The Bitch is back!: How-To

Learning the Starbucks Way: Ready to Order?

How-To 11/02/2015 02:53:00 AM

Nervous about ordering? Don’t be! There’s no “right” way to order at Starbucks. Just tell the barista what you want and they will do it. If you missed the first four posts on this series, click HERE for part 1 and start learning about basic Starbucks terminologies.

A barista may call your drink back in a different way, but that doesn't mean they are correcting you. That's actually the translation of your order into “barista-speak” – the standard way orders are called out. This language gives them the info they need in the order they need it, so they can make your drink as quickly and efficiently as possible. “Barista-speak” is easy to learn. It’s all about the order of information:

Cup: This is the kind of cup to use. If this is not specified, they will put it in a "to-go" cup. But you can also ask for a "for here" cup, iced cup or personal cup.

Shots and size: Want extra espresso on your coffee? Here’s something worth knowing:

Short (8 fl oz) and Tall (12 fl oz) – comes with one shot

Grande (16fl oz) and Venti (20 fl oz) – comes with two shots drinks

Adding a shot to a tall drink, means you’re getting a double tall. While adding a shot to a grande means you're getting a triple grande. Click HERE to read part 2 - all about Espresso.

Syrup: This is the most popular way to customize. Starbucks has many different syrup flavors to sweeten or spice up a drink.

Milk: Want something else aside from whole milk? This is the part where you tell them your choice.

Part 3 of this series discusses Syrup and Milk. Click HERE to read about it.

Other options: Lattes can be ordered "extra hot" while a Frappuccino® can be taken Affogato style. Click HERE for part 4 if you want to know the other choices you have.

The drink itself: Don’t forget the most important part! Are you having a Latte, a Mocha, or something else?

Here's a sample:

Cup: N/A

Shots: Decaf

Size: Grande

Syrup: N/A

Milk: Non-Fat

Other options: Extra-hot

Drink: Caramel Macchiato

How to say it: "I'll have a decaf, grande, non-fat, extra-hot, Caramel Macchiato."

Easy right?!? Don't worry if you get it all mixed up on your first attempt to order in "barista-speak!" Trust me, it just takes a little bit of getting used to. Now you’re ready to begin your search for a perfect, personalized Starbucks drink!

Did this series help you? Have you already found your favorite? Comment and let me know!

Source: "Find Your Favorite - A guide to Starbucks® drinks" booklet 2005

Note: List may be different per country.

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Learning the Starbucks Way: Other Choices

How-To 10/20/2015 09:28:00 AM

We are almost there! Just a hop and a skip away from finally finding your very own Starbucks favorite! If you missed the first three articles on this series, you can check them out here:

Click HERE for part 1 Terminologies
Click HERE for part 2 Espresso
Click HERE for part 3 Syrup and Milk

Aside from milk, syrup and espresso, there are many other ways to put final touches on a Starbucks coffee, placing your personal stamp on a drink.

Dry (or foamy): A dry Cappuccino is foamy but with little steamed milk. The espresso shoots through the foam and intensifies flavor.

Wet (or flat): A wet Cappuccino has more milk than foam. The result is a milky espresso taste, more like that of a Latte.

Whipped cream (or not): Add a touch of cloud to your coffee heaven for a little fun! Or, if your drink usually comes with whipped cream, you have the option to hold it off.

Light: Anytime you want less of something, say "light" - light whip, light syrup, light foam, light ice – you name it.

Sugar substitute: Your Starbucks barista will be happy to add sweeteners if you desire.

Extra hot: Milk is steamed to around 160⁰F (70⁰C), but if you want it a bit hotter than that, let them know!

Not a fan of hot coffee? Frappuccino® blended beverages have a number of options just as regular Lattes do.

Frappuccino® Light: It’s the same as regular Frappuccino® but with 60% less fat and 40% less calories.

Add syrup: Create your own treat! For example, hazelnut syrup in a Mocha Frappuccino® blended coffee makes a delicious nut-chocolate combination.

Affogato style: Try a Frappuccino® blended beverage with mocha or caramel drizzle and a shot of espresso on top. It gives the drink a more pronounced coffee flavor – and makes it fun to watch as the espresso drifts down.

Add Coffee Jelly: Compliment your favorite drink with yummy pieces of Coffee Jelly.
Blended whip (blogger added): Love whipped cream but don't like it sitting on top? Then have it mixed! When you don't see it, the lesser your guilt. *wink* *wink*
Twice blended (blogger added): Say goodbye to the ice bits. Ask the barista to blend your drink twice for a smoother Frappuccino®.

Now you're ready to order! Learn the "barista-speak" HERE.

Source: "Find Your Favorite - A guide to Starbucks® drinks" booklet 2005
Note: List may be different per country.

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Learning the Starbucks Way: Syrup and Milk

How-To 9/07/2015 02:26:00 PM

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Power Bank Guide

How-To 8/24/2015 05:24:00 AM

Image courtesy of gizmoporn.com

The demand for Power Banks increased since the dawn of smart gadgets. Almost everyone who owns a smart phone, a phablet, or a tablet, would not leave home without a power bank. Have you been looking for one but do not know what to get? Don't make your decision based on color or design! Here's a list of things you should know:

Capacity

First thing to do is finding your smart gadget's battery capacity. It's usually written on the battery itself. If not, look for the info on the manual. This information will help you identify how many times it can be fully charged by a power bank. The lowest capacity on a power bank is 2600mAh, and may double as it increases (depending on the brand). My BlackBerry Q10 has a 2100mAh battery capacity, therefor a 2600mAh power bank may fully charge it once.

Efficiency

Power banks have about 70% to 80% efficiency and the rest of the energy is lost to heat. This means that a 2600mAh may not fully charge my BlackBerry Q10, the same way a 3600mAh may not completely fill your S4's 3600mAh battery. Factor in the running apps in the background (especially those that use internet) and this will further decrease the possibility of a full charge.

Juicing it up

Charging time of a 2600mAh power bank is roughly the same as a 2100mAh smartphone battery, if not a few minutes more. That means the higher power bank capacity, the longer it takes to fully charge.

Sizing it up
Commonly rectangular, these thingamajigs may be cylindrical, sometimes even oddly shaped. And although not true for some, but the higher a power bank's capacity, the bigger it may get. The bigger it is, the heavier it will be. Do consider how you'd be carrying it around.

Assess the need
Do you drain your battery more than 3 times a day? If yes, pick up a a high capacity power bank. Always on the go but have access to an electrical socket? You may not need a high-powered one after all.

TLC

Avoid overcharging. Keep in room temperature. Do not submerge in water. Do not puncture. Do not subject to extreme force or weight. So on and so forth. You get the point.

Maximize your power

Remember that this piece of equipment is like a portable battery. It is not a power outlet. So to get the most out of your charging time, consider turning off your data service, Wi-Fi, bluetooth, and close all running apps/games. Maybe even move to a cooler room.

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Learning the Starbucks Way: Espresso

How-To 8/03/2015 07:25:00 AM

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Learning the Starbucks Way

How-To 7/06/2015 07:41:00 AM

In my industry, even with the advent of milk tea, coffee is STILL and will ALWAYS be a MUST. I just couldn't think of how I would survive my day without coffee. It doesn't have to be Starbucks everyday, for all I care it could be Nescafe 3-in-1. Point is, I just need to get my daily dose of caffeine especially after getting up from bed.

Can you fill up all those boxes? It's OK if you can't! I'm here to teach you how. Afraid to go to Starbucks without anyone ordering for you because you think you'd be judged? Don't worry, the baristas won't (but I know some patrons and would). And just to clarify things, Starbucks is NOT sosyal. It's just another coffee shop, no big deal. While some like CBTL or Seattle's Best, I prefer Starbucks. I've been a regular since 2004.

At Starbucks you can have your coffee just the way you want it. For example, if you like nonfat milk and vanilla syrup in your Cappuccino, just ask the barista. If you’re not sure what to order, here’s a glossary to get you started. This is the first installment of this five-part blog series.

Image courtesy of http://www.evoyage.com/Glossary.htm

Americano: A coffee made with two shots of espresso and hot water.

Cappuccino: The perfect Cappuccino achieves a delicate balance between the strong espresso flavor and a thick layer of sweet, velvety foam.

Con Panna: Italian for “with whipped cream” and hot water.

Cream: This refers to a coffee-free beverage, such as a Vanilla Frappuccino® Blended Cream.

Decaf: Abbreviation for “decaffeinated” coffee or espresso.

Demitasse: French for “half cup” – it’s the little cup used to serve espresso.

Doppio: Italian for “double,” referring to the two-shot espresso beverage served in a demitasse cup.

Double: Two shots of espresso in a drink.

Drip Coffee: Premium Starbucks coffee brewed in an electric filter machine.

Dry: More foam, less milk.

Espresso: Coffee’s purest, most intense form.

For-here cup: A ceramic cup for enjoying your drink in the store.

Frappuccino® blended beverage: A delicious, icy and smooth drink made only at Starbucks.

Grande: Starbucks' second-largest cup size, 16 fl oz.

Half-caf: One shot of regular and one shot of decaffeinated espresso.

Latter: A drink made with espresso and steamed milk.

Light: A smaller amount of an ingredient in a drink, such as “light syrup” or “light whip.” It also refers to Frappuccino® light blended beverages with fewer calories.

Macchiato: Italian for “marked” or “stained.” This drink is espresso topped with a tablespoon of foamed milk.

Misto: Italian for “mixed” – a combination of drip coffee and steamed milk.

Mocha: A drink made with espresso, chocolate and steamed milk.

Personal Cup: a reusable cup you can bring into the store, or otherwise called by the majority as "tumblers." It’s an environmentally friendly way to enjoy your drink. Plus you get a few pesos off the price of your drink for helping conserve paper.

Quad: Four shots of espresso in a drink.

Ristretto: A ristretto shot is a short pull of espresso capturing only the sweetest part.

Shaken: Tea or coffee mixed with ice and shaken by hand for a refreshing flavor.

Short: Starbucks' smallest beverage size, 8 fl oz.

Single: One shot of espresso in a drink.

Solo: One shot of espresso, by itself.

Tall: Starbucks' regular beverage size, 12 fl oz.

To-go cup: A paper/plastic cup used for enjoying a drink in or out of the store.

Triple: Three shots of espresso in a drink.

Venti: Starbucks' largest cup size, 20 fl oz.

Wet: More milk less foam.

Whip: An abbreviation of “whipped cream.”

Do you know of any other terms? Comment and share your knowledge!

Click HERE for part 2 (Espresso choices)
Click HERE for part 3 (Syrup and Milk options)
Click HERE for part 4 (Other Choices)
Click HERE for part 5 (Ready To Order)

Source: "Find Your Favorite - A guide to Starbucks® drinks" booklet 2005
Note: List may be different per country.

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Tips and Tricks: Home Hair Treatment

Beauty 6/08/2015 02:21:00 PM

Image courtesy of http://magazine.foxnews.com/style-beauty/care-your-hair-pumpkin-sweet-potatoes-champagne-and-more

Summer is favored by a lot of Filipinos due to the countless activities that are available during this period. However it is equally dreaded because intense heat and high humidity in the country can wreak damage to our tresses. The general majority turn to salons for a quick fix. But why spend so much money when you can save more by doing the hair treatment yourself? I know the season is about to end but it is not an excuse. Your hair should always get some good old TLC. Here are my tips:

Make it a habit

I recommend setting at least an hour and a half every weekend for this task. If that doesn’t work a bi-monthly schedule would do. Point is, do it as often as possible. Frequency will not only produce better results, it also helps prevent future damage.

Image courtesy of http://www.goddessweaves.com/damaged-dry-hair-treatments

Chemical or Natural?

Natural treatment methods such as coconut oil or the likes, most of the time, will not work with chemically treated locks (with the exception of Argan Oil). Chemical processes alter the composition of hair preventing it to fully absorb nutrients from natural substances. It will just sit on top and will get washed off easily.

Shampoo Tricks

Like animals adapting to their environment for survival, hair too, will get accustomed to any given merchandise that is frequently used. Switch it up on treatment day! By introducing a different shampoo, hair will react differently because the chemical formula is not something it is familiar with. Doing so will increase the possible benefits of hair treatment.

Leave the shampoo on for 5 to 10 minutes depending on hair type. The feeling will be extra dry after washing but the cuticles will open, allowing more of the product to be absorbed.

Treatment Dos

Strictly follow the recommended time frame. Leaving it on for an extended period doesn’t guarantee a better outcome, but it could actually cause more damage. Using a hair cap or hot towel may help, but do check if it is suggested. Bottom line is: read instructions carefully before using.

Water Talk

Use lukewarm water during shampoo to help open the hair cuticles. Use cold water when rinsing treatment product to seal it.

Next Day Routine

Try to avoid washing hair for at least 24 hours. As majority of treatment products will not show immediate effects, natural oils may increase the possibility of an enhanced turn out. However, I am also aware that this is out of the question during summer. An [itchy] alternative is skipping shampoo for the next one or two bathing sessions. They are formulated to clean, thus will also remove any treatment product easily or whatever is left of it. Stick to your favorite conditioner (it’s easier said than done). Who knows, you might be up for a silkier surprise!

Image courtesy of http://braziliansignature.com/blog/hair-straighteners-choose-great-hair-straightening-treatment/

Styling

The use of hot tools is not recommended as this will increase the possible damage inflicted to your hair. The temperature is bad enough but adding more stress to the tresses by utilizing curling irons, flat irons, or blow dryers in high setting during this season will greatly speed up mane mayhem.

Treatment Products

Change it up once in a while. Do I still have to blabber about how hair adapts? You get the point.

Also, don’t just buy random products off the counter. Research is key to get the optimal result. Find out which ones are proven to be effective. Click the “Product Review” or “Hair” link under labels (right hand corner of the page) to see the items I’ve been using lately!

Conditioner Break

This is more of a pet peeve than a tip. But believe it or not, some people still use conditioner during treatment day! No. Nope. Just no.

Image courtesy of http://www.fashion-trend.co.uk/?p=1074

Salon Visits

Though a lot of at-home hair treatment products are out there, it is still important to get an expert’s opinion. Visit your stylist and get a salon treatment at least every quarter.

I hope this short article helped! I came up with these tips and tricks after years of getting hair treatment at salons and doing it myself at home. Comment on this post and share your best practices! I'd love to try them out myself!