<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/louisa_catlover/2803180314/sizes/m/in/photostream/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-834" title="mexmocha" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/mexmocha-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>My only addiction in life is espresso.  Illy espresso, to be exact.  For those of you of who have no idea of what I speak, Illy is an Italian espresso which is heaven in a cup. </p>
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<p>Each morning, I freshly grind my Illy espresso beans and create my own double shot Almond Milk Latte with a hint of agave syrup.  Think health nut's version of Starbucks.  I have won over a few fans, including Christy Jo and Cooleenie, whom you have kinda sorta met through this blog. </p>
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<p>A couple of days ago, I ran out of my Illy beans.  Horrors!  This isn't usually a problem, because I am a Virgo, and true to my sign, when I run low on something, I replace it before I run out.  My pantry is always stocked with at least one, most often two cans of Illy.  This time, no backups in the pantry. </p>
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<p>Uh-oh. </p>
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<p>Another detail of this neurosis/addiction is that I drive to Seattle Espresso to buy my Illy beans because they are $4 cheaper than Whole Paycheck. </p>
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<p>Duh.</p>
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<p>But...I didn't have time to drive out of my way to Seattle Espresso, and since I was already at Whole Paycheck, I thought I would eat the $4 this one time and call it a day. </p>
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<p>Until I discovered that Whole Paycheck was no longer carrying my particular beans.  Horrors x 2!!</p>
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<p>I told myself that this whole attachment to Illy was probably part of my recent "rut".  I needed to break out!  Try something new!  Shake up my morning routine! </p>
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<p>So I scooped some free trade, organic espresso beans into a bag and went on my merry way. </p>
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<p>The next morning, I opened the bag of new beans and took a whiff.  A fresh can of Illy smells divine, but these beans...not so much.  Omen #1.</p>
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<p>Upon grinding the beans, I noticed that the grounds were really, really dark.  Omen #2. </p>
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<p>I kept an open mind.  The Whole Paycheck sign at the espresso bin promised me hints of chocolate and cardamom.  Who wouldn't like that??  This espresso was the fine wine of espressos! </p>
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<p>I brewed the espresso and mixed my famous Almond Milk Latte.  The anticipation was killing me.  I took my first sip and...</p>
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<p>Bleck. </p>
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<p>Perhaps not the fine wine of espressos.  I would say more like wine in a box.  And I'm being kind. </p>
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<p>I noted the time.  I wouldn't be able to run into a coffehouse on the way to work.  I put on my culinary thinking cap. </p>
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<p>Cooleenie and I loooovvve a sprinkling of cinnamon on top our lattes.  I dumped in about a teaspoon and stirred well.  It sort of worked.  Kind of like dousing yourself in perfume when you have B.O.  The cinnamon masked the disgustingness. </p>
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<p>When I arrived at work, I had another ingenious idea.  I snagged one of the freebie hot chocolate packets in our kitchen and added about half to the latte.  Voila!  A Mexican Mocha! </p>
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<p>Again, the hot cocoa sort of worked.  Kind of like washing your armpits with a wet washcloth AND dousing yourself in perfume when you have B.O.  It's always better to take a shower, but if you only have five minutes, what are you supposed to do? </p>
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<p>So the moral of this story, girls and 3 boys who read this blog, is when life throws you a rotten bean, whip up a Mexican Mocha.  You can never go wrong by adding a sprinkling of spice and chocolate to your life. </p>
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<p>For your culinary pleasure, <a href="http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/mexican-mocha-mix/Detail.aspx" target="_blank"><strong>click here for a REAL Mexican Mocha recipe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p>
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<p>And if you want to get super toasty while savoring your Mexican Mocha, <strong><a href="http://www.drinksmixer.com/drinkrq14461.html" target="_blank">check out this recipe</a></strong>. </p>
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