Things to Drink That Happen to be Booze Free

Seltzer, coffee, and the world of NA cocktails, plus midweek reads and freezer tips

Hi there,

This week, I wanted to talk about the vast world of beverages that do not contain alcohol (one of them is something I grab every morning: delicious coffee). Especially with working from home, having interesting drinks around for any time of day is crucial for a 2 pm slump or a chill night on the couch. There are more options nowadays than ever before and I notice NA drinks on many more bar menus (it came up in interviews for this story on using tea in cocktails). Whenever I teach cooking classes that involve a cocktail, I always include a NA option. As a reminder, if someone isn’t drinking when you’re with them, it’s none of your business why. It could be a million reasons, ranging from recovery to medical conditions, to just not being in the mood.

Now on to the goods:

But first, coffee…As someone who used to regularly Instagram my coffee, I have strong feelings about the beverage. I make it most mornings with a pour over and an electric kettle and order beans online (I like City of Saints, Dope Coffee, and Black Coffee). Dale doesn’t drink coffee so Julia and I order together to hit shipping minimums. I don’t have a grinder but I go through coffee quickly enough that it stays fresh or if I buy it at a cafe, I’ll ask them to grind it for me. Locally, I love the beans from Variety. I always buy Guatemalan coffee if I can and prefer a medium roast. If you’re buying beans, make sure the packaging has a roast date on it that should be as recent as possible (a lot of supermarket coffee is old and will not be as flavorful). I also have a milk frother that I really like, especially for cold foam during iced coffee season. My other confession: I don’t like cold brew and it has taken over the coffee scene. I love finding a coffeeshop that has regular iced coffee or I’ll order an iced americano. While I enjoy making coffee at home, I am a sucker for a morning walk to get a coffee, usually a cappuccino. It’s worth every penny for the happiness it provides. To learn more about the business, ethics, and supply chain of coffee, I love the newsletter and podcast Boss Barista. There’s a lot that goes into your daily cup.

This maple latte was the perfect Friday treat.

I drink one cup of coffee 90% of time unless I’m super tired or on vacation. In college, I would drink 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day. The 19 year old body is something.