A Week of Coffee Cocktails Because I Heart Starbucks

Every morning after my bar shifts I'd wake up early and walk to Starbucks for a coffee and a pastry. I was one of those lucky customers who witnessed my drink go into production as soon as I got in line, and proudly knew all the Starbucks employee names (some still work at that particular location after over ten years).

With cash lining my pockets from the night before, I'd always add to the tip jar, and took pride in leaving an extra special "thank you" after my biggest nights at the bar. What goes around, comes around, right? The friendly, personable Starbucks staff helped me wake up and get back home to a day writing at the computer before another bar shift began.

My first job out of college was working as a barista and I still credit that position for preparing me for what bartendering would be like.  You've got to move fast, remember dozens of drink recipes, and remain calm, collected, and social, all while completing an order to perfection.

My home is now too far to walk to a Starbucks, but I do tear open a packet of VIA every single morning before cracking open the lap top. This week is dedicated to coffee cocktail recipes because I owe them a little "thank you" for helping me get up early to finish writing my first bartending book, and now, a second.

Leave a comment for your favorite cocktail this week either here or on our Facebook page, and win a 28-day supply of Starbucks VIA. Your coffee will be so easy to make that you may even find yourself with the extra time to write that book you've been thinking about.