Seasonal Problems
Bianca A. 7th grade
It was an evening in early November. The last rays of the setting sun shone on the Pinwheel bar, illuminating a group of drinks.
“Well, well, well, look who we have here. It's the fall drinks, the losers. I can keep going with names, but I’m not that mean,” Eggnog Chai said.
Nitro Cold Brew shot back, “Give it a rest. We all know that fall is the best season because of its drinks.”
“Oh please, you can lie to yourself all you want. Like us, all of the customers, the winter drinks best,” Eggnog Chai replied.
“Whatever, the fall drinks are the best because we bring in the most sales in only a month!” Pumpkin Latte said with attitude.
“Guys, calm down. We are all good drinks just in different seasons,” Eggnog Latte told the others in a friendly tone.
“Omg come on Eggnog Latte. You are too sweet and nice. The fall drinks are the better drinks. You just can’t admit it,” Chai Spiced Latte said.
They kept debating for a while. Until the leader of the Fall drinks, aka Pumpkin Chai, spoke up again. He told the leader of the Winter drinks, aka Eggnog Chai, “Get out of my way, or we will make sure you guys don’t make it on the seasonal drink menu next year.”
Eggnog Chai responded, “Back off, we are not going anywhere. The humans will never get rid of the best drinks ever because then nobody will come to the coffee shop!”
“Oh, someone sure is full of themselves,” Pumpkin Chai calmly replied.
“The last rays of the setting sun shone on the Pinwheel bar, illuminating a group of drinks. ”
The fighting continued, until Pumpkin Latte, Chai Latte, and Peppermint Mocha all decided to have enough.
“We are done with all this fighting,” Pumpkin Latte said.
“Yea, I don’t like why we are always fighting. I mean, come on, we are both great seasonal menus,” Chai Latte added.
“But I want to be the best!” Eggnog Chai shouted back.
“Eggnog Chai…no buts,” Peppermint Mocha said.
“Ugh, fine,” Eggnog Chai grumbled. “The fall drinks are as good as the winter drinks, just in a different way.”
“Umm, well, that’s a great realization, but we have all agreed that you should not be our leader. You are too bossy, and you never let us have any fun,” Apple Cider said.
“What...who is going to be the leader then? Good luck finding a new leader,” Eggnog Chai said.
“Oh, we already agreed on who our leader will be,” Apple Cider said.
“Eggnog Latte is our new leader,” Peppermint Mocha and Apple Cider said confidently.
“WHAT, Eggnog Latte!?” Eggnog Chai said, surprised.
“WHAT me,” Eggnog Latte said, also surprised.
“Yes, you, and it’s final,” Peppermint Mocha said.
“But why me?”
“It’s because you’re always so sweet, you’re always so positive, and you bring out a light-hearted tone to our coffee shop,” Peppermint Mocha replied.
“Well, like I always say, being light-hearted brings in the customers,” Eggnog Latte said.
The other syrups laughed, happy that the conflict between fall and winter drinks had been resolved.
Barista Bookshelf - Black Coffee
Black Coffee
These books are a bit dark, not always the most cheery, but rewarding to finish. Just like a cup of black coffee.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
A young writer is hired by famous author, Verity Crawford's husband, to complete her award-winning book series after Verity suffers brain injuries from an accident. The young author ends up finding an unpublished manuscript written by Verity, revealing some terrifying secrets.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
A reporter is sent back to her hometown to investigate a possible serial killer. After reuniting with her… unique family, she is reminded why she left.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
An inquisitive teenager begins investigating a case that happened five years ago in her hometown. Even after enough evidence convinced the police that Sal Singh was the murderer, Pippa is determined to prove otherwise.
Hot Chocolate Through the Ages
Kai W- 6th grade
!! Warning. This story is a completely untrue history of hot chocolate !!
This story is about how hot chocolate was invented. It came through many decades and it took a while to become what it is today. This is a lot of laughs and it will make your day better.
1600 A.D.
Many people don't know, but during this period, there was a war. The Romans were attacking. It was an all-out fight scene, and right in the middle was Jeb. Yes, his name was Jeb and he was tasked with making a weapon so good it would burn off everyone’s feet, but in a good way. Then came the discovery of chocolate. Jeb had discovered this during a mission into the forest. This new drink was...AMAZING! It gave all the soldiers superpowers. They gained super strength. This drink was their new secret weapon.
“He wanted them to entirely remake the drink with a new recipe. ”
1700 A.D.
The invention of the drink was awesome. People have used it now for 100 years. A new leader came to the people of this land and he wanted them to entirely remake the drink with a new recipe. The so-called “Leader” wanted it to be a unique drink that tasted delicious and that people could enjoy all the time. He changed it to make it sweeter so the people would like drinking it even more. He did this by adding sugar to the chocolate drink. People loved it, but little did he know that by adding sugar the drink lost the side effects. So the people were no longer super strong.
1800 A.D.
This century was different than any of the others, superpowers were gone and people became peaceful. Except someone had an idea to make it iced. People liked this drink since it was so hot all the time. They felt calm and peaceful. Since it was so hot all the time, people wanted to be inside away from the hot sun. This was the invention of coffee shops! People have discovered coffee and iced coffee and iced chocolate because it’s so hot.
1900 A.D.
People loved this so much they drank it too much and then something happened. A huge drop in temperature started to freeze the water in people’s drinks. A chunk of ice
started forming near the land. It started slow, but soon it got bigger and bigger and eventually became a giant wall of ice and snow. The coffee shops started to use the ice from the wall to put into people’s drinks to make them cool.
2000 A.D.
The land soon became a huge chunk of ice. Scientists all over the place were wondering how this had happened. But more people were concerned about how they were going back to their houses. People had become smart by this century and stopped drinking frozen chocolate water. The people were mad, they were so mad that they banned the drink. But one day a solution came. No one knew who it came from. But I think it was from a smart kid. Anyway, the solution was to make the drink hot and when you are desperate you have to try. It worked and the whole world was restored to nothing.
That is the true history of hot chocolate.
Barista Bookshelf - Eggnog Chai
Eggnog Chai
Just weird enough to work!
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Bella Swan is less than thrilled about the move to rainy Forks, Washington. But on her first day at her new school, she becomes intrigued by and intertwined with a family of vampires.
Wilder Girls by Rory Power
Hetty’s all-girls boarding school was put under quarantine over a year ago to protect the students and staff from a mutating virus called the Tox. Now, supplies are running low, teachers are disappearing, and the girls are losing hope. But, when Hetty gets a glimpse of what the virus is like past the school property, her curiosity gets the best of her.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss Everdeen has never left District 12 of Panem. However, when her little sister is chosen by the Capitol to compete in a brutal fight between 24 teenagers, Katniss finds it her responsibility to take her sister’s place. Can she survive the 74th Hunger Games?
The Great Syrup Adventure
Neela E. 7th grade
The syrups had a rich life in Pinwheel. They didn’t just sit behind the counter, waiting for customers to order them. Oh no, they went places. Lavender and Coconut vacationed at The Bar, where they enjoyed a lovely view of the sunrise. Almond and Raspberry hiked up Table Ridge, one of the most difficult hikes. Simple Syrup wasn’t looking and fell into The Trash, he got scared, luckily the others helped him up and out. And that is just a few adventures that the syrups have been on!
While this life was great, some syrups craved more. One day it finally happened. It was a sunny day in June. Sophia rode her bike down to Pinwheel Coffee with her dog Sprocket. She left Sprocket outside by the tables at Pinwheel and brought her bike inside Framework Cycles. It turns out she got a flat tire while riding down to Pinwheel. She then walked through the doors that connected Pinwheel Coffee and Framework Cycles and bought a Butter Croissant and a Chai. Suddenly, Sprocket started barking at this strange brown animal with a bushy brown tail. It was holding a nut and sitting in a tree. The syrups were startled by the commotion outside. They finally realized that this was their chance. They were going to venture out of Pinwheel Coffee and into the outside world! They all had their special powers, but they couldn’t use them when they were in their bottles, so they hopped out of their bottles and headed on out.
“They finally realized that this was their chance.”
Unfortunately, not all of them could attend this wild adventure. Peppermint and Mocha were already on a date at The Bar. Simple Syrup couldn’t find his lucky radish, so he decided to stay home. Hazelnut completely missed the excitement because he was asleep with his teddy bear. And Pumpkin wanted to come but had to go to his son's baseball game in Fridgeopolis, the tall cold metal tower.
Even though their brains are made of sugar they still need a quick way to go and investigate and then quickly come back before anyone notices they are gone. They hopped on a plane that took them straight to The Trash can, thankfully Simple Syrup was not attending this adventure.
The door was now in view and they were so excited that they started to run and shout. Until they reached...The Trash. “Ahhhhhhhh! Run everyone!” said Almond. He plunged ahead, almost falling off the end of the counter. Thankfully before Almond reached the edge the syrups were there to grab him. They were puzzled about how to get from the countertop to the table closest to the window. After hard thinking, they decided to stick together and make a bridge. One by one they climbed across each other to get to the round table. They all made it safely and headed for the door. Coconut was the last one to cross. As he began, he slipped and flew into the air. He hit the button right next to the door, and the door magically opened for the adventurous syrups.
They ran outside and immediately chaos occurred! People were walking, cars honking, dogs barking, and multiple weird brown bushy animals in the tree. Six-legged creatures were climbing all over the place, and small winged creatures flying around people’s food. Then, it happened! To their left, towering over them, they saw another Trash! This one was even bigger, meaner, and scarier than inside. They immediately ran back inside; they were all thinking the same thing. The syrups quickly locked the door so that the outside world, and The Outside Trash, would never come into Pinwheel again! They hurried back to tell the others never to leave the comfort of the coffee shop! And from that day on, no syrup has ever ventured to “the beyond”!
The Barista Bookshelf - peppermint mocha
Hayes T 8th grade
There's almost nothing better than a good book on a cold snowy day. Well, except for a good book, a beautiful snowy day, and a hot drink from Pinwheel Coffee. If you're in a reading slump or stuck on what to order, then this is for you.
Peppermint Mocha
A lot like this drink, these books are sweet, uplifting, and give you good energy!
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Two college best friends reunite after a mysterious fallout for their annual summer vacation.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
She writes predictable, bubbly, rom coms, he writes about everything bad in the world. The only thing they have in common is their neighboring beach houses for the next three months and their major writers’ block.
The Un-Honeymooners by Christina Lauren
An unlucky woman finally strikes gold when she gets granted an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii. However, the only catch is she has to pose as a newlywed with a man she can’t stand.
The Perfect Two
Neela E - 7th Grade
Friday, 4:03 PM
Dear Sprite,
I hope you are staying cool in the mini-fridge. What is life like over there? Probably much easier to go out and have late night parties! I wish we could go on an adventure together sometime.
Sincerely,
Chocolate Croissant
“Sincerely, Chocolate Croissant”
Monday, 2:57 PM
Dear Chocolate Croissant,
Hope you are doing well. It is very nice to easily go to late night parties. It has been hard work dodging all the customers who want a Sprite. If they bought me, you would never see me again. I have nightmares just thinking about it! It would be cool to go on an adventure with you. Just wait and I will tell you when. Talk later and stay out of trouble!
From,
Sprite
Tuesday, 9:27 PM
Dear Sprite,
That would be awesome! I am counting down the minutes till you tell me when and where maybe we could go to Mt. Tabletoplis. You think it is hard to dodge people. What about me? It is impossible to avoid attention when you are literally in a display case! Ooh, what do you want your secret code name to be? Mine is Lady C because it sounds so cool.
Sincerely,
Lady C
Friday, 6:24 AM
Dear Lady C,
Unfortunately, I have been purchased. I loved having these conversations with you. Stay safe!
From,
Sprite
Lady C sat there in despair. She didn’t know what to do with herself now that Sprite was gone. Until…
Dear Kombucha Can,
I love your design in the mini-fridge. You definitely stand out. Must be difficult to dodge customers. Maybe we could hang out, or better yet go on an adventure!!
Sincerely,
Lady C, A.K.A Chocolate Croissant
Trash Talk Trash
Olive R 7th grade
Hi! I’m Brenda Billows, reporter on-the-spot for the Pinwheel Post. Today I’m here to interview Stan the Can about the recent unrest at Pinwheel.
Brenda: Stan, how are you feeling today?
Stan: Grumbles
“Dan the Can, has pulled a familiar prank.”
Brenda: Stan, is there a reason for your recent stunt against an innocent Pinwheel customer?
Stan: Humans are trashy, always throwing recycling at me the TRASH can! So I threw the can back at him, and revenge, sweet revenge!
Brenda: Wow, that seems like a sore topic. Let’s move on.
Brenda: You are known for your friendship with Rory, the resident recycling can, and your feud with the new outdoor trash can, Dan the Can. Can you say more about that?
Stan: Rory and I have been buds since the beginning. We always stick together and I will always stand up for him if recycling gets thrown at ME. Now don't even get me started on Dan. He’s so full of himself, always flashing his shiny metal in our FACES!!!! Why did they need to replace me?!
Brenda: Stan, are there any goals you have in life?
Stan: TO ELIMINATE DAN!!! As well as take over the world with Rory, and get rid of all humans.
Brenda: Wow! Talk about #goals! Is there anything you would like to say to your thousands of followers on Instacan?
Stan: Well, I would like to tell them that you should always follow your dreams, as I did with getting back at that human…
Brenda: Oh, oh my, we have some breaking news from outside. Dan the Can, has pulled a familiar prank. Dan has just thrown a paper cup, and a little girl has slipped!
Stan: What… Mabey we have more in common than I thought.
Dan: Meh (grumbles) I don’t really like friends...
Stan: WE ARE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER!!!!!!
Latte Art
Lachlan F - 8th Grade
“pour the last of your milk quickly, Cutting through the middle of the design.”
Step 1: Brew an espresso shot and pour it into your mug. Then steam your milk. The right texture of milk is key. It should be like wet paint.
Step 2: Tilt your mug and start the initial pour, pour the milk moderately fast in a circular motion. Start straightening the mug once the latte is about to spill off the tilted side. This will perfectly mix the espresso and milk.
Step 3: Now, we will create the design. Holding your mug at a slight angle, move the milk pitcher very close to the mug and pour. This way, the froth will not go directly down into the latte, but will sit on the top. Pour into the center, then pull away. Do a smaller pour, and then wiggle the milk straight back (see photo) to create the tapered end of the design. Then pour the last of your milk quickly, cutting through the middle of the design.
Obviously, these aren’t great instructions, because latte art is super difficult to do without a lot of practice. I have tried many times, and it just takes a lot of practice. So you might just want to go to Pinwheel and let the professionals do it!
A Little Life
Hayes T. - 8th grade
“I woke up on my fifteenth birthDAY, and the realization of how close I was to the bottom of the room!”
We live in constant fear, terrified for our lives. First, it was my mother, but we knew it would eventually happen to all of us. We just didn’t expect it to be so soon. By the time I was thirteen, I had lost my whole family.
I avoided making new friends, as I knew they would be taken from me eventually. I figured I could save myself from the heartache. We lived in an overcrowded room. All of us piled on top of each other, never a single moment of privacy. Truthfully, I was almost excited for my time to finally come, even though it meant a long, drawn-out, painful death.
I woke up on my fifteenth birthDAY, and the realization of how close I was to the bottom of the room. I looked out through the walls, constructed of clear unbreakable glass. I saw one of them walking towards us. I heard others around me growing frantic, knowing what was soon to come.
I was not going to be in the first round, but I was nearly guaranteed to be in the second or third. I watched as they came up, holding the silver scoop of death. They held it underneath our room, and the screams began. I had to look away as innocent lives were ground up right in front of me. Then they slammed the metal press onto the remains, molding us into one big block.
They took it over to the big silver machine, where the part takes place. I looked away as the grounds were doused with boiling water. My friends' liquid remains dripped into a cup and were sold so that they could profit.
The life of a coffee bean.
FALLing out
Lachlan F 8th grade
The pumpkin syrup bottle is called for a talk with Pinwheel’s manager James. The manager had just warned them that fall was coming to a close, and people were craving new flavors. Peppermint and eggnog were going to need space in the fridge. Pumpkin syrup remembered years past where they were let go just because the season was over. Pumpkin wanted to leave with a bang this year.
“So I think that we are going to have to” but Pumpkin cut him off and started a tirade.
“You’ll miss me! screamed Pumpkin. ”
“You’re abandoning me NOW! AFTER EVERYTHING I DID FOR THIS SHOP! I was refilled more than any other syrup! You’re crazy to fire me.” The manager tries to stop them, shocked by this turn of events.
“No other syrup rivals me!!!” they screamed as they grab their stuff and storm out, uttering one last thing as they leave.
“You’ll miss me!” screamed Pumpkin.
They ran out and started pondering their decision.
“What have I done? Now they probably won’t even rehire me next fall!” they screamed, anguished. They trudged home, cursing themselves for how they acted in Pinwheel. They crashed into bed, trying to sleep, but there was too much on their mind. So they stayed up and hatched a plan. When morning came, they went to Pinwheel earlier than any other syrup and stood nervously on the shelf. When the shop opened, they got a lot of weird looks from other syrups, and Honey asked them,
“Why are you here? We all heard you quit last night.”
“Quit?! Not me!” Pumpkin said loud and earnestly.
“Yeah, we heard you screaming about how unfair it was,” piped in Lavender.
Then James the manager strolled in. He walked behind the bar and stopped when he saw Pumpkin standing on the shelf, trying to look innocent.
“Pumpkin, what are you doing? You quit last night,” said James.
“Oh me, uh that was just a joke, I was totally kidding,” said Pumpkin, feigning confusion.
“Really, because you were pretty serious sounding,” James said, doubtful, “but that’s good because I wasn’t going to fire you, I was just asking you to move to a different part on the shelf.”
“Oh...I knew that! I was just yanking your chain,” said Pumpkin, shocked.
“Sure you did,” James said sarcastically, “good to have you back Pumpkin.”
Pumpkin smiled and stood up, relieved and happy to be there.
Surly Syrups
Waylon B. - 6th grade
September 19, 2021
“Man, it feels good to be the best of all syrups. I am literally every customers' favorite and everyone loves me.”
“Vanilla thought this was a great time to test his plan!”
“Ok Vanilla, we all know that I'm the best,” said Carmel.
“I don't know about that Carmel, I'm the best,'' said Mocha.
“NO NO NO NO, you all are average. I'm the best. I am the most bought syrup, and no one can outdo Vanilla,” said Vanilla in a mean tone. “As you can see, Dot is literally picking me up right now to put me in a drink. Carmel, you are used like seven times a day and Mocha you're used about five times each day, but I'm used 14 times a day. I'm literally the best.”
“Not when it's October and November,” said Caramel.
“We don't talk about that,'' said Vanilla.
“We all know when Pumpkin is in season, he is way better than you,” said Mocha.
“Caramel and Mocha, you two need to be quiet! Both Pumpkin and I are bought way more than either of you,” said Vanilla! The syrups are so mad that nobody talks for the rest of the day.
September 20, 2021
“Sorry I flipped out yesterday guys. I just hate when you say that in October I’m not as popular,” said Vanilla.
“Look at that. Pumpkin syrup is being added to the menu again,” Caramel noted.
As vanilla sees this, he has a mental breakdown. He is mad and frustrated that this is happening. Vanilla just wants to be the best every month. Then vanilla has the best idea, He is going to sabotage pumpkin.
September 21, 2021
The first customer that morning ordered a Pumpkin Latte. Vanilla thought this was a great time to test his plan. He tried to switch himself with Pumpkin, but Dot noticed right away. Vanilla is frustrated. He needs a better plan to sabotage Pumpkin. The next time Pumpkin is used, Vanilla has a new idea.
“One Pumpkin Spiced Chai, please,” said a customer.
“This is my chance,” thought Vanilla. So Vanilla quickly switched the name tag with Pumpkin when he was not looking. Vee picks up Vanilla and pours him into the chai, although when the customer tried his drink, his immediate reaction was, “this is too sweet! This is vanilla, not pumpkin spice!” Then Vanilla realizes that he not only sabotaged Pumpkin but he also sabotaged the coffee shop! Vanilla feels really bad. He sees how the customer is yelling at Vee and Vanilla begins to think, “What am I doing? I keep comparing myself to Pumpkin when I really need to feel grateful that I am on the menu for 12 months, Pumpkin is only on for maybe two to three months. I am the lucky one!” Vanilla rolls back next to Pumpkin and gives back his label and apologizes for his selfish behavior. Pumpkin, that sweet flavor that he is, gives Vanilla a big smile as Vee picks him up for another Pumpkin Spiced Chai. “See ya latte, Vanilla,” says Pumpkin. Vanilla laughs as he waits for his next opportunity to sweeten up someone’s day.
Moody Seats
Elias K. - 8th grade
Pinwheel has many seating arrangements that welcome a variety of customers. Our arrangements provide spaces to sit down and have a chat with a barista, meet with a group of friends, or get work done while enjoying an amazing drink and snack. But with so many great options, how do you know what the best seat is for you?
The Espresso Bar = A New Friend
It’s 8 am and you walk into Pinwheel, really wanting to talk to someone new. Today, you decide, you will get to know the barista who is serving your coffee. You order a chai and sit at the espresso bar. You ask Dot how busy it has been this morning. You get into a conversation about your favorite movie. After you finish your chai latte, you wrap up your conversion, get up, and leave feeling like you made a new friend.
“You head into Pinwheel because it is a great place to get some work done.”
Back Tables = Hang-Out Spot
It’s 3 pm and you and your friends need a good place to hang out. One of your friends suggested you go to Pinwheel. You and your friends bike to Pinwheel and you drop off your bike at framework for a check up and new handle grips. You arrive and your friend leads you back to a table with seating for eight people. Once everyone has gotten settled, you start to talk about Snow Crash. There is some quiet music playing in the background. After some quality discussion, your book club group agrees on the next book, Cryptonomicon. You get up from your seat, thank the barista for the drink, and head back out side and get your cleaned bike.
Window Seat = Work Spot
It’s 12 pm and you are ready for some lunch. You head into Pinwheel because it is a great place to get some work done. You order a spicy sausage breakfast burrito and sit down at the window, watching the cars pass by. You pull out your computer and start to design the next website you need to make for Second Nature, the local hair salon. It is peaceful with the music in the background, the click of your computer keys, and your delicious burrito. After thirty minutes have passed, you realize that you need to go to a work meeting. You look out the window one last time and then leave to continue your busy day.
Two Person Seat = Relaxing
It's 3 pm and you are ready to try a new coffee shop in your neighborhood. A quick internet search directs you to a shop called Pinwheel Coffee. You decide to go and check it out. You walk in and the smell of chai makes you feel welcome. You order and sit down at a table for two. You have had a terrible day and a coffee is just what you need to cheer up. As you sip your coffee, you look at the wonderful messages on the walls. “At Pinwheel, we know your name, your favorite order, and what makes your day brighter.” “Wow,” you say, “This place is really amazing.” You leave feeling great.
Overall, pinwheel has many different seating arrangements that welcome everyone. There is a seat for everyone.
Barista Bookshelf - Mocha
Mocha
These books are bittersweet, addicting, and impossible to put down once you begin, a lot like a Mocha!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
For decades, there has been no news of glamorous Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo until she gives a final interview to a relatively unknown journalist - a discussion that will reveal all of her secrets.
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
When Lily meets Ryle, she is beyond charming. He’s seemingly perfect until he’s not. Lily finds herself falling into her mother’s patterns and reflecting on how she got there.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Conelle and Marianne try to be there for each other but are always just out of reach. They meet in secondary school and work to keep each other close through college graduation, navigating their relationships and friendship.
Less Depresso, more Espresso
Quinn E - 7th grade
In this list, I will be talking about coffee and all its perks. In addition, I will also say why it's better than you. Please take no offense to this, I don't even know you. You could be better than coffee.
Number 1, Coffee is tasty.
The one thing you have in common with coffee is that you smell, just not in a good way. Coffee is tasty, it comes in many different flavors and tastes and smells from all over the world. You do not have different flavors and tastes unless you are made of one of those hyper-realistic cakes.
Number 2, Coffee will get you going.
Caffeine gets you going. Coffee has caffeine in it unless you are a “unique individual” and like decaf. Without coffee, most people could not have pulled off that all-nighter for tomorrow’s assignment. You do not have go-go juice in you, so you will not pull an all-nighter and will fall asleep. Then you have to write a couple of sentences as your teacher grades homework, but it's not enough. You get a zero, and coffee becomes your teacher's favorite after you flunked the test, and you've been moved down to the second.
”Coffee is hot, you are not.”
Number 3, Coffee has like 22 ½ versions.
Coffee has a lot of options. You can have an Americano, Latte, Drip Coffee, Cappuccino, Mocha, Cortado, Espresso, and more that I'm too lazy to name. As I said, coffee has enough variety to suit your every need. You only have one flavor and that's how you normally are, sleep-deprived and in need of coffee. There are multiple toppings you can add to coffee. It is just a hat for you, which does not change that you are sleep-deprived and grumpy.
Number 4, Coffee is hot.
This one is self-explanatory, coffee is hot, you are not. This is because coffee is hot, and looks good with the design on top. You have none of those traits, that is why you drink coffee so that you can try and get its amazing abilities. However, I’m here to tell you that that is the most stupid lie ever. Coffee doesn't just give away its looks and hotness. That is just not how it works.
Number 5, People like coffee.
People like coffee. Some people absolutely love coffee and would never drink anything else in their life. But you, I bet that a couple of people don't like you. Because you aren’t as perfect, likable, or tasty as coffee. You're probably a close second, but still not as good as coffee.
a coffee bag's dream
Waylon B - 6th grade
Meet Ecuador Cabrera Guatemala. His friends call him Jose. He is a Middle State coffee bag sitting on the shelf at Pinwheel Coffee in Denver, Colorado. Jose spends most of his days daydreaming about his birthplace, Guatemala. He remembers the hot Caribbean sun and tropical winds, but he knows his return home is farfetched. All Jose wants to do is see the outside world. What does Denver have to offer?
Everytime a customer walks in, Jose stands tall and proud of his colorful bag marked with the Guatemala stamp. Jose is so proud of his delicious beans homegrown in his amazing country of Guatemala. His biggest wish is to share his delicious flavor to a lucky customer. The sun sets and the clock strikes 5:00 pm. It’s closing time. “Looks like I am sitting here for another night,” thinks Jose. As Jose sits in frustration, all the drinks and pastries come to life. Tonight Jose is not in the mood to join in the coffee talks. His memory continues to drift back to his homeland and Jose begins to wonder if he will ever leave this coffee shop.
The next day when Pinwheel opens, all the drinks and food go back to their places ready for the day. When the first customer comes in at 7:00 am, she looks at Jose. He puffs his bag, but she doesn't take him and decides to grab a different coffee bag. Jose became sad, he just wanted an opportunity to see the streets of Denver. Twenty minutes later a lady walks in and takes a deep look at Jose. She picks him up and reads his story on his beautiful bag. Jose is so excited, his beans begin to dance. Before the customer walks out she looks in Framework and see’s some kids helping fix a bike. Today was his day and Jose gets to explore the outside world.
When they leave Pinwheel, the sun hits Jose and he remembers his homeland. He is so excited to share his distinct tastes of Guatemala. The woman holds Jose as they walk down the street to her home and he loves seeing the hustle and bustle of the busy street. As she opens the bag of Jose, his bold fragrance jumps out of the bag. She grinds his beans and begins to make her first pot of coffee with Ecuador Cabrera Guatemala, aka Jose. Today was his best day. The woman then tosses the beautiful bag stamped with Guatemala into her trash. Fast forward two months later Jose finds his way home as a piece of trash somehow. As he glances at the mountains a person picks him up and throws him away.
Facts About Pinwheel’s Espresso Machine
Elias K - 8th grade
Pinwheels brand is a Synesso MVP. You can see this if you sit at the bar and look at the back of the machine.
The left steam wand used to steam slower than the right steam wand. Before pinwheel fixed their espresso machine, the machine would always steam faster on the right side than the left, even though they used it more often.
The top of the espresso machine keeps things hot. The cups on the top of the machine are warm because the heat goes out the top. It also keeps the caramel and mocha syrup warm, so it does not harden.
The espresso machine was born in 1884 in Europe. Synesso MVP was born in 1884 in Europe and was made by Mark Barnett. He was trying to make a temperature stable and reliable machine, and after a while,e he made the Synesso MVP.
Pinwheels can change the handles. You can screw off the handles on the espresso machine and change them to different ones.
The right side handle is newer than the left. One day, the handle fell off because it was used much more than the left side, and Pinwheel had to replace it.
Pinwheels machine is versatile. Pinwheels can make it so different amounts of water come out of the machine at a time. This is so Pinwheel can make sure the machine is pumping the best shots of espresso.
Pinwheel Revolutionary War
Keller Y. 6th grade
Have you ever wondered what breakfast pastries would best represent the American RevolutionaryWar’s major players? Of course, you have. Well, wonder no more. It’s a very common quandary. Below, you will find the ultimate list of pairings.
The British
Bacon Breakfast Burrito (aka Triple B) = King George III
Bacon Breakfast Burritos have a terrifying reign over all other breakfast burritos at Pinwheel. This is because Triple Bs are the most loved. They are similar to King George because he also had a terrifying reign over England and North American colonies.
Bacon Croissant = Lord Bute
Bacon-based pastries, just like the British, stick together. The Bacon Croissant helps Triple B keep tabs on all of the other pastries. He warns Triple B if the quiches or other croissants are starting to rebel, just like Lord Bute helped King George III reign over England and all of their subjects.
Bacon = The Red Coats
Bacon, that tasty morsel within both Triple B and the Bacon Croissants. Soldiers of the Bacon Breakfast Burritos. And The Red Coats are King Georges III Soldiers.
“Peppermint was a strong leader in the syrups, and George Washington was a strong leader in the American revolution.”
The Colonists
Peppermint = George Washington
Peppermint was a strong leader in the syrups, and George Washington was a strong leader in the American revolution.
Veggie Breakfast Burrito = The Colonists
The Colonists overthrew King George III, just like the Veggie Breakfast Burrito will overthrow the Bacon Breakfast Burrito.
Butter Croissant = The French
The butter croissant helps the veggie breakfast burrito overthrow the Bacon Breakfast burrito because they are mad at the bacon croissant. The French helped the colonists overthrow King George III.
The Creation of Pinwheel’s Seasonal Menu
Braiden S. - 8th grade
Pinwheel’s seasonal menu provides an array of unique, interesting, and outside-of-the-box drinks. Rotating every few months, our baristas work constantly to come up with new ideas and make sure nothing gets old. But this time around, Pinwheel trusted the students of Embark with the job, and we made the seasonal menu you might be seeing right now. If you don’t already know, Pinwheel is embedded within a school, where students work with baristas in the shop and grow through real-world learning. But, to get back on track, what really happened behind the scenes of Pinwheel’s seasonal menu?
Well, the beginning of our process is pure experimentation. It’s about what comes to mind, what we can build off of that, and building a prototype. This leads to some really weird results, like a curdled cream cheese latte. Maybe you can see why that failed. It is not much different than a scientific process, where we go through phases of design, prototype, change, complete, etc. After building a few prototypes, we gathered feedback from numerous sources (some harsher than others). That includes other students, baristas, mechanics at Framework, teachers, and sometimes even customers. After we gather data points from different perspectives, we log the information and determine the score’s weighted value. For example, if I made a latte, a student may not give accurate feedback because they are not too interested in coffee. But if I made one for a Pinwheel barista, their opinion would be much more valuable because of their refined palette.
“what really happened behind the scenes of Pinwheel’s seasonal menu?”
By now, we can determine which of our prototypes is most appropriate to move forward with. So, we move into this process of making our recipe a thousand times over, changing ingredients the tiniest bit. This process can be really fun, because experimenting with individual flavors and changing tiny things can result in some crazy ideas. After dozens of iterations, and tons of feedback and data gathering, we begin the preparation for a final presentation to the Pinwheel o managers and baristas. But, as long as we managed to incorporate feedback and make something that at least tastes good, we were going to make it onto the menu.
After final feedback incorporation, adults make sure our drinks are suitable for the menu, meaning they are not vanilla tootsie rolls or curdled milk lattes, and they are added and prepared for the next season. So, next time you order a drink off of the seasonal menu, think of how much experimenting and fun happened to bring it to your hands.
Fun activities in pinwheel
Maverick S - 7th grade
Ok. Just imagine. You're at Pinwheel, have done all your work for the day, and now you have nothing to do. Fortunately, there are lots of fun things you can do in the coffee shop.
First up is chess or checkers. These two games are easy to learn and often come in a two-for-one pack, so you can play both whenever you want. There are plenty of strategies and different ways to play, meaning you can play multiple times and have fun no matter if you're an expert or novice. These games are a great way to pass the time on a rainy day.
“Lego is a fun relaxing activity”
Lego is a fun relaxing activity that can be done free form, by following a manual or, a combo of the two. Building with lego bricks is another good way to stay engaged. There are plenty of different sets that can fit anyone's personal taste. Some sets come with bricks and a manual but encourage you to make your own creations and others give you 3 manuals and the bricks can be repurposed to make all 3 of them.
Biking is a fun and healthy activity you can use as a mode of transportation to get to the pinwheel and get back. If your bike ever breaks you have the option to walk into the framework and get it fixed. There are also plenty of places to lock up your bike and not need to worry about it anymore. When you're biking play some music to motivate yourself so i've included a playlist to listen to while biking back.