Espresso Enthusiasts

[Scepticalscribe]

A large pot (Le Creuset, raspberry coloured, what Le Creuset describes as "cerise") is now playing host to a pot of freshly ground coffee, a blend of Kenyan and Ethiopian coffee beans.

Meanwhile, three mugs are being heated up. Two are Le Creuset mugs, (burnt orange, "volcanic orange" - the classic Le Creuset colour) and the third - an elegant dark navy one, from Stockholm in Sweden, where I bought it in the Vasa museum.

 

[JamesMike]

Have my LC heating up in preparation of making a Kenyan cup of coffee.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Have my LC heating up in preparation of making a Kenyan cup of coffee.

Enjoy.

When a brother is down, or the substitute carer (who loves coffee) is around, I will often make a pot (Le Creuset) of coffee; but, that is a little on the time consuming side.

Sometimes, when it is just myself, I will use the Hario (or copper) dripper.

 

[0388631]

Long day. Time for a coffee to cure my headache. Or a sweetened cappuccino with some chocolate. And maybe some tea later with some marmalade.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Long day. Time for a coffee to cure my headache. Or a sweetened cappuccino with some chocolate. And maybe some tea later with some marmalade.

Cappuccino with chocolate? Perhaps, a latte with chocolate?

Tea and marmalade sounds rather nice, but coffee and marmalade is - to my mind - even better....

This past morning was Ethiopian coffee with organic milk, and slightly sweetened with organic brown sugar.

 

[0388631]

but coffee and marmalade is - to my mind - even better.

Mixed in... together?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Mixed in... together?

Er, no. Of course not.

The coffee (Ethiopian, and piping hot, in a mug), the marmalade (preferably bitter and homemade) on toast, with butter and preferably made from bread baked in a French bakery.

 

[0388631]

That sounds far more pleasant. I made myself coffee several times today but got sidetracked and let it go cold. After the fifth dumping of coffee into the sink at work, I decided to stick to water. At least that doesn't go cold.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

That sounds far more pleasant. I made myself coffee several times today but got sidetracked and let it go cold. After the fifth dumping of coffee into the sink at work, I decided to stick to water. At least that doesn't go cold.

Well, drink the coffee shortly after you have prepared it.

Now, granted, that is easier to do if you have made good stuff - in my teaching days, I often let the cup of coffee I would have brought from the university canteen (a foul enough - but yet adequate - brew) into the classroom go cold (such coffees were sometimes purchased if I had tow or three consecutive hours of teaching), especially if I was talking. Drawing breath allowed time for a sip.

Actually, I remember watching Hill Street Blues when I was a student and being horrified at the idea that the cops were sipping coffee at a briefing: I had never ever seen such a thing. Yet, within a very few years, I found myself delighted to be able to do the exact same thing (and yes, my students - initially - were shocked, but rapidly acclimatised).

Indeed, sometimes, on occasion, when teaching small groups, I would send someone - one of the wiling students, usually male - out to the coffee shop - in order to get coffee for us all (and would happily finance or fund this).

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Preparing a mug (Le Creuset, naturally) of piping hot Ethiopian coffee.

 

[Kurwenal]

A Kenyan Guama Peabody?

Yes, but sadly I just checked and the coffee is sold out.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My coffee of choice today is Ethiopian, and it is as lovely as always.

 

[JamesMike]

Just adding organic honey to my Rwandan coffee and milk.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Just adding organic honey to my Rwandan coffee and milk.

Ah, yes.

Honey instead of brown sugar?

How well does it go with coffee?

 

[JamesMike]

Ah, yes.

Honey instead of brown sugar?

How well does it go with coffee?

Excellent.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Excellent.

Fascinating.

Do you use a light honey - such as acacia - or something stronger?

 

[Kurwenal]

Just adding organic honey to my Rwandan coffee and milk.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Oh, yes, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Monty Python.....could do with a strong dose of that just now.

 

[0388631]

I've never been a fan. Honey and milk in coffee is a bit strange for some of us, but perfectly fine for many. Now if it were instant coffee he'd made, I think we would have gotten out our pitchforks and torches.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I've never been a fan. Honey and milk in coffee is a bit strange for some of us, but perfectly fine for many. Now if it were instant coffee he'd made, I think we would have gotten out our pitchforks and torches.

Well, milk, or cream in coffee is not an alien concept for me. And brown sugar on occasion, is also something I am more than comfortable with.

Honey in hot milk, a lemon drink, some of the strange teas I occasionally drink, - no problem.

Indeed, a superb French chef, (the sort of French chef who trained in a three star Michelin restaurant, and will very likely win her own star someday fairly soon) confided to me that she adds honey - rather than sugar - to her French dressing (which is amazing).

Now, as for instant coffee. And pitchforks and torches. Yes: Much though I disapprove of the very concept of pitchforks and torches as an expression of collective disdain, there are a very few, - a microscopically tiny number, in fact - of exceptions where I may be prepared to consider admitting and allowing this concept as a philosophical exercise. And, yes, the profound offence to taste known as instant coffee is one of them.

 

[0388631]

It's a refined concept compared to cannon fodder and much more civil compared to what Vlad The Third did to his enemies, supposedly at least. Tell me more about these strange teas. I always like a good strange tea. I use honey in sweeter dressings simply because it acts as a bit of a stabilizer and thickens the dressing up. It's also a pleasant sweetness, and not the bland, simple sweetness sugar or glucose syrup adds.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Ethiopian coffee beckons.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

And Ethiopian coffee - piping hot, from Yirgacheffe - has just been consumed. Delicious.

 

[JamesMike]

An excellent idea, brewing up a LC pot of Yirgacheffe right now.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

An excellent idea, brewing up a LC pot of Yirgacheffe right now.

Ah, now that sounds like real coffee.

Enjoy.