The McLatte

Is it just me, or is anyone else excited to try a McLatte? Anything that improves the quality of food at fast food restaurants, and raises Americans' expectations of what is suitable for consumption, is a terrific thing. Think about this: by next week

...McDonald's -- the world's largest fast-food chain -- will have more outlets selling lattes and the like in Michigan than Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Dunkin' Donuts, Panera Bread, Beaner's, Coffee Beanery and Caribou Coffee combined.

Whoosh. In one blow, you can get a decent cup of coffee anywhere in the state. People who will decry this a taking business from independent coffee houses, but I think it's a different customer. This is going to expose a lot of new people to good coffee (as distinct from "healthy" - a latte is still packed with sugar and calories), which will make them more likely to seek it out from new sources once they see what they have been missing.

Or will it? Most of my non-home/office caffeine comes from Caribou (chain), Starbucks (when Lauren's buying), Beaner's (small chain) and sometimes Sweetwater (tiny chain). Most days though, I brew a pot in the morning and take it in the car, a habit that this is not likely to change. Why? Because it costs a dime and 3 minutes to make (very good) coffee, which I can do while I'm making Noah's breakfast, plus Noah gets a kick out of grinding the beans, plus Lauren wants a cup too. A $3 McLatte or Venti mocha or short cappucino X 260 work days a year = $780 (before compound interest!), and there is no way I am giving any chain restaurant 800 bucks a year for coffee. For McGriddles, sure. Those are made from sweet, sweet griddle-cakes. For coffeee, we'll see how these are and go back to making it ourselves.