Let me get this out-of-the-way right up front – most architects I know drink coffee.
A LOT of coffee.
In fact, most of them are snobby and frequently a-holes about the coffee they drink … if Grey Poupon made coffee, architects would drink it.
So despite the fact that I am an architect (and possibly an a-hole), I am not a coffee drinker. When my classmates in college were going on coffee runs at 2:00am to Captain Quackenbush’s Intergalactic Dessert Company and Espresso Cafe, I didn’t go with the group to “fuel” up and as a result, I never did develop a taste for coffee in those formative years – without painting too clear an image, my stomach just couldn’t handle it and the ramifications were [ahem] unpleasant.
To this day, I still feel like I’m missing out on something. Those people … the “coffee drinking people” … they LOVE their coffee and I have been relegated to looking in from the outside.
Until now.
The picture above is our “break room”. It’s pathetic really and I debated showing it because most dorm rooms are better equipped from a culinary standpoint. I am waiting for the day when I’ll have this conversation:
Bob: Hi Mr. Client. Can I offer you a water [say yes, say yes, say yes] or maybe some (gulp) … coffee?
Mr. Client: Coffee sounds terrific,that would be great. Thanks.
Bob: [crap!] Coming up! Just need to put some water in this kettle, get it heated up and in 10 short minutes, we’ll be halfway done.
Mr. Client: What?! 10 minutes is too long, that’s …
Bob: [interrupting] Would you like some toner with your coffee? I mean creme??
Mr. Client: Water. Water would be better. Could I change my response and get the water?
Bob: Okay … if you don’t want any coffee, I can get you some water. Room temperature water okay with you?
Nobody drinks coffee at our office without leaving the building and walking across the street to the grocery store to get it. MmmmmMmm … grocery store coffee sounds deliciously smooth to me. So when I was offered a new Bosch Tassimo T55 brewing system, and casually mentioned it to the people sitting around me, they said I might “accidentally” fall on the sharp end of an architectural scale if I didn’t say yes.
Yes … I will take your Bosch Tassimo T55 brewing system and try it out. And please hurry, it sounds like my life might actually depend on it.
So here it is – my Tassimo T55, and what might end up being the ticket to my survival and, more importantly, to coffee infused, happy and productive employees. So with fingers crossed, I opened the box and set it up (ten minutes with everyone watching my every move.)
I also received an assortment of different coffee T Discs to try out – because the Tassimo system doesn’t just push hot water through a cup … this brewing system by Bosch uses what they call “INTELLIBREW” to scan each T DISC and identify precise brewing instructions with the exact temperature, water, and time duration, so each and every drink is perfect every time. Because this is a smart system, you have many more options than just coffee or tea (although those are pretty good) – latte, cappuccino, crema, espresso … all sorts of hot beverages. You put the T Disc in, the machine scans the bar code and determines how to make whatever drink you desire.
After I hooked up the machine (i.e. plugged it in and put water in the tank), there was basically a line of people ready to fix themselves a tasty hot beverage. Another interesting observation is that since our office is small (and our “break room” sucks) I put the Tassimo out into the drawing-room and so every time someone makes a drink, the entire office smells terrific. In fact, it smells like how all architecture offices should smell … like a coffee fueled design spectacular!
In an effort of full disclosure, I’ll admit I didn’t go for the hard stuff right away. Despite the ridicule I know is coming my way, I went with ‘Hazelnut’ coffee and for almost the first time in my life, I didn’t have post-coffee “acid-stomach” and the (literal) fallout associated with drinking highly over-roasted super acidic coffee. It’s a start but I feel like I’m on the road to becoming a fully fledged coffee-drinking architect and I’m pretty excited about it. I am already thinking about how my social life is going to change – my popularity is going to be terrific even if my breath isn’t (note to self: get after-coffee breath mints).
Since everyone in the office is now drinking coffee like crazy, I thought it would be fun to see the coffee mugs that people brought up to the office. I think your coffee mug is important and can tell someone a lot about who you are …
So take a look at your coffee mug and see what you think it tells others (other than you never properly wash it and have most likely owned it forever). Here are ours:
Yes, I practice what I preach and bought a BIMja coffee mug and let me tell you, my BIM skills AND my coffee drinking skills have dramatically improved since getting this mug.
Yes, I know. The guy in the office who didn’t drink coffee has two mugs. Well, this was my original pre-BIMja mug and I’m not really ready to bring it back home. My daughter drew this picture a few years ago and I’ve always really liked it. No, that’s not a chocolate chip cookie but a planet … and if you’re paying attention, you can find an alien cruising around in its flying saucer … just a little something extra.
Hilarious.
This is Audrey Maxwell’s coffee mug and yes she did go to Wash U. Isn’t the color green supposed to mean something like you’re a genius or something? Sounds about right.
This is the coffee mug of Ryan Thomason. Ryan sits next to me and is working with me on the KHouse Modern. I don’t know what this coffee mug tells me yet about Ryan other than he borrowed it from his meemaw’s house or something. Ryan’s a good guy but unfortunately (due to his proximity to me) he is relentlessly the subject of all my jokes – fact or fiction. I should probably buy him his next mug (that reads “I brutally killed the last guy who sat next to me”)
Morgan Newman. If you knew her, this would make sense. Not because she’s an elephant (that’s stupid) but because she never forgets anything and is always in a good mood. And, as the resident vegan in our office, she might actually work for peanuts. (note to self: see if Morgan will work for peanuts)
This is Peter Joe – who would probably rather be out riding his bike, doing some sort of time trial or something. If Peter had a mug that said “don’t touch this mug” believe me … I wouldn’t touch it. Peter is a guy who can make things happen and if you “need something done”, he always knows “a guy” who can make it happen.
.
I am interested to see images of other people’s coffee mugs – so take a picture of yours and attach it in comment section down below (if you are so technically inclined). In the meantime, I’d recommend you go out and pick up a Bosch Tassimo hot beverage brewing system for your office. It made a coffee drinker out of me and that should count for something.
Happy caffeinating!
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I do Construction Administration for all projects in my office… yeahhhh…
Haa Haa – you are a genius!
i stole this mug from my dad, the retired Civil Engineer. however, since i don’t drink much coffee, folks know to run if they see me wielding it!
I confess that I am still a french press snob, primarily because I don’t like countertop clutter and my little bodum hides itself in a cupboard nicely. I do have a decent collection of coffee mugs, but this one is my favourite. It was a gift, and it is the most ergonomic mug I have ever had the pleasure of holding.
I am going to guess that this is Jessica and you figured out how to get your comment and photo up 🙂
I have been told that overcooked coffee is acidic. And weak coffee is more bitter. Strong coffee not necessarily so for either. Love coffee, been drinking since high school. Not sure of these facts, maybe some smarter folks know. Welcome to our world Bob!
many people might disagree, but in my experience, overroasting and more importantly, overextraction during the coffee-making process are to blame for most of the bitterness in coffee. hence, a cup of strong instant coffee will always taste immensely bitter because the beans are overextracted. double-using pods or coffee grounds (as some shitty cafes do) will achieve the same unpleasant result. this is most apparent if you drink caffè lattecafé au laitetc, because the addition of milk accentuates the bitterness, especially if you have it unsweetened. adding a large quantity of water like caffè americano will dilute the bitterness along with the flavor of the beans, producing mild, weak coffee (hence the popularity of artificial flavor syrups in Starbucks).
traditional caffè romano is a sweetened espresso, and is actually intended to be bitter, in order to balance the sweetness, however most coffee drinkers around the world prefer the bean flavours without any bitterness (this is why kopi lemak is sought after)!
all of that makes sense to me – I suppose that’s the coffee I have been making myself isn’t killing me
after reading up about your Bosch Tassimo system, it seems pretty much fool-proof, and guaranteed to produce fairly good results (at least until it clogs up because it’s not descaled often enough, most pod systems have a short lifespan anyway), but could be expensive — if you find your office is going through more than a dozen or so cups a day, if will save you money to switch to a system that uses grounds or beans.
also, UHTUF milk is good, far better than the powdered sludge that comes from other pod systems like Nescafe and Verismo, but nothing beats fresh cow juice, IMHO.
Hi Almost Jane – I missed this comment previously. If you look in the sidebar of my site, there is an amazon widget of the latest books I think are worth reading – most include a lot of photos so don’t be too intimidated. If you want a book that tells you about the various styles of architectural houses, you need this book:
http://amzn.to/1e8WBrY
Thanks Bob! I thought you probably had a list of books here somewhere, as you must get this question a lot. I just wasn’t smart enough to find it! I appreciate your replying though. I’ve been interested in architecture as long as I can remember. In fact I even recognized myself a little in your “If You ___, You May Be An Architect” post. Maybe I was Stanford White in a former life… ??? :>)
I love how efficient that coffee maker is- great size.
I’m also going to guess that you drink your coffee out of a cup and not a mug – but that’s because I know you and your classy that way.
Love the smell, cannot take the taste. Although I have found an herbal product called “Teeccino”that is everything I think coffee should be, dark, rich, no bitterness, no acidity and, no caffeine. Caffeine makes me feel sick. Honestly, I almost go through a pitcher of ice tea (sans sweetener) a day. That is my thing.
In Dallas, there is an entire contingent of ice tea drinkers here so you would fit in just fine
Nice. Do you know Dallas Felder? We graduated U of M School of Architecture together and I believe he works either in Dallas or Houston.
I looked him up online – he is in Houston (but I do not know him).
I figured he was as involved in the local AIA Chapter as yourself, you might have run into each other. On another note, your blog is just wonderful in every aspect. As an architect that works from home for myself, I really miss the office architectural conversations about the profession, the theoretical and the random. And of course, the architectural humor. Thank you!
Thank you – you are too kind but I’ll take the compliment all the same.
Cheers
What does my coffee mug say about me? I hope my clients pick up my message! LOL
You are a professional … coffee drinker? I kind of like how this is open for interpretation
coffee is great. the darker and bolder the better. I grind beans for my weekend fix. Other stuff during the week. Coffee only at breakfast, then done for the day. And yes it was hard cutting back to that, but not really given the really bad coffee at our office. I have several cups that I use at home. Most are burnt orange.
Excellent color selection.
I would have thought that you have some fancy coffee system at your office since you are big time and work for a big time firm … pretty sure you could make that happen if you wanted
our firm does have one of those systems that your office just got. but like I said, after breakfast at the house, I am done for the day.
Dark and rich and through a paper cone – no sugar or milk. But only once or twice a day. I don’t know what the Snoopy cup says about me but it gave me the jitters to put it on my computer even though it was empty.
I am not surprised by anything I am reading or seeing in this comment. You convey your personality very consistently. I’m more interested in talking about that ficus tree …
We call it the Kermit tree – if you look closely, Kermit is sitting there. This is home, not the office. Without employees or co-workers, my office is wherever I can get the most work done.
I was given this by an old secretary many years ago… Of course my professional self does not subscribe to this anymore… Erm…
You are a good man and must have liked this secretary a great deal.
Hilarious
Ok no pic trying again…
I.
Am.
Speechless.
Do I claim that as a first?! It is a good reminder to not get too serious about things!!
Love the smell, but figure the only difference between drinking coffee and chewing tobacco is that most folks have the sense to spit the other out.
sadly, I know too many people that spit neither out …
“…this brewing system by Bosch uses what they call “INTELLIBREW” to scan each T DISC and identify precise brewing instructions with the exact temperature, water, and time duration, so each and every drink is perfect every time.”
That’s what I like about you Bob. You don’t mess around. This is one step short of subscribing to a service that beams fresh coffee to your cup from space.
My lady and collect coffee cups like hoarders collect cats. Here’s a few of our favorites.
I love the smell of coffee, but can’t drink it. As you get into the coffee thing, be sure to try kopi luwak.
you’re not trying to kill me are you?