11 January 2009

A love story

iPastor and I have sort of become the coffee couple among our friends. His family was all about the coffee, never without a thermal pot or travel mug; mine probably not as obsessively so, but there was always a percolator going in the background somewhere. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of "going to coffee" at a family friends' home, and how special it was to be given my very own cup, loaded with sugar. iPastor and I started the "coffee club" at church and I have coffee-themed deco in my dining room. We are not, however, by any means coffee snobs. Probably just the latter, truth be told. In the past, when friends have shared their home-ground brews of premium roast beans, we've choked down the bitter, black tar politely and smiled at their enjoyment. We're plain old Butternut lovers, albeit by the quart.
We almost always get cups or specialty coffees from friends at Christmas and birthday time. Usually the little gift packs of dark roast Caribbean blend are trotted out for parties or given to the "gourmet"-loving friends. When Christmas came this year, we were perplexed to find a coffee press in the basket of caffeine-themed goodies from our friends. Without a coffee grinder, I Googled up some instructions and we tried the press with some pre-ground coffee. The results were entirely unimpressive. Not ones to give up, a grinder was added to the shopping list and duly purchased. We dove into the premium gift beans, noting on the package that this particular bean was a mild roast. Sweet heavenly day! The resulting brew was the closest I have ever been to coffee Nirvana. The proof is in the roasting, I guess. Such depth and flavor is squeezed lovingly through its little sieve into my morning cup. I have subsequently grown fonder every day of the little silver and glass jewel of my morning. The "Wham, bam, thank you ma'am!" hurry of the gravity drip pot has become stale and lifeless in the shadow of my full and well-rounded new morning companion. I know we shall live happily ever after. At least until somebody drops it.

5 comments:

Ralph said...

Yeah, I heard those presses are the way to go - but I really like Folgers. Stale and lifeless is exactly how I am until I have had a cup or two.
Ralph

Jen - Queen of Poo said...

I used to have the kind of neighbor that would come over for coffee and vice versa. Or we'd sit on each other's front steps talking. I miss her so much! It's hard to find those kinds of neighbors. Your coffee talk reminded me of her.

Cliff said...

Well, I'm not going to try and keep up with the...well, you guys. You are clearly too upper crust now for farmers.
Okay, I haven't begun drinking coffee yet but will when I grow up.
Yeah gette, my pics are deceptive.

nora leona said...

ummm, coffee press coffee - I'm a fan. I'm a late in life coffee drinker - and don't drink it often enough at home to justify making a whole pot. The press is perfect. I agree with you about lighter roasts. After 8 years in the coffeehouse business I love how people would lecture me on the merits of dark roast, including the bigger "kick" per cup. I never had it in me to point out that the darker the roast, the less caffine.

nora leona said...

Oh and maybe you and Coffee Press could get together with me and Mr. Davenport for a, um, coffee date some time.