Rant: Is it really so hard to provide fresh 1/2 & 1/2 to paying customers?

[closeupready]

I go to this little coffee shop on the occasional morning near me - it's a single proprietor-run establishment with really good coffee. I like mine with 1/2 & 1/2 to mitigate the bitterness and to add flavor.

But recently, every single quart of 1/2 & 1/2 they put out for customers to add their own CURDLES when added to the coffee. Add 1/2 & 1/2, stir, and curds float to the top.

The first time this happened, I put on my "I'm not an expert, but is that supposed to happen?" face; they replaced it with a fresh one, but same thing happened to a newly opened quart! They finally found one that was okay.

But it was sickening enough that I declined to go back for a couple weeks.

Now today I go there, and yep, same thing happened. I finally gave up, took the coffee and when I got out of eyesight, threw the coffee in the garbage. And I won't be back.

You would think after the first time, they'd do an investigation and change suppliers.

Oh, well.

[hlthe2b]

1. Half and Half is the one dairy product I pay more for "ultrapasteurized"

or occasionally purchase the little mini-moos (individually packaged Land O'Lakes product) that doesn't require refrigeration.

I have found, even "fresh-in date" regular (standard pasteurized) half and half has been going bad well before the expiration date. The ultra-pasteurized lasts.

I have increasingly found this to be the case with regular milk as well. Unfortunately, I usually only find the most expensive organic milks to be ultra-pasteurized and I don't like paying that premium. But, yes, this is an issue for me too.

[closeupready]

2. Did not know that.

Thanks.

[Aerows]

3. Milk doesn't last long enough

in our house to go bad LOL. I usually get 1%. I love milk.

[dogknob]

5. Milk junkie here.

Ever since I switched to drinkable yogurt, which I have to savor because it costs more, I have dropped about 30 pounds. The unparalleled sensation when ice-cold 1-2% hits the tongue (there is no equivalent) has made way for Dogknob's Social Life (part 4 of what was assumed to be a trilogy).

The coffee has always been black.

[Jokerman]

4. Related Rant: What the hell is "fat-free" half & half?

I was under the impression that milk & cream products were differentiated by the fat content but now I've seen a product that claims to be both fat-free and half & half. Is this even possible?

I wonder if the coffee shop is leaving the product unrefrigerated for too long.

[closeupready]

6. lol, I know, right? That's downright scary.

Friends of mine use it, and swear they can't tell the difference.

I can.

[WolverineDG]

7. half & half without the fat but

loads of sugar or high fructose corn syrup.

I looked at the label.