After last night writer’s group meeting I stumbled into the Starbucks next door and discovered their new decaffeinated version of their Breakfast Blend. What caught my attention was the sign offering it “for the first time,” and that confused me. I thought you could always get a decaf there?

“No,” said the barista. “Not the Breakfast Blend.”

“Why not?”

“Everyone’s opinion used to be, why make a decaf version of the coffee you’re supposed to wake up with?”

Apparently someone somewhere changed their opinion on that, and I’m glad. It’s delicious. It’s as strong as you’d expect and satisfying as the real thing, though — and I’m not sure it’s my imagination or not, but I detected the twang of a decaf after-taste. Subtle but there, however it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the brew.

Some people drink coffee for the effect. I do too, but also I drink it for the taste. And I love the taste at 10pm … but I also like to sleep at night.

This coffee fits in perfectly with that scenario.

Come to think of it, I also like having breakfast late at night, so that makes the Starbucks Breakfast decaf doubly appropriate. You won’t catch me drinking it in the morning, though.

That would be blasphemy.