Not Quite Ready for the 12-Step Program

For the last three months, I've been on a very restrictive weight loss diet. It's low cal, low fat AND low carb, and dairy is among the foods that are on my "no-no" list.

This has finally put a stop to my three-grande-a-day latte habit.

For the most part, I'm doing surprisingly well without my daily Starbucks fix -- but I still have days when I need some caffeine to jump start my day. Too bad I'm not crazy about most black coffee. I've tried it brewed drip-method, as an Americano and as espresso... and most of the time, I'm not enjoying it.

So I was feeling desperate when a PR friend of mine sent me a sample of a new kind of instant brewed coffee. After all, I'm a coffee snob - I don't do instant.

But RK Express Coffee is different. For one thing, it's a liquid concentrate, made from dark roasted arabica beans (the Breakfast Blend I sampled was made of Columbian coffee). It only contains two ingredients: coffee and water. And making it is as easy as pouring one ounce into a mug and adding hot water. (I like my coffee strong, so I tend to use more concentrate to make my cup.)

But what surprised me the most about this brew was that is tasted so good. I honestly didn't expect to like it. I especially didn't expect to like drinking it black.

I had been considering investing in one of those coffeemakers that only brew one cup at a time, but I've shelved that idea now that I've found RK Express.

According to their website, one bottle of RK Express coffee will make 16-20 cups of fine, gourmet coffee. I think mine yielded somewhat less, but that's because I tend to fill the little coffee cup measuring thingie past the line and up to the brim. However you use it, it's still cheaper than Starbucks!