Cloudy with a chance of drive-throughs

Can a drive-through rain down from the sky? Not really, but in this video from Seattle Drip Coffee Company, you can see a drive-through getting "air-lifted" right onto a site. In Driven to Espresso, I mention that d-t stands sometimes get moved, and this video gives you the idea of how that might work (even though this is a brand-spanking new building).

With a name like Seattle Drip chosen for a business located in Mississippi, I think you can see the influence the Northwest is having on the rest of the country, and in this case, specifically in regard to the drive-through concept.

Coffee Fest Seattle

I attended Coffee Fest in Seattle this past Friday, the 25th, and had a great time. I enjoyed meeting face-to-face with some drive-through owners and baristas, some whose stands are in my book, and meeting Kent Bakke of La Marzocco, Matt Milletto of Bellissimo, as well as editors of three coffee-related publications.

You know bikini baristas have gone too far when..

..when they get arrested. Some baristas were arrested on prostitution charges in Everett, Washington. Here is the story from the Sky Valley Chronicle.

No drive-throughs, please

If you are dreaming of opening your own drive-through coffee stand, better not be dreaming in Glencoe, Illinois. According to the Chicago Tribune, they have an outright ban on drive-throughs of any kind.

Also, the nearby town of Northbrook has been reluctant, but recently permitted one at a McDonalds.

It's possible that many other communities do not allow them, and it's even more likely that many of them require a special permit, so it's always best to start at city hall before your dreams become plans.

Another shot not in the book

Here's another drive-through photo that didn't quite make it into the book. It was a rainy day, and I was frantically trying to find a drive-through during a few sun breaks. This one has that shiny pavement below it and some nice contrast.

Dutch Bros has over 100 drive-throughs and I think this was one of the smallest ones I've seen.

The Espresso Machine as printer

No, not that kind of espresso machine. This one is a book printing hurricane of a machine that can print a 300-page book in less than 5 minutes.

Google has announced plans to allow On Demand Books, maker of The Espresso Machine printer, to start printing copies of some of the millions of books Google has in their digital library. Yes, printing, as in paper. This would appear to make no sense at all, but the key to this idea is that the books they want to print are ones that are not in print any longer. The first ones in line for this ability are ones that are no longer copyright protected.

As reported in a Seattle Times article on Sept. 17, Google spokeswoman Jennie Johnson said, "This will allow people to pick up the physical copy of a book even if there may be just one or two other copies in some library in this country, or maybe it's not even available in this country at all."

Here is the full article: Google to reincarnate digital books as paperbacks

Book signing at Not a Number Cards & Gifts

October 7, 6 - 9 PM.

During the Wallingford Art Walk, I will be signing books at one of my newest retailers, Not A Number Cards & Gifts. If you have never been to this gift shop, you really need to check it out someday (and this would be a great time, obviously!). It is really different. You can shop in there for hours. They have off-the-wall stuff that you don't find in your typical card and gift shop.

I'm really grateful that they are selling my book.

Barnes & Noble at Northgate

Well, I'm jazzed! I have to share this.

I heard from the receptionist at my dentist's office that she saw Driven to Espresso at the Starbucks inside the Barnes & Noble at Northgate. I didn't know there was even any copies at that store, let alone at the Starbucks counter. What an awesome exposure for my book, and not even my idea. I had showed the book to the manager at B&N and he wanted to carry the book, but I didn't know they had ordered it.

It turns out they actually have 5 copies in the store, and now and then the manager tries a different location for it to get attention. Yay! While I was there talking to a manager, she asked me to sign the copies they have, so now there are 5 copies of the book with little stickers on the covers that say Autographed Copy. Very cool.

Thanks, Barnes & Noble!