Cow Diet Leaves U.K. Coffee Flat

L O N D O N, Dec. 4 -- Britain’s cappuccinos have losttheir froth due to a seasonal change in the diet of cows, achain of sandwich bars said today.

The cappuccino — a coffee characterized by its top layer oflight frothy milk — is suffering from a temporary lack of bubbles whichoccurs yearly as cattle move from a grass to a silage diet.

Sandwich and coffee chain Pret a Manger said it was givingleaflets to explain to customers at its 105 branches why theircoffee looked so limp and had placed a froth machine with itsdairy to further investigate the problem.

“Sorry if your coffee is not very frothy today,” theleaflets read. “At certain times of the year our cows have achange in environment, just like us really.”

Food scientist Dr. Heva Ranjith told Monday’s Daily Expressnewspaper sagging cappuccinos were due to a temporary chemicalimbalance in cows’ milk which appears to correct itself in a fewweeks. Taste and quality were not affected.

He said he had been bombarded by calls from anxious coffeemakers and was advising farmers to stagger the switch to winterfeed.