the O.D.: spro doze
August 13, 2007 – 1:13 pmraise your hand if you’ve ever slammed at least 14 shots in one sitting.
this blog finds itself guilty, yet strangely unable to recount hijinks comparable to the british lass. which raises a burning, snobbish question: was it robusta?
UPDATE: british curmudgeon hasbean steve calls “publicity stunt!”
UPDATE: this blog is deeply ashamed. had it known so very many others would blog this item, we would never have touched upon it. that said, we would like to humbly call, “first!”
UPDATE: those cheery commenters over at you-know-who’s place offer a classy, insightful medical tool — so johns hopkins! — known as the “death-by-caffeine calculator.” this blog, apparently, has nothing to worry about until it nears, oh, 146 espressos. or thereabouts. (side note: what IS it about clicking that “kill me” button that’s just so … uplifting!)
6 Responses to “the O.D.: spro doze”
Was signed on for 36 drinks as a judge, IN ONE ROUND, at the 2003 USBC in Boston. 12 competitors.
Made it to the tenth. Some dude put a whallop of cayenne pepper in his sig drink, and didn’t tell the judges. It made me and John Hornall, a second sensory judge out of four judges (they only had four + head judge back then – sensory did technical too) react and bow out of the comp – our taste buds couldn’t handle it.
Since then, have judged as much as 8 in one round – that’s still 24 espresso based drinks. You don’t drink them all, of course, but it’s a lot of caffeine in a short period.
By Mark on Aug 13, 2007
i knew, mark, that if anyone had risked extreme espresso poisoning, it would be you. this needs to be a nordic barista cup event.
i’ve done water tests and various comparions where i drank probably 30 shots — many of them entirely. it. was. not. fun. in one case, i told the wife i was unable to drive. that’s as close as i’ve come.
no uncontrollable sobbing, tho.
By bz on Aug 13, 2007
I think the tops I’ve done was 16 shots… I’m pretty sure that was the day I worked a morning bar shift and then went to the Canadian Coffee & Tea Expo. It’s not usually a pleasant experience being that high.
By Peter V on Aug 13, 2007
indeed. i seem to recall “inner jitters” being a key feature. like your large intestine was fluttering.
By bz on Aug 13, 2007
168 (point 41) espressos to do me in. I’d call you a lightweight, but I don’t believe this internet acquaintance is deep enough to talk smack on your comments page. I give it a month.
Check new blog!
By Phil Johnson on Aug 15, 2007
that’s what i call smack vacillating. now who’s the lightweight?
nice blog.
By bz on Aug 15, 2007