One of the benefits of being a freelance designer is the ability to work out of a coffee shop from time to time. For me, that’s almost every friday. I sit down at Steaming Bean on Main, order my latte and write. This year I’ve made writing a blog a weekly challenge. With the unexpected addition of writing for the Detours Ambassador Program I am more than achieving my goal.

One of the disadvantages of being a freelance designer is the ability to work out of a coffee shop. I have, for years now, harbored a healthy addiction to my morning latte. It got pretty expensive at one point. Between my wife and I, whom I brought into my addiction, we averaged about $300 a month in coffee fees. Over the course of a year, that’s a pretty sweet new bike. Quite the bill for a beverage. Once we actually did the math, we decided to buy our own machine. It just so happens that I came across a sweet machine at a church yard sale, of all places. $25 for a Rancilio S24 Espesso Machine in minty fresh condition. I know right! So I am now a pretty efficient Barrista. Party and holiday events at the house are now heavily caffeinated and my latte is always the way I want it. The biggest benefit is probably that I don’t have to be that ass that takes his drink back to the bar because it’s not hot enough, or has too much foam or was not handed to me across the bar properly (just kidding, I never took it back for too much foam). Although my wife does pull the dissatisfied customer routine on me every once in a while – and she is not a nice person before she has coffee in the morning.

So if you’re ever in Durango, hit me up and we’ll sit down, talk bikes and enjoy a delicious espresso based beverage.