I love how in the last decade (last three decades in Seattle), large coffee chains have built their brands around the idea that we all need a cup of fresh-brewed coffee in the morning, and it will taste even better if we don’t have to make it ourselves. As a nation, we are entitled to a treat each morning, just for waking up, getting dressed, and heading into work.
Even if you don’t like coffee, there’s something for everyone, including borderline “coffee-inspired” frappuccinos and fancy flavored lattes. Cold or hot, these are basically high-end milkshakes, made with slightly better ingredients than you’ll find at your local McDonalds. (And since McD’s introduced their new line of iced coffees, the margin may have become even tighter.)
Out of all my options for cold stuff, I like Tully’s the best. They don’t hide behind some stupid made-up name. They admit they sell milkshakes, in several delicious flavors, which you can drink in the morning without feeling silly because you’re ordering them from a coffee place. Instead of getting a clear plastic cup full of coffee-flavored ice shards, I get a nice, thick, tasty milkshake.
In conclusion, I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE. I DRINK IT UP.