Okay, admit it -- I LOVE shopping. Shopping is great. From fashion to kitchen wares, from furniture to books, isn't it great to have brought something you like back home?
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One very obvious "difference" between British and Americans is that British love tea while Americans love coffee. According to some survery, a typical American drinks 2-3 cups of coffee every day.

Normally, you can get coffee from coffee shop (Starbucks, Peet's Coffee and Tea...). Most offices in the U.S. also provide coffee for their employees. But say, if you're a student like me, what is the cheapest way to get some decent coffee??

Before I go on, I must state that I'm not a coffee fan. In fact, I don't drink coffee unless I have to. But I still have a cappuccino machine and some Starbucks coffee beans at home...

Well, the reason I got the cappuccino machine is because I almost drank a cup of coffee every day during last summer (I was taking 32 units in 12 weeks...). And paying $3 for a cup of latte every day was quite a loadsamoney. So I invested a cappuccino machine and thought that I could save a lot -- but then of course I stopped drinking coffee again after that summer... haha... [em113]

Talking about coffee, I am not a picky consumer, but usually I'll stick with Starbucks. I tried drinking Peet's Coffee, but I found that it was too bitter for me. The coffee shop at my college sucks, the coffee tastes like dirt water... [em117] And I don't really want to risk my money on some unknown small cafe... So I figure out although Starbucks may not offer the best coffee, it can never go wrong.

As for coffee type, my first choice is latte, since I couldn't stand the strong taste of coffee. Mocha is good too. I'll just get a cup of tea if the above two aren't available...

[此贴子已经被作者于2007-4-12 14:19:53编辑过]

3lb instant cappuccino coffee French vanilla flavor from Sam's club costs about $5-6; a decent coffee machine from local grocery store costs about $10-15;

a cup or two of coffee costs less than 50c in the morning; a cup of nestle instant hot chocolate costs about 10c in the afternoon.[em01]

Wow, that's a great comparison... thanks loveflower!

the other day, I talked with an old lady who was selling a Braun branded coffee machine in a supermarket. the machine is elegent but expensive, it is on sale that day for $129.99. After tring a sample cup of cuppuccino and a cup of latie, I told the lady that I counldn't tell the difference. it tasted not quite different from those brewed by my $10 machine. after about 30 minutes talking, the lady told me that, to be frankly honest, she was unable to tell the difference either. and this kind of gadget was unaffordable to her. we talked alot about coffee,coffee machine and the some other appliances used in kitchen. sometimes, I just couldn't figure out why those old ladies like to talk with me. Maybe,just because I was patient to listen to them. Anyway, I learned much from them: from choosing wine to handling manufacture coupons,from weight control to making pizza,everything. the other thing I counldn't figure out is why those young girls always hesitated to talk with me, unlike those elder ladies. [em01][em01] 

That is because u r the pop idol of those elder ladies, like the Chinese comic star - Feng Gong...[em01]

I suppose latte has more milk and has a less strong taste of coffe, while cappuccino has more bubble...? After getting used to latte, I feel that cappuccino is more bitter...

So, I guess that's the difference.

QUOTE:

以下是引用wxr021在2007-4-13 11:42:40的发言：
That is because u r the pop idol of those elder ladies, like the Chinese comic star - Feng Gong...[em01]

Are you serious? I thought the pop idol was Mr.  Zhao Zhongxiang in middle 90's or Mr.  u Cunxin in early 00's [em01]

Can't read pinyin!!!! Strongly request a Chinese version!!!!!!!!!
[em03][em03][em03]

QUOTE:

以下是引用丘灵在2007-4-13 11:46:08的发言：
I suppose latte has more milk and has a less strong taste of coffe, while cappuccino has more bubble...? After getting used to latte, I feel that cappuccino is more bitter...

So, I guess that's the difference.

Maybe not clear in my statement, what I want to say is I cann't tell the difference of tastes of coffee made by different coffee machines.

  

QUOTE:

以下是引用loveflower在2007-4-13 11:56:17的发言：

Are you serious? I thought the pop idol was Mr.  Zhao Zhongxiang in middle 90's or Mr.  u Cunxin in early 00's [em01]

am a kidding guy.
As to ur mentioned pop idols, I could figure out that ... u r a little bit elder than me ^_*[em07]

QUOTE:

以下是引用丘灵在2007-4-13 11:57:40的发言：
Can't read pinyin!!!! Strongly request a Chinese version!!!!!!!!!
[em03][em03][em03]

well, Here comes the Chinese verson...
Mr. Feng Gong - 冯巩；Mr.  Zhao Zhongxiang - 赵忠祥；Mr.  u Cunxin - 濮存昕