It’s early afternoon, you’re at the mall, and you decide to treat yourself to a brunch burger at Shake Shack. You order your food, but then comes the drink decision. Usually, I’d just grab a soda, but lately, drinking a giant, sweet soda with a heavy burger just leaves me feeling sluggish.
What I really wanted was a crisp, strong Iced Americano to cut through the richness of the burger. So, I decided to do something a little unconventional: I brought my own cafe with me.
The Fast-Food Barista Setup
I had my ZenithShot Elite portable coffee maker in my bag, along with some freshly ground Whole Foods espresso beans. I had spent the morning dialing in the grind size (I had to go a little coarser to get it just right), so I knew the coffee was going to be perfect.
When the staff brought out my Shack Stack burger, I simply asked for an empty cup filled with ice. Then, I started the heating process on the ZenithShot and got to work.
That Bottomless Extraction...
For this trip, I used our new bottomless adapter. There is absolutely no plastic touching the coffee, which is something we spent a long time developing. I positioned the machine right over the cup of ice.
As it extracted, the result was incredible. A thick, beautiful layer of crema poured out, melting perfectly over the ice. It looked like something you’d pay $6 for at a specialty coffee shop, but I was making it right next to a pile of french fries.
The Ultimate Pairing
I added a little cold water to finish the Iced Americano and took a sip, then a bite of the burger. Wow.
The deep, slightly syrupy flavor of the espresso paired so perfectly with the savory, salty burger. It was exactly the kind of brunch I was craving—no sugar crash, just pure, high-quality flavor. It made me realize that bringing your own espresso machine to a fast-food joint might seem a little crazy at first, but once you taste the difference, it makes total sense.
This is exactly why I started ZenDim Coffee Labs. Whether you want to use a quick Nespresso capsule or take the time to tamp your own fresh grounds, you should have the power to drink great coffee wherever your day takes you. Even if that's the food court at the mall.
Next time you grab a burger, try pairing it with a fresh, bold Iced Americano. You might never go back to soda again!