I salute the history of coffee.
Brewed every morning in homes around the globe
In coffeemakers, French presses, Bialetti moka pots, perculators, paper filter cones
The choice of beans is vast, dark or light roasts, single origin or blends.
Endless possibilities await for our daily cup of joe
Maybe an Esspresso, a latte, a dry cappuccino or a sweet café cubano
A wake-me-up in the morning
A pick-me-up in the afternoon
A stay-awake-cram-for-the-exam late at night
A daily ritual for many, a religion for some.
From the tropical islands of Hawaii to the Indonesian archipelago
From the Brazilian highlands to the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro
From the African Horn of Ethiopia to the Yemeni mountains on the Arabian Peninsula
Coffee trees thrive, but never more than a thousand miles from the equator.
The newly tilled fresh, fertile earth soaks in the rain
Sheltered by the shade of the forest, the hard working growers tend their trees
Enriched fertile soil nourishes the growing coffee cherries
Not yet revealing which ones hold the most precious fruit.
Coffee berry by coffee berry, picked ripe by hand at harvest time
Then washed, depulped, fermented and dried in the stifling hot tropical sun
Laboriously and carefully sorted by hand on family farms
To be finally shipped to us coffee connoisseurs near and far.
What will it be on this cold wintry morning?
For the discriminate palate there is Sulawesi Kalosi, Mocha Sanani or Sumatra Mandheling,
Ethiopia Yirgchaffe, Brazil Minas or Kona for the taste bud adventure.
While the rest swear by Folgers, “Cause it’s the richest kind”.
Every morning my brain jolts awake with the purr
Of my burr grinders roar slowly crushing the glistening beans to perfection
Promptly placed into a French press and mixed with boiling water
The lid’s put on and precisely three and a half minutes later
The timer announces the elixir is steeped to perfection.
An ambrosial bouquet permeates the entire house
With my favorite cup filled I retreat to the couch
Eyes closed, I inhale the essence of the brew
This steamy hot liquid so black and so strong, slightly bitter and spicy
Refined floral, a little spice laden air and citrusy tang dance on my palate.
As heady aromas explode on my tongue
They whisk me off into many corners of the world
And I dream of these faraway lands
I would love to go visit with my French press in hand
Around the globe for tastings delicious, I would start with
The birth place of the bean, Ethiopia, which I have not yet explored.
Coffee tasting in Bali
in cahoots with muddy boots 
I salute your tribute to coffee. I don’t drink coffee but my husband does. Perhaps that is the reason he has kept me for almost sixty-two years. Imbibing of the international soother.
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I also like tea. But if given a choice, there is nothing better than a cup of really good coffee.
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I’ve been on a quest for my new coffee spot. I think I’ve located it, complete with a Cardamom Latte that I’m hooked on. By the way, I’m a Bialetti girl.
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I have a Bialetti too. But my favorite is a stainless steel French press. Haven’t had a cardamom latte since we drove through Astoria. It was divine! Maybe it’s time to go back.
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I don’t drink coffee very often but they look delicious. So do the crepes.
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Thanks. My day doesn’t really start until I have some coffee.
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I do not care for coffee, but after reading your post I really needed a cup.
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I hope you enjoyed it!
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I am a coffee addict! Can’t start my day without it.
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Same here! Have been drinking it for as long as I can remember.
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I love your homage to coffee. Wish I could still drink all that good strong stuff. I love to smell it. Well done.
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Thank you Marlene! I am looking forward to tomorrow and next week!
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Love coffee and must start my day with it! My favorite is relatively inexpensive Dominican Bustelo espresso.
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I have some of that as well. I love making it in my Bialetti like cafe cubano. Very tasty!
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Haven’t found anything as smooth yet.
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I use it with Demerara sugar. Had some Cuban coffee at a local restaurant and it was to die for! Mine is really tasty, but not quite the same. So I’ll just keep trying to get it right.
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I just use organic vegan sugar, I don’t have the old fashioned coffee strainer anymore,just use a filtered coffee maker now.
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Wow! You are quite the coffee expert.
I know it sounds ridiculous, but you forget how ‘exotic’ some food and drink is. I have a jar of instant in my cupboard- a normal piece of grocery shopping. I have vanilla and tea and nutmeg and turmeric and ground coriander and countless other spices and products, from all around the globe, just sitting there. Your post reminds me how very special and exotic all of these things are, how very lucky we are to have access to such things.
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It’s not stupid, but so true! I too have lots of spices and foods from around the world. I love to think about where things come from and how they were grown. Last year, right before we traveled to Bali I was able to get some Bali Kintamani coffee. It was amazing, but driving through this area and visit a coffee farm. That really showcased how small the world has become.
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words.
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Nice post. Great photos!
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Thank you!
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