This being my first post and my first blogging attempt ever, I feel a sort of pressure to write in these few paragraphs something which perfectly defines me, or at least something serious in nature. However, I came across this photo of me and two friends at a café in Geneva, and ever since I cannot get my mind off of the subject of coffee, specifically my coffee experiences in Europe. So I will give in, though this does not mean that coffee, per se, is the defining element of my life. On the other hand, it is of utter importance, and in the last several months I have grown increasingly picky in my coffee tastes and in my desire for the perfect experience surrounding its consumption.
While living in tiny Huémoz, Switzerland last fall, I came to know and love the perfect cup of coffee which was served at any café I would enter. First to note is that not once when entering a café was I served coffee in a paper "to go" cup. Instead, the delightful sound of the clinking of real cups and saucers would greet my ears when I stepped inside, and I feel that drinking out of authentic dishes really does add to the enjoyment and flavor of one's drink. These cups were never too big either, as the above photo exemplifies. Good, strong, almost creamy in nature coffee never needs a extra tall grande whatever size cup to prove its worth. Each café had unique cups, usually white but with a small, cute design of some sort painted on it. Beside the coffee on the saucer would always lie something special and small, either a tiny biscuit or even better, a piece of Swiss chocolate.
Since returning from Europe a few months ago, I began to be immediately dissatisfied with the typical coffee I was served here in the States. Too big, too watery, no cute cups, no cute foreign waiter who comes to you while you relax at your table, and no chocolate. Even when I tried to make that perfect cup of coffee at home, it just wasn't the same. I wanted something like a cross between a very strong, rich espresso, and a regular coffee. To my rescue came my wonderful Swedish boyfiend Erik, who without knowing of my dire situation, purchased a stovetop espresso maker for me for no special occasion complete with a milk frother and espresso grounds (from Sweden, so I got to look at the cool writing on the can for the....umm...2 weeks that it lasted). All semester long I never ceased to be delighted with my new morning ritual. Roll out of bed, get dressed for class, and head to the kitchen to get my espresso started. After the water and grounds are placed in the maker, it is set on the stove and after a few minutes the dark gold comes flowing into the top part of the beautiful silver contraption as a result of steam pressure. I heated whole milk on the stove to froth and add to the espresso so as to bring the creamy side out of the drink and squelch any bitterness. I know I'm a little wimpy to add milk to my espresso. In Italy I got such disappointing looks from the café workers when I would request cream.
But drinking coffee is about much more than the flavor on your tongue. Just as important is the social factor involved. Though coffee is always enjoyable in solitude, there is something so perfect about slowing down, sitting down with friends, and enjoying a few minutes of chatting over coffee. Granted there are days we don't have that luxury. But I believe that it should be more common than not to have those moments during the day where we set aside our work and enjoy the sweet fellowship of friends, only made better by the parfait café.
