03 April 2012

C is for Coffee

We couldn't find the C.
is for coffee.

Duh.

Some mornings I need it, others I crave it. I try and try to keep the "need" to a minimum, because the latter is a much better experience.

I know several people who love the smell of the chopped bean and the swirling steam, but the bitter taste keeps them away. Some have a sweet tooth, some like sour foods, but I gravitate toward the earthy - and coffee is the main attraction.

Our small town has two cafes and a shop that serves coffee; I have to drive 30 minutes to the nearest Starbucks. I'm never really impressed with restaurant coffee anywhere (the cafes, all cafes as far as I can tell, serve thin, watery stuff; I tell myself it's so the farmers can chat and drink five or six cups, but I know it's not cheap to make the strong stuff), and the result is: I like my brew best.

Stirred, not shaken.
My wife says I'm a coffee snob, and I suppose that's true. We all have that special food or drink that we want to enjoy just so. It's taken many years to hone my technique, and the art of pressing coffee is not just about taste, it's about the experience. The kettle begins to sing and I chop up the beans (a few months ago I did this by hand with a spoon because my grinder bit the dust), the hot water churns up a smell that makes me close my eyes and smile, and then I stir and wait.

Four long minutes later, I pour.

The cup has to be right too. I choose the man mug, as my family calls it. Lately I've been drinking the coffee made at work during the week and making my own on the weekend. This only adds to the anticipation. There's some debate as to whether there will be wine in heaven; there's no doubt about pressed coffee.

***

Read more about my theme this April in my intro to the A-Z Blogging Challenge. Or visit the home page here.

16 comments:

farawayeyes said...

Gave it up years ago. Still love the smell of fresh beans.

Nice to meet you.

Unknown said...

i do love some good coffee...morning, noon or night!

SweetMarie83 said...

I love the smell of good coffee. I love walking down the coffee aisle in the grocery store where you get that mixture of scents - all the different blends, and for some reason I can always smell the French vanilla, which is my favorite. My city has at least a dozen coffee shops, one on every corner, I swear!

~Marie
Ramblings of a Daydreamer

Grammy said...

Hi, I have had coffee my whole life, literally. When we were babies, my mom would "saucer" her coffee, put a biscuit into it. The biscuit would get soft enough for a baby to eat. We called it "soaky" and as we got older, we drank coffee from a cup. I am now almost 79 and still drinking it. Ha.
Thanks for the really neat post.
Ruby

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sad to say I've never developed a taste for coffee. Like the smell though.

Chippy said...

I am one of the aforementioned love-the-smell-of-coffee-but-don't-like-the-taste... people.

Although I do like mocha... but I prefer the chocolate in it to be stronger than the coffee.

Chippy

soggy in the corner said...

Coffee! I want some but can't have some because I need to sleep soon because I work nights. But then...I can have lots of coffee!

Sharkbytes (TM) said...

Coffee! One of the primary food groups! I'm trying to visit all the blogs in the A-Z Challenge.

Golden Eagle said...

This isn't the first post I've seen about coffee--I guess it's a popular subject. :) I've never drunk it myself.

New visitor from the A-Z Challenge!


The Golden Eagle
The Eagle's Aerial Perspective

Anonymous said...

Sometimes when I go to bed I say to myself" Only a few more hours and I get to have my coffee(French pressed French Raost)"

Denise Covey said...

One of life's gifts. I have an excellent coffee shop in my apartment building and am surrounded by several others, so even if I'm not drinking it, I'm smelling it. Hmmmm. Now I need to get myself down and get a cup of brew.

Denise

Lynn Proctor said...

oh i could smell coffee beans as i read you post---i have to admit though that i rarely drink brewed at least not first thing in the morning-but love brewed in a restaurant :)

Alyssa said...

I love coffee so much! I really only drink it though if it has a lot of cream and sugar! Nice to meet you through the A-Z challenge. I'm a new follower by the way! :)

My blog is http://lifeisgood-forever21.blogspot.com/

Alex said...

I am just beginning to enjoy coffee and I found it goes hand in hand with adulthood. And I'm also trying my best to ignore the fact that there is good and bad coffee and simply stick with the cheap stuff.

mooderino said...

I'm more of a tea drinker myself. Not a very exciting drink. Coffee always gets the best beverage related roles in the movies.

new follower,
mood
Moody Writing

Amanda Trought said...

I do enjoy a good cup of Coffee, but at the moment have been really enjoying cappachinos. Amanda


Amanda - Realityarts-Creativity
Art Blog

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...