Teaspoons?

I have never owned or really even used a teaspoon, besides the ones used for measuring, before. Here these baby spoons are primarily used for scooping teabags out of teacups and stirring in milk or a lump of sugar. Where I am living the same number of teaspoons are washed up per day as forks. Which leads me to teatime. Generally you are either a Builders tea person (regular tea- Typhoon brand) or an Herbal tea person. Herbals like their tea pure, with no distractions from milk or sweeteners. Builders like their tea milky white, some prefer sugar, the older crowd prefers half tea/half hot water to keep them from staying up at night. When I first moved here I had about five 'cuppas' a day. After suffering from dehydration and watching my teeth start to dull I gave it up, and returned to being a coffee person. Gave it up, but gave in to something worse, instant coffee. It is in just about every household in the UK. In the US it barley makes it into one in five. I did force an upgrade from regular Nescafe to 'Alta Rica' blend, which is a definite improvement. But alas it is a pale imitation. Out of desperation and lack of bread (dough$) I ended up buying a percolator from a fellow American I came across on Gumtree (the UK equivalent of Craigslist). He was upgrading, and actually, so was I. After our 'exchange' at Kings Cross  I gallivanted over to Starbucks for a special treat. I went to the counter with my bag of beans, "I'd like these ground for a flat bottom machine please." Disbelief and confusion was what I saw. Luckily they were selling a coffee percolator behind me so I pointed to that. Slowly they began to realize they had a grinder behind them. Ten minutes later they figured out how to use it and looked thoroughly chuffed (pleased) when they handed over a bag full of Starbucks finest. The bag, which is smaller than the ones in the states, was el finito in about a week. Intimidated by my last transaction I waited until I went to the states over the holidays and came back with Starbucks and Caribou coffee galore. We were in permanent coffee heaven for about two months. After five days of Lavazza at fashion week, I've decided to try the Italian bean. Very good so far..

This brings me to the good ol' Americano. You can just go up to any coffee counter an order a cup of joe, most places don't do brewed coffee (just like most homes). The closest thing is the Americano, a shot of espresso with hot water.  I always feel like a tit/idiot (or titiot) ordering one. Another American ordering another Americano- how cliche!

All that said, I do enjoy a cup of tea sometimes, just like having a bath instead of a shower. Alas, you can take a gal out of America, but you can't take the America (or Americano) out of a gal!