Things We Like: Pushbutton Coffee (Monkey Goggles)

You know what’s awesome? I’ll tell you what’s awesome – that delicious sludge that comes from 7-11’s push-button coffee machines! Sweet, delicious sludge… Don’t let the name fool ya, it’s not actually coffee by any means; not even close. But it’s warm and it’s rich and it’s usually less than one-third the price of a triple-grande soy hazelnut mocha, extra hot, no whip.

I first fell in love with push-button coffee in my hometown’s city bus terminal; I’d kill the time between transfers with a piping hot cup of machine-made coffee. Back then, the choices were a bit more pedestrian – you could get your coffee instant, with crème, with sugar, or both. And it tasted pretty much the same now matter what.

In the past 10 years, the flavors of 7-11’s coffees have gotten all kinds of intricate – coffee and cream has turned into a latte, which has in turn become a Cherries Jubilee Cup-o-Chino. Heck, I’d not be surprised to walk in to a 7-11 someday and see Black Truffle Kiwi MochaMatchaChino in the flavor rotation. Time and technology may have moved on and my tastes may have become more refined, but I still crave a cup of English Toffee- or White Chocolate Caramel-flavored diabetes from time to time.