Espresso as Metaphor: Trying a New Coffee Drink and Looking Towards the Future

Several years ago when I was in grad school at NYU, my professor, Dr. Robert Bench, a respected publishing professional, often used the term “future forward.” I found the term charming and provocative all at once. The alliteration notwithstanding, the term evoked an image of people moving rapidly into a physical future space. Plus it synched with my approach to life. The reality is that we are always moving forward and need to make room for new experiences and ideas, including what we consume. That’s why when it comes to coffee, trying a new brew or new type of drink is a good idea. Yesterday I tried a low-sugar, skim caramel macchiato. According to the barista at Starbucks, macchiato means “marked”. Basically, the drink starts with milk on the bottom, with foam above that. The drink is then topped off with espresso---you really taste the espresso. As most other coffee drinks go (lattes, cappuccinos, etc.) macchiatos are upside down. The caramel drizzle is an added plus. For me, th