This year Christine and I took the train from Montreal to Vancouver. We wanted to go see her family in Quebec this summer and she took the train 2 weeks before me and I arrived by plane on August 15th and then we were scheduled to go back by train leaving on August 25th arriving back in Vancouver on August 29th.
We talked all through the start of her trip until she got into Ontario where there appears to be no internet and wireless access. However, she did tell me a few things about the train ride and one thing she warned me about was the coffee.
Not many people drink coffee the way I do. I take a dark french roast, I grind it fresh and then put it in my stovetop espresso maker. It makes about 4 shots of espresso and then I warm up the cup and add organic cane sugar and coffee cream to get it just the right colour. I remember asking Rick at Continental coffee (Commercial Drive and 2nd in Vancouver, BC) if I should try a lighter roast and he said, "Janet, if you like your coffee burnt, just have it burnt." So, I have stuck to the Dark French roast and never looked back.
I also travel with my stovetop espresso maker. If I could I would knit it a little waterproof travel bag, but knitting and waterproof don't go together. At Christine's parents there was a coffee grinder, so that was not an issue, but on the train, there is just hot water and no stove for me to put my coffee maker on and the coffee that is available on the train is not bad, it is just not, well, the kind of coffee that will kick your butt in the morning and sending you running down the halls ready to take on the world, like mine is. So, we needed a solution. There was no way I was going to survive 4 mornings with a gentle reminder that coffee was a distinct possibility somewhere in the world. I need my "woohoo, good morning, time for a ride" cup of coffee. Full of flavour attitude and the distinct possibility that scotch is the only "stronger" flavoured drink you can find. That is my kind of coffee.
So, we decided to try the Starbucks coffee in the little envelopes. I got a Dark French and a Mocha version and Christine got the Columbian. We were so impressed. It may not be quite like at home, but that was a damn good cup of coffee with a beautiful fresh flavour. It wasn't until the last day on the train that I realized that this Starbucks coffee was called VIA.
I am easily amused and this discovery totally amused me. So I had to take this picture and I will say if you like a good strong cup of coffee and you are planning a cross Canada train ride, grab some VIA for your VIA rail vacation. Both the train ride and the coffee were fantastic and they go together!!!
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| Christine next to the train |
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| On the train going through Ontario |
Not many people drink coffee the way I do. I take a dark french roast, I grind it fresh and then put it in my stovetop espresso maker. It makes about 4 shots of espresso and then I warm up the cup and add organic cane sugar and coffee cream to get it just the right colour. I remember asking Rick at Continental coffee (Commercial Drive and 2nd in Vancouver, BC) if I should try a lighter roast and he said, "Janet, if you like your coffee burnt, just have it burnt." So, I have stuck to the Dark French roast and never looked back.
I also travel with my stovetop espresso maker. If I could I would knit it a little waterproof travel bag, but knitting and waterproof don't go together. At Christine's parents there was a coffee grinder, so that was not an issue, but on the train, there is just hot water and no stove for me to put my coffee maker on and the coffee that is available on the train is not bad, it is just not, well, the kind of coffee that will kick your butt in the morning and sending you running down the halls ready to take on the world, like mine is. So, we needed a solution. There was no way I was going to survive 4 mornings with a gentle reminder that coffee was a distinct possibility somewhere in the world. I need my "woohoo, good morning, time for a ride" cup of coffee. Full of flavour attitude and the distinct possibility that scotch is the only "stronger" flavoured drink you can find. That is my kind of coffee.
So, we decided to try the Starbucks coffee in the little envelopes. I got a Dark French and a Mocha version and Christine got the Columbian. We were so impressed. It may not be quite like at home, but that was a damn good cup of coffee with a beautiful fresh flavour. It wasn't until the last day on the train that I realized that this Starbucks coffee was called VIA.
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