Coffee Porn?

A Consort who gets that Caffeination is next to Godliness writes passionately about our favorite pick-me-up. (Check out his delightful and irreverant blog for The Best Brownie recipe any Goddess has ever seen.)


On Coffee, from Hog on Ice:

"Oh, the Suspense.

"Ten cups of hot, steaming, life-giving coffee, slowly, wetly, helplessly dribbling through the sheer mesh filter of my pulsing, throbbing, aching Braun coffeemaker. The drops slowly forming at the basket's sensitive tip...the kitchen counter humming...vibrating along with me in our own special, secret rhythm...

"Oh God. I think it moved.

"Is it really done?

"Smooth and bare as a baby's cheek, burning my skin as you nestle urgently in my palm...is it me, or do I feel you grinding...slowly rocking...pleading silently for my firm yet measured response...I feel your heat rising to my face, warming my tortured lips, carried on your fragrant steam...your scent elusive yet overwhelming...there you are before me...open...hot...unashamed...inviting...
I press my starving lips against your alabaster body...at last...your heat...your wetness...running down my throat in waves as I take you in in gulps, opening wider and wider...wanting all of you inside me...arching my back to get every last drop of you...

"Not bad for $4.50 a pound."

A Walk on the Wild Side #1: Cafe Express

Announcing Goddess Jr.'s series for the Cafe Bohemian in all of Us! A 20-Something's exploration of some of the edgier North Shore Cafes proves there's more to life than Fortune 500.

Café Express
Corner of Sherman and Dempster, Evanston

On the outside, Café Express looks low-key and simple, but don’t be fooled (and take note of the bumper sticker that reads “Friends don’t let friends drink Starbucks” on the espresso machine). This authentic bohemian hideaway is peppered with wildlife from all around the social sphere: it’s a pleasure for any people-watcher. One can find everyone from grad students sipping their lattes while typing away at their laptops, to dark-clothed intellectuals smoking and reading Sartre in the corner, to neighborhood kids chatting it up with the manager and head barista.

Like the customers, the menu is wide, ranging from lattes and capps to teas and something curiously listed as "Red Eye." Personable, lively, and delicious – Café Express is the real thing. A bit on the wild side, but quite an experience if you’re willing to go off the beaten path.

Café Express is located in Evanston, IL on the corner of Sherman and Dempster, across the street from the Dempster Red Line stop. One block West of Chicago Ave, and about 4 blocks East of Ridge Ave. Surrounded by street parking, it’s not difficult to find a spot.

Guilt-Free Feel-Goods

Goddesses are nothing if not efficient. It seems that while we enjoy our foamies, frosties and friends, the beans we spill have a far-reaching effect, thanks to the creativity and compassion of our hosts. The list below is far from complete and The Goddesses invite you to stop by the establishments or the websites to find out more.

For the perfect Caffeinated Two-Fer...

Starbucks

• Donates $2 from every $10 Ichiro Card to charities including the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation in the U.S., and Make-A-Wish of Japan. You can order the new card on-line.
• From now until June 30th, Starbucks donates $5 to Earthwatch Institute for all cardmembers accepted into the Duetto Program.

Caribou

• Donates 10% of all in-store and on-line sales of delicious Amy's Blend coffees to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Peet's (Evanston on Chicago, the City on North Ave just East of the River, and more)

• Donates to a variety of reliefe programs through in-store donation matching. The Tsunami Relief Matching Program just ended. Look for upcoming programs.

All three coffee heavens participate extensively in global relief, including Coffee Kids. This year, Caribou helped sponsor the construction of a medical clinic in Guatemala; Peet's supports the work of Las Hermanas, an all-Goddess coffee-growing cooperative in Nicaragua. (Read more about these true Goddesses-of-the-Bean.)

While being exemplary national and global citizens, all three are committed to the health of our community as well, and are happy and willing to participate in local fundraising (hint-hint, nudge the Goddesses).

Still Brewing

Watch this space for...

Starbucks music reviews
Caribou vs Starbucks
Best hang-outs when you want to be seen - or don't
Venturing forth: Evanston and Beyond!
How to sound smart,
no matter who you're meeting.

And much, much more. In the meantime,
tell us what
you want to see here.

- The Goddesses