Amidst a very busy time (we’re preparing to leave for our wedding trek north!); I opted to make my work schedule so that I have my days off nearly back-to-back before slogging six consecutive days & having another day or so off in order for me & the fiancé to load up our trusty vehicle laden with wedding things to go northbound.
We’re pretty much down to the wire with our wedding preparations but what always manages to relax me/aid in churning productivity is to have some time at a coffeeshop – out & away from the apartment (don’t get me wrong, I love our apartment but to be honest, if I’m not at the bakery, I am almost always home – with the occasional venture to get groceries, etc).
As a Seattleite (in this case, the stereotype is true), you can imagine that for me, the coffeeshop standard is high. Somewhere where there is moderate-to-heavy foot traffic, a coffeeshop that preferably roasts their own beans & offers at least one delicious snack. Granted that I haven’t combed over San Diego with a fine comb – but I’ve encountered a lovely coffeeshop called the Coffee & Tea Collective and it is by far, the best coffeeshop in all of San DIego. Strong words, I know. But the coffee is fantastic, the roaster is visible behind the coffee bar. I’m a sucker for design – I really appreciate the minimalist decor & furniture. The place is also the perfect canvas for local art installations. I seldom go to C&T Collective (it’s a bit of a drive, kind of out of the way for my liking), so each visit has been a unique experience. But all-in-all, it’s a great environment filled with productivity. The din & racket of the bean grinder; the violent hissing of the frother/steamer – just brings back so many nostalgic memories (there was an espresso bar at my last job & especially, all the hours spent at various coffeeshops throughout university & afterwards in which I would be internet-ing, editing resumés, job-searching, etc) & of course, coffee dates with old friends.
I’m drinking a mug of pour-over-coffee from San Agustin, Huila, Colombia. It’s delicious, the acidity is there but palatable. A smooth coffee. The C&T Collective also serves some amazing waffles. Yes. Waffles. But just not any waffle – this is a Belgian Liège waffle. It’s not a batter that is pour onto a waffle iron, but rather, a dough (similar to brioche?) that is pressed onto the waffle iron. Yielding a flaky, layered, yet chewy & dense waffle – the outside has a bit of a caramelised sugary crust. It’s pretty amazing. A true treat for a mid-afternoon snack!
Above is a random shot of my coffee + waffle & a succulent table-accent. & a peek of my trusty & steady Mac. Excuse the horrid cluttered desktop – I’m all over the place (wedding guest lists, photo folders, .mp3s, documents upon documents, recipe edits, schedule drafts, wedding menu outlines, etc!!). Apologies in advance as I can’t imagine that I’ll be posting anytime soon….!
crumb & steep 