I have begun appreciating not having an espresso setup at home. Cortado is my drink of choice, and it is mighty-hard to make it for cheap at home. Aero press is

I have begun appreciating not having an espresso setup at home. Cortado is my drink of choice, and it is mighty-hard to make it for cheap at home. Aero press is a good backup for lazy days. But, there is something about the ritual out going to a streetside cafe in the morning. It pushes you to step out if you work exclusively from home; gets you that essential morning sun and serves as a social third-place for those lonely days. It also serves as a great lubricant to do secondary chores on your way back. It costs money ofc, but as far as activities that facilitate those specific things, a semi-regular cafe visit is a fairly cheap 'indulgence' to have. I feel bad for Americans who live in neighborhoods where everything is a drive away, and chain cafes like Starbucks are the only type of establishment that can survive. As much as I crib about Seattle, it pulls off prison-cell-sized espresso-cafe-on-the-corner pretty well.