From Sweet Tooth to Coffee Curious: My Espresso Era (Thanks, Kids)

It all started with a white hot chocolate. Sweet, creamy, basically dessert in a cup – which, as a sleep-deprived mom of three under five, was exactly what I needed. I wasn’t a coffee person. The smell? Meh. The taste? Too bitter. The vibe? So tempting…but I stayed firmly in hot cocoa territory.

Then one day – mid-toddler meltdown, probably – I asked for a white hot chocolate with a shot of espresso. Just one. A little kick to keep me vertical during snack prep and sibling squabbles. And just like that, I was hooked. That single shot changed everything. Suddenly, the bitterness wasn’t offensive – it was balance. Depth. A whole new world of flavour. I started looking forward to that tiny jolt of sanity in my cup. It became a moment of peace in the middle of my chaos.

Then I met the pistachio latte at Tim Hortons. Creamy, nutty, lightly sweet. Basically a warm hug with caffeine. And now…I think I’m becoming a coffee person? Like, actually becoming one. I still love me a Red Bull, but now I crave that espresso edge.

And now I’m wondering…can I make these new faves at home? I want to recreate these without hauling all three kids into a Tim Hortons and paying $6 a cup, plus having to buy donuts that will only get half eaten by the kids.

So tell me, fellow caffeine-lovers: what do I need to make a pistachio latte at home? Is there an espresso machine that won’t require me to sell a kidney? Any coffee syrup brands worth trying?

I’m ready to level up. Because coffee might have started as a survival tactic – but it’s quickly turning into a love story.

With love,

Jenn