March 2026 Slice of Life, No. 11
“It will definitely get your heart to racing!”
my dear friend, my sister from another mister, recalled.
Rare and Wild
It was a hot July afternoon when my friend arrived on a flight from DFW for her annual summer visit. We were excited to see each other. We had so much to catch up on since our last visit. And we were eager to head to the coast for a few days. Before we left the airport, I told her we needed to keep a travel ritual I had developed over the past year flying into PDX. We needed a Black Tiger. She agreed although she had no idea what a Black Tiger was.
At Coffee People, I ordered first, “Black Tiger milkshake.” Then I stepped aside so my friend could order.
With a West Texas drawl she said, “Black Tiger, please.”
The barista smiled, “Single or double?”
“Double, please.” Her words were soft and elongated.
I raised my eyebrows, surprised.
The barista continued. “Where are you from?”
“West Texas.” Her drawl was unmistakable.
***
Dear Reader, to fully appreciate my reaction–my surprise, you need to know about the legendary Black Tiger milkshake from Coffee People in Portland, Oregon. The ice cream base was made with Coffee People’s specialized Black Tiger blend, which was a very dark, high-caffeine roast, several shots of espresso, and, crucially, finely ground Black Tiger espresso bean powder mixed directly into the shake giving it a gritty but not unpleasant texture. Typically, it was topped with whipped cream and a lone chocolate-covered espresso bean. It was a thick, intense coffee milkshake. And Reader, my friend had just ordered a double, an extra shot of espresso for an even stronger jolt.
***
As we stood at a pub table waiting for our drinks, I leaned close and asked, “Why did you get a double?”
“Oohh-uh,” she drawled, “I thought, if it’s as good as y’all say, I’ll just get extra.”
The barista called our names, handed us our drinks, and wished us a great afternoon.
As we left the airport, my friend took long draws through the extra large red straw. By the time we reached the parking garage, she was raving about how great her Black Tiger milkshake was. Within a half hour, she was having a major caffeine buzz. That’s when I told her the meaning of double when ordering espresso drinks.
From time to time, we recall that day, the day she ordered a double shot Black Tiger, the day she was over caffeinated. And always we have a good laugh.
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What a fun memory with your friend! I appreciate the aside directly to the reader in the middle of the piece to fully explain to us what is going on with the Black Tiger drink. It made me feel like I was in on a secret that your friend didn’t know but was about to find out first hand!