Skip to main content

Captain Caffeine’s latte art

Captain’s Log, Supplemental

Blog book giveaway:
To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there.
The Reliance (Legacy of the King’s Pirates book 2) by M.L. Tyndall
Scimitar’s Edge by Marvin Olasky
Bonus giveaway: The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

Coffee Geeks Unite!

I discovered my husband isn’t the only coffee lover who’s so uptight—er, exact about his coffee.

When in Grand Rapids, I discussed the espresso machine Captain Caffeine bought when I got my contract.

(What espresso machine, you ask? Well, my husband let me quit my biotech research position to try writing full-time for six months, and if I got a contract, then I promised him anything.

Yup, anything.

He loves his lattes and wanted a new espresso maker. I was picturing a $20 Krups machine. (Okay, maybe not $20, maybe like $50.)

Nope—he got this all-stainless steel contraption from Italy and a monster of a coffee grinder.)

Back to Grand Rapids—after describing said metal kitchen counter decorations, VP Mark Bolinder said he liked Captain Caffeine already. Well, guess what he’s getting in a week as soon as my husband roasts it?

(Yes, Captain Caffeine roasts his own coffee and can tell the difference between a week-old roast and a two-week-old roast. Scary, I tell you.)

My husband is working on what’s called latte art—baristas will form shapes in your latte with the foamed milk (and there’s apparently a very exact science to get micro-bubbles and not macro-bubbles that involves temperature and fat content, etc.—yeah, makes my head spin, too).

He’s finally making recognizable shapes. Hence the celebration:



What do you think? He’s currently working on making a flower.

Comments

Delia said…
All I can say is...

Ouch! My head's hurting from all the spinning! lol.

I'm seeing an apple, and if that's right then it's a really good apple. If it's not supposed to be an apple...uh...well...my vision's not so good.

Honestly though, that's cool.
Winter Peck said…
LOL! I'm just glad my newly addicted coffee lover husband isn't that particular about his drink. As long as its strong, sugared up and hot, he doesn't care.

Can't wait to see the flower.
Rachelle said…
Speaking as a former barista... that's whack!

P.S. I have to admit I'm almost -- almost -- as much of a coffee freak as Captain Caffeine.
Carol M said…
I enjoy a good cup of coffee but I'm not at all like Cajptain Caffeine. I will even drink instant! lol I didn't know you could make pictures like that! lol
Carol M said…
oops! Captain Caffeine! lol
Julie Carobini said…
I am so impressed, I just don't know what to say--and that's saying a lot, lol. Think I'll have my own captain take a look at this...hah.
Anonymous said…
Wow. I think I'm in coffee love with the Captain! And this from a girl who grew up on New Orleans' chickory---still buy good old Community Coffee. But what a man! Maybe he could reproduce your book cover?
Camy Tang said…
Delia,

Yes, it's supposed to be an apple. Isn't that impressive?

I also might be more impressed because previous attempts looked like a big white butt.

Camy
Anonymous said…
Oooo, pretty coffee. I'm going to have to print this picture out and take it to Panera tonight for the barista to copy when I get their caramel mocha.
Geekwif said…
Wow! I thought my husband was a coffee freak. Yours has him beat for sure! That latte art is quite a talent.
Jolene said…
Wow. Is that an apple? Looks like a pretty apple to me. :) Such talent...
Love, love love, love, love it! I can so see it happening. This thing is going to be huge. Okay. Maybe not here in the Midwest, but huge...somewhere...

Popular Posts

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci...

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th...

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures...

Captivating, chapter 3

Captain’s Log, Stardate 06.30.2006 Blog book giveaway: My Monday book giveaway is CONSIDER LILY by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt. My Thursday book giveaway is LOVE ONLINE by Kristin Billerbeck and Nancy Toback . You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for CONSIDER LILY and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned. Haunted by a Question: Sorry, this is really long again. As before, some things I liked and some questions. Eve—What Happened? The authors say: “[Eve] brought strength to the world, but not a striving, sharp-edged strength. She was inviting, alluring, captivating.” I don’t know if I buy that. I don’t know if I really see how being inviting, alluring, or captivating is a strength. I understand how restfulness (restful inner beauty?) can be a strength, or solidity like a rock. To me, that’s strength. But being alluring? Captivating? Then they talk about “Why do so few wom...

I’m a Book of the Year winner!

Captain's Log, Stardate 09.22.2008 I won first place in the Debut Author category of the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year awards! Here are all the winners! Debut Author Sushi for One? (Camy Tang) Zondervan, editor Sue Brower Bayou Justice (Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll) In Between (Jenny B. Jones) Contemporary Novella Finally Home in Missouri Memories anthology (Deborah Raney) Barbour Publishing, editor Susan Downs Moonlight & Mistletoe in A Big Apple Christmas anthology (Carrie Turansky) Remaking of Moe McKenna in Race to the Altar anthology (Gloria Clover) Historical Novella Love Notes in Love Letters Anthology (Mary Davis) Barbour Publishing, editor Rebecca Germany Beyond the Memories in Missouri Memories anthology (DiAnn Mills) The Spinster & The Tycoon in The Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner anthology (Vickie McDonough) Lits Splitting Harriet (Tamara Leigh) Multnomah Books, editor Julee Schwarzb...