that's that me hierarchy of espresso needs (a la Maslow)
Whether you suckled lattes from bottles or just tried espresso for the first time after hearing Sabrina Carpenter's newest bop, coffee culture is rearing its ultra-caffeinated head this summer ... and I'm not one to complain.
I was a staunch drip coffee drinker from the ripe age of 12. My mom would fill my thermos every morning before I left the house, and by the time I reached high school I was double fisting coffee drinks on a daily basis. When I got to college my preferences for caffeinated beverages continuously cascaded into darker, earthier flavor profiles until I started drinking espresso straight - and I think that's maybe when my life finally began.
I now hold firmly to the belief that espresso is the staple holding my life together. If you've ever seen me in the morning without one ... you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. Although a double shot of espresso is the way I begin almost every single day, I have a lot of love in my heart for other espresso drinks - they simply play different roles for my state of being not unlike Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
So without further adieu, Ryley's Hierarchy of Espresso Needs a la Maslow:
Physiological: Double Shot of Espresso
The most basic of our needs - food, water, shelter, and of course, caffeination. There is nothing more pure than a double shot of espresso, the taste is rich and dark with enough bite to awaken the senses. The notes of marshmallow and caramel dance through the air and slide straight up your nose, allowing you to indulge before you've even tasted it. Espresso is of course, the root of all of our Espresso needs.
Safety: Cappuccino
The second stage is attributed to personal security and often associated with the physical world i.e. material wealth, property. This undoubtedly is associated with cappuccinos for me - the use of both steamed milk and froth implies luxury. She's crafted with care, and must be made with correct proportions in order to taste right. With a cappuccino you're welcome to indulge in a dash of flavor, or perhaps customize the espresso-to-milk-to-foam ratio to your specific taste palette. A cappuccino is what you make it to be, providing you with a safe feeling as you bring the steaming cup up in your hands to warm your face.
Love + Belonging: Affogato
Affogatos are a recent and truly welcomed addition to my personal list of favorite espresso drinks, and it truly embodies the stage of love and belonging in regards to needs. Harking back to the days of root beer floats and sundaes, we can engage with our inner child once again without sacrificing the sophistication we have grown into. Ice cream and espresso - it's frivolous, it's fun, and it's best enjoyed with company. If you haven't tried it, I encourage you to do so with a friend or loved one and allow the affogato to work its magic in enhancing your connection through the enjoyment of a silly treat. And really, have you ever felt unloved or disconnected from the universe when eating ice cream?
Esteem: Espresso Macchiato
I want to make perfectly clear what I'm NOT talking about when I say Espresso Macchiato. I am NOT talking about the iced caramel macchiato monstrosity that comes in large plastic cups from chain coffee stores. NO! That does not represent the stage of Esteem whatsoever. That is sheep mindedness (and in technical terms, a latte macchiato). The espresso macchiato is simple, classy, and elegant. It is a single or double shot of espresso with a dollop of milk foam on top, nothing more, nothing less. This drink is about self respect, it's about acknowledging your physiological needs, and then doing something over the top with it, just because you want to. Status and recognition are the themes for the Esteem stage, and I don't think there is a single person who would go unimpressed upon witnessing an individual order an espresso macchiato and finish it promptly. It's giving old money, it's giving unnecessary, and yes it will garner respect from others, but only because you're respecting yourself enough to do whatever the f*ck you want.
Self Actualization: Vienna
The desire to become the most one can be ... there is simply no other espresso drink that would suit the final stage of needs better than the vienna. The practical necessity of the espresso has been the base of ever stage, since it's the root of our needs. The affogato of the love and belonging stage provides the insight of what is necessary for self-actualization: self love. Which of course, in the vienna, is embodied by whipped cream. It's simple, because self actualization is often less complicated than we make it, and it encapsulates the best of all of our previous needs. The singularity of the physiological need in the espresso, the safety of customization via controlling the amount of whipped cream or whether you want the drink over ice, the love of the act of indulging in whipped cream, and of course the esteem that comes with ordering a drink most have thought of but never heard by name.
Though each person's Hierarchy of Espresso Needs will vary, invariably we can learn about ourselves and each other through our preferences and unique perspectives on what reflects our personal needs. I, for one, have learned about myself through this process that I prioritize my physiological needs and would benefit from indulging in love and participating in self actualization in regard to my espresso needs. In regard to everything else in my life, well, that's just that me espresso.
