A couple weeks ago, while workshifting from a Starbucks in New York City, I decided to take the plunge and try a Hoffacino. You're probably wondering what the heck a Hoffacino is all about, so I'll take a second to fill you in. Chris Hoff, security and cloud guru, came up with this custom Starbucks drink and it's slowly started to develop a following (at least it seems like it according to my twitter timeline).
Here's how you order it:
    Venti Starbucks Doubleshot on ice
    6 shots (espresso)
    3 Splenda
    No classic (syrup)
    Breve
So, what do you think? It sounds a little crazy, right? Well, I can assure you it's not just crazy, but also very delicious. It's not for the faint of heart (ba-dum-cha!) but if you like espresso and a caffeine rush I sincerely recommend you give it a whirl.

The thought had crossed my mind to write a personal blog post about the ordering/drinking experience (like these), but while mulling it over I decided it would be even better to share it with the workshifting community. You guys and gals spend your days at home, in coffee shops, at hotels and countless other places, and I bet you enjoy a higher than average beverage quotient, I know I do.

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite drinks (in no particular order):

-    Water (<10 cals):Sometimes there's nothing better than an ice cold glass of water to quench your thirst, especially in this summer heat. If you're not a big fan of water you can try adding a squeeze of lemon or lime juice or get those powder add-ins to give it a little splash of flavor. You should never forget this fundamental fluid of life; it does wonders for my productivity.

-    Smoothie (400ish cals, varies by ingredients): You might be surprised by how easy it is to make healthy shakes on a regular basis. I've been experimenting with Alton Brown's Buff Smoothie recipe and choosing different fruit combinations with quite pleasant results. I even shared my own Red Bull themed incarnation a few months ago. What's great about the recipe is you prep the night before and just do a quick blend in the morning. I take it on the road with me as a healthy breakfast and it sure beats a donut or bagel.

-    Toffee Nut Java Chip Frappuccino (350-600 cals): Sometimes when I'm on the go and get a craving for a dessert/coffee/chocolate fix, this is the drink I reach for. As with most Frappuccinos, it's high in calories, but you could order it as a Frappuccino Light to make it healthier. The toffee nut syrup is the perfect complement to the chocolate chips and coffee. Once you try it, you'll be hooked.

-    Iced Green Tea (90 cals): It's hard to resist the lure of the Free Wi-Fi at your local Panera and when I'm not in the coffee/soda mood I usually grab for their Iced Green Tea. It's definitely on the sweet side and is more akin to soda (minus the carbonation), but is a nice change of pace.

I'm always interested in new locales and new drinks, so I'd love to hear about your go to drinks.


Photo Credit: John Flinchbaugh