I was never much of a coffee drinker. Couldn’t get over the taste, with or without all the sweeteners and creams. For years, I have stuck to my Rockstar Recovery a day regimen. Not the healthiest, I know. But, I rationalized that since they were not carbonated, they weren’t as bad as a regular Rockstar, Red Bull, etc.

But, when my friend Misty opened a coffee shop downtown, I started ordering every now and then just to support the business. Eventually, I got use to the taste. I started supplementing the caffeine intake with coffee on occassion. I even started using Sarah’s Keurig some. I know, I know, coffee purists just grimaced.

Well, last summer, I bought a pack of coffee, because I am a nerd and the marketing was a nostalgic throwback for me.

Only thing is, I didn’t pay attention when I bought them. They are whole bean. So, a grinder entered the repertoire. Only, those don’t work super well with a Keurig, so I added a french press a while back. And an electric kettle. Great, more kitchen gadgets.

Crap, I’m all in now. How did this happen? All because I saw a bag of coffee beans that reminded me of one of my favorite childhood books. Nostalgia is still undefeated.

Well, now, I’m a coffee drinker. And as I tend to do, I researched the next step in this journey. Ya’ll should know by now I’m not the guy who is going to just get some Folgers or Starbucks from Walmart. I tried to find my favorite blend Misty sold, Black Rifle’s CAF, but they don’t sell it in whole bean. So, I found some “Best Coffee” lists. Atop one of them was a name that jumped out at me. Again, cleverness in names over tastes. I’m still not enough of a snob to actually tell much difference in blends. I fully admit, I bought this coffee with the intention of telling people I bought it for the name. I’m a special kind of asshole, we know this.

Yep, I found a coffee called Smart Ass, made by Kicking Horse. Because of course I did.

From the website:
AROMA: Sweet syrup, vanilla bean, stone fruit.
TASTING NOTES: Tart red currant, notes of sugar cane and milk chocolate, with a honeyed berry body.

Sure, I’ll go with that.

I drink it black. Sweeteners didn’t help the taste before, so I’m not going to bother making it unhealthy. Black is just fine by me.

So, both of us now start our days with a tumbler full of Smart Ass. Sarah just can’t escape it, I guess.

Any recommendations for what to get next?