MONA LISA IN COFFEE - I've never seen the Mona Lisa up close and personal. Someday. But in the meantime I can try to recreate the Mona Lisa in coffee filled coffee cups. Oh wait. Already been done. It took 3,604 cups of coffee, using different levels of milk to create different shades of color. The "coffee painting" measures 20 feet high and 13 feet wide. It took eight people about three hours to make. I have enough trouble making my own cup of coffee much less creating paintings out of it! For more info go here.
MY COFFEE COSTS MORE - In case you haven't heard, in this recession where the price of things are dropping because no one has any money to buy stuff, Starbucks is raising their prices. As of yesterday, drinkers in certain markets will pay 5 cents more for a Venti cup of vanilla bean or coffee-flavored Frappuccino; 15 cents more for a Venti mocha or vanilla latte; and 25 cents more for a Venti caramel Macchiato. An additional espresso shot or an extra dose of milk or syrup will cost another 10 to 15 cents. On the cheaper side a tall latte or cappuccino will cost 10 cents less, while a tall hot or iced brewed coffee will be 5 cents cheaper. I usually get a grande latte. Sigh. While this is being rolled out to different markets at different times, San Francisco was one of those hit with the higher prices yesterday so I assume our area is now more expensive too.
FIERCE STARBUCKS! - Yes, I was a fan of Project Runways Christian Siriano. I found him cute, talented and funny as hell. It seems the "Fierce" man is collaborating with Starbucks to do some "holiday" projects with them this Christmas. November 17th is the day we find out what he is up to with the coffee chain (though I'm sure something will leak sooner). For more info go here.
CUP ART - Sometimes if I really need a cup of joe, I head during break times to Roy's Coffee in Japantown (yes, coffee, but they do sell teas). I noticed some "coffee cup art" showcased there today. Not the coffee itself, but folks drawing on the outside of the paper coffee cups. If you want to see some amazing drawings on Styrofoam coffee cups, check out this guy on flickr. His work is amazing (and for sale). Go here.
COFFEE ART - When I buy coffee at Starbucks it's usually to go. And it comes with a lid on, so if they are doing any fancy coffee art in my cup I never notice. At Roy's they basically bring you the to go cup lidless so you can see if they do any fancy pouring. Celebrating National Coffee Month, my friend Chef Barbie is showcasing some amazing coffee art every day of the month. Check out her blog here.
That Mona Lisa coffee-cup sculpture is unbelievable! How did they ever think of doing this? I mean, did one guy just peer into his cup of foamy latte one day, and say, "I see the makings of a famous Louvre painting in this...''??? ;)
Posted by: Carolyn Jung | August 21, 2009 at 09:23 PM
WOW that is incredible. I can't even imagine why anyone would think to do that, but WOW!
Posted by: Lydia Jackson | August 21, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Cafe Artiggiano in Vancouver always does art in your latte foam. It's one place I nearly always plan to stay in because the nice wide cups they use work well for the art. And the coffee is good, too.
Posted by: @makfan | August 22, 2009 at 10:16 PM
thanks for the shout out... you know i love my coffee!
Posted by: Chef Barbie | August 23, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Awesome art! but i cannot believe Starbucks is raising prices... glad i am not a coffee drinker!! i get tea and cider there once in awhile, but now i'm boycotting them :p raising caffeine prices in a recession just because you CAN? Down with corporate greed!
Posted by: Arch | August 29, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Wow - that Mona Lisa in coffee was cool!
Posted by: Lara | August 30, 2009 at 07:39 AM
totally impressive, how much time had to be spend it in this art work, becuase there's no other word for this, this is art, that Mona Lisa, like the original this could be put in a musseum to keep it in perfect conditions.
Posted by: Cialis Online | April 07, 2011 at 11:05 AM