching these gadgets a bit and realizing that I could get one that is rated highly for just under $20, I decided to just go for it and see if the extra effort was really worth it. If you don’t own a bean grinder, let me tell you about my experience!

First, I appreciate that the bean grinder doesn’t take up a lot of space. We have a small kitchen so we have to be quite picky about how many gadgets we own. One friend pointed out to me that coffee bean grinders can also serve as spice grinders, and I thought it was just so sweet that she thought I would ever take the time to grind my own spices. What an adorable and completely delusional idea! I mention it because maybe you are the type to get your grind on with your spices. I’m not. I’m barely willing to try it for coffee, and coffee is my great love (aside from my family and all…). But if this helps you justify the purchase, well there you go.

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I filled the bean grinder to the top of the silver portion and pressed the button for 9 quick pulses and got this result. This is a coarse grind, which I read was appropriate for pour-over brewers (more on that in a sec). I will say this: I could tell a difference in the scent potency of the freshly ground beans in comparison to the pre-ground stuff I normally buy. I thought that was a good sign for things to come! FYI, this was Cafe Verona. Darth Vader and I like our coffee the same way: on the dark side.

Ok, so now it was time to figure out this pour over brewer that Starbucks sent to me. When I first opened the package, I thought I was going to have to email the company back and very awkwardly have to tell them that the giant coffee mug with the cemented-on saucer that they sent me had a big hole in it.

Fortunately, I took a second to research it just in case it wasn’t, in fact, a giant coffee cup with a cemented-on saucer and a major product flaw. Turns out, this is called a pour-over brewer. It requires a coffee filter, a coffee mug, some hot water, and some ground coffee beans (preferably coarse).

You simply pour your hot water into the pour brewer, which is balanced on top of a cup. Not gonna lie…this did NOT look like a smart idea. And as it turns out, I definitely spilled some hot water in the process of trying it out. So there’s your warning from me…careful with pouring hot water!

I got my hot water from my Keurig to save time, and I couldn’t help but wonder if all these extra steps were worth it. I will say that the brewing process was super quick…totally done in about 30 seconds. And I did, in fact, have coffee waiting for me in my mug. Now, I’m not really that into hot coffee, as you all know, but for the sake of the experiment, I added a touch of sugar and a bit of cream and gave it a try. And it was quite good, I have to say. I drank the entire cup, and that’s just not something I normally do with hot coffee.

So after trying the pour over brewer, I have to conclude that it isn’t the right product for me just because it seems like some extra steps that I’m not really interested in going through since my Keurig has a permanent spot on my kitchen counter. I could see this being a great gift idea, though, for a friend who loves the ritual of making coffee, as it certainly adds an element of fun and even intention to the process. It is also a good choice for someone who doesn’t own a Keurig or any sort of coffee maker, because there’s no denying that this is quite the space saver!

I think the taste difference didn’t come from how the coffee was brewed, but instead from the fact that the beans were so freshly ground. I can’t tell you that I’m going to grind coffee beans every single morning because that’s just a lie, friends. But I can see myself doing this twice a week so that I have fresher coffee to look forward to each day. When you start with high quality beans, which you can count on receiving when you purchase Starbucks coffee, you are 80% of the way to an amazing cup of coffee. Go ahead and get the coffee bean grinder to get you the rest of the way to an absolutely perfect cup of joe. It takes a pinch of time, but it’s worth it.

How do you take your coffee, friends? Are you a bean grinder or do you think it isn’t worth the extra effort? Anyone out there tried the pour over brewer, yet?

Starbucks Giveaway: That’s the Way to Start the Day! :-)

July 18, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · 147 Comments

Thanks to Starbucks for sending goodies along for review and for sponsoring a sweet Starbucks giveaway! All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.

In the recent podcast I took part in with Sarah, (go check it out! It’s a fun one!), one of the things we touched on was finding time in the day, every day, to do at least one thing for yourself. Parents tend to put themselves last because, understandably, our needs seem less urgent, and we have enough discipline and maturity to wait a bit longer than our kids do. But friends, the danger in this logic is that we always put our needs and wants in the spot on the to-do list that never gets crossed off. And if we don’t give ourselves a little bit of TLC, we will start to wither, and we’ll eventually break. For me that looks like a crying meltdown in front of my husband followed by two hours locked in my room by myself with the entire carton of ice cream and whatever I can find on Netflix to help me totally zone out.

Been there? Or some version of there? Yeah…we all have.

I think having a good cry every so often is totally healthy, but what’s even healthier is keeping yourself from getting to that breaking point in the first place. And I think what it means to do that will look different for everyone. For me, it means finding realistic ways to treat myself. I’m not going to be able to afford a weekly pedicure (both in terms of costs and in terms of time), but I can afford to treat myself to premium coffee.

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And I’m not talking about heading out to Starbucks every day, either (once again, my wallet and my schedule are both not able to accommodate that!). Instead, Starbucks is right at home with me. Iced coffees are one of my favorite things EVER, and that means that I need to do them right and make them with truly delicious coffee. It doesn’t really get much better than Starbucks, and I can brew it at home and keep my costs reasonable. If you LOVE coffee like I do, treat yourself to a really beautiful tumbler and to quality coffee, like Starbucks, that you can brew from home. Your taste buds will be so grateful, and if you are anything like me, everyone in the house wins when mama gets her good coffee. 🙂

Lately I’ve been enjoying Pike Place Roast from Starbucks. It’s a medium roast and it has some subtle flavors of cocoa and toasted nuts. Basically, it’s terrific! I need a dark roast to get me going in the morning, but Pike Place is my second cup of coffee choice (which happens around 10am). I will brew it in the tumbler immediately after making my first cup, and that gives it time to cool down a bit before I’m ready to pour ice over it.

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So whether you prefer your coffee hot or iced, I bet you super duper love it when it’s free! Want to win some? Let’s do this!!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a lovely To-Go Tumbler just like the one pictured above, as well ask a K-Cup Pike Place pack. YUM!!!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

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Starbucks #DeliciousPairings Make Saying Thank You Easy and Fun

April 27, 2013 · by Tiffany Merritt · 6 Comments

Is there someone in your life who makes things just a little bit easier for you in some way? It may be a parent, a neighbor, a co-worker or a good friend. Do you ever take the time to give them a token of your thanks, especially when it might not be expected (so, outside of a birthday or big holiday)? I try to do special things like that from time to time, though I could certainly improve. I know I have taken people for granted in my life who deserve my heartfelt thanks.

Some of those people I don’t even have a direct connection to, but they still impact my life in a very positive way. In my case, my husband’s co-workers are absolutely wonderful people who are flexible and understanding of the fact that Tim has 2 little girls at home and a wife with a rather unusual job. They have supported me by voting for me in contests, giving Tim days or half days away from the office when I need to head out of town, or working with him so that he can come in late or even come in early at times. These people, even though I rarely directly interact with them, have a profound impact on my overall quality of life.

In celebration of Starbucks’ month of service (April), when all Starbucks partners are encouraged to volunteer, I decided to take the opportunity to give back to the people that support us every day. This past week was also Administrative Assistants’ Week, so the timing was absolutely perfect to bring some special goodies to Tim’s co-workers. Giving back doesn’t have to mean that you spend all of your time or all of your paycheck, either. Small gestures, made with love, are some of the best.

I headed over to my local Walmart to snag some Starbucks coffee and to get some baked goodies for the office. In the bakery section I found this signage:

It was really cool to see different roasts on display with basic descriptions of the type of flavor you would get. I will say that I wish the signage offered specific pairings suggestions, as Starbucks coffee really is sophisticated in its flavor profile. There are certain notes in each blend of coffee, and those notes pair particularly well with certain foods. I would have liked to have seen more signage explaining those pairings.

For example, I happen know that the Starbucks Veranda Blonde Roast pairs exceptionally well with milk chocolate, as well as with nuts. This is why I chose to pick up the banana nut muffins and some chocolate donuts, all made from scratch at the Walmart bakery. I braved this outing with little Layah in tow, and it was going absolutely wonderful until I realized that she had removed one of her shoes and dropped it on the floor. After an intense 30 minute search, I finally ran into an associate who had it at her register. Whew!

After that wild adventure, I was definitely ready for a little pick me up back at the house. And since I didn’t want to hand over these muffins and this coffee without making absolutely sure they tasted fantastic, I did a little taste test myself. Quality control, if you will.

First I tried some coffee. You will notice that I drink it iced. It tasted very light and yummy. I actually think the Blonde roasts are PERFECT for early afternoon coffee breaks, which is what I was having here.

Then I tasted the muffin. Since I’m “mostly” eating Paleo these days, bread and sugar are rare in my diet. So when I do have them, I REALLY enjoy them and savor them. This muffin was totally worth it, my friends. Moist, delicious, fresh. Well done, Walmart!

Then I took another sip of my coffee. And boom! Those complimentary flavor profiles came right out, making my coffee go from yummy to super duper yummy. What a treat it was to have both of these together. I highly recommend the pairing!

For those of you who haven’t purchased a bag of Starbucks coffee in a while, I wanted to make sure you that see this awesome offer on the side of the bag. When you’ve used up all your grounds for brewing at home, take that bag to your nearest Starbuks and get a free coffee! Woo hoo! That’s what I call taking good care of your customers! And while I brew my own coffee about 90% of the time, sometimes just having that Starbucks cup in your hand feels really special. And this way, it is free! 🙂 Starbucks is one of my very favorite brands to purchase for home brewing. The price is higher than store brands, but the taste, in my opinion, is worth the price difference. Plus, I find that the bags go on sale fairly regularly. That’s when I stock up!

Tim took the goodies I got at Walmart to work with him and let it be part of the big Administrative Assistant’s Day spread. He reported back to me that the 2 packages of muffins and two packages of donuts I picked up were gone in a flash. He also said that one of his colleagues made a point of telling him how absolutely THRILLED she was to see Starbucks coffee being offered. Evidently the office normally buys…let’s just say NOT Starbucks. Something much more economical. And even though this person LOVES LOVES LOVES coffee, she dislikes what the office has on hand so much that she never drinks it. So this was the pretty much the best day ever for her at the office. The entire bag of coffee was used up by day 2 in the office. I’m SO glad that everyone in the office loved the treats, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to express my gratitude for all the ways they help our family. It was nothing extravagant, but even so, it was still very special.

What about you? Are you a Starucks fan? Do you hit the coffee shops or brew at home? What is your favorite drink from the company? Ever tried the Blonde Roast line? And have you ever done a special coffee and bakery gift for someone as a thank you? Coffee is something I love to talk about, so please share!

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #cbias #SocialFabric. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.