santa cruz wharf

16 April 2009

my morning cup…and Joe.

Those who have to spend time with me….by choice or by circumstance, tend to make sure that I have my coffee in the morning. 

The Teamster, who never touches the stuff, monitors my intake out of self preservation.  He has achieved expert status in the fine art and operation of the French Press.  He has the chemistry of grounds to water with sugar and coffeemate perfectly formulated.  Fortunately for me, years ago one of his ex-wives had already required he map out all available
Peet’s locations.

Back in the day when we worked together, my dear friend
Erika was known to interrupt midday meetings to deliver an additional cup o’ Peet’s with an add shot or two when she knew I had come into work early that day.  She certainly did not want to deal with a caffeine deprived katherine…or have to run interference for others who might have crossed my path in that state.

My home brew is typically extra strong Peet’s
Sumatra. I don’t grind my own beans.  They are ground fresh when I buy them and a pound usually lasts me about nine days.  Besides…to get the true benefit of fresh, I would have to grind the beans in the morning….and that just ain’t gonna happen.

c coffee 
In the past, I have used this terrific Cuisinart coffeemaker with it’s special timer.  I’d get it all ready at night and set the timer for about five minutes before I woke up.  I like this coffeemaker so much I gave one to my folks. (they have never used the timer feature however….)





For a couple months, I had to share my morning cup with Joe.  My step dad, Joe. He is an Italian/Croatian curmudgeon who upon occasion is mistaken for Scotty (as in “Beam me up Scotty” ….which is rather convenient while waiting to be seated at a popular, crowded restaurant in The City…trust me.)

old joeold jim 














At the very least, Joe and I have one thing in common.  We both love my Mama very much. The rest of the time we just sorta nod at each other over the rim of a cocktail and have learned to get along pretty well.  The one thing that threatened the peace of the house was the making of coffee. 

Joe drinks this light brown water you could read the newspaper through.  He buys whatever brand of coffee is on sale. To my way of thinking…coffee is one of those “you get what you pay for” kind of deals.  And for me…taste matters. 

If Joe woke up first and made the coffee…I would have had to drink literally liters to consume enough…but since it tasted positively putrid I couldn’t even get a full cup down. I’d pour his into a carafe and make another batch…which of course…only I would drink.  This was deemed wasteful.  Sigh.

If I woke up first I’d make
Sumatra you could stand a spoon up in. He would drink about half a cup and leave the house.  He started complaining about it destroying his stomach lining….and whatever else occurred to him in the heat of the moment. I pretty much ignored him.

I thought about putting the two coffeemakers side by side on the kitchen counter…and actually dug through the boxes to find mine.  I even considered setting mine up out in the garage.

One weekend after hearing the coffee debate for the umpteenth time, The Teamster lo
k coffeeoked at the two of us with an expression of:  “Just Shut up already”…

Out loud all he said was, 
“Ya know….I can solve this” 
 
And…he did. (sigh…my hero)

I now whip up my break of day nectar in my very own
Peet’s French Press.  Sure, I have to boil water…and it isn’t waiting for me when I awaken. But hey… as long as I get decent, strong java…I am willing to compromise….a little….

Whew!  Peace in our time.

12 comments:

Elizabeth Bradley said...

This post reminded me of my coffee deprivation while recently visiting my sister and her husband up in British Columbia. She's a freak that doesn't even drink coffee, and he makes his one cup at a time by pouring boiling water into a Melita filter. What a chore! And the coffee he drinks is from Walmart. I am also a Peets fan. I like strong beans. I used to own a coffee house so I do realize that I'm picky. You made me laugh, and you made me realize that I'm not alone in my need for a strong cup of Joe or two, or three, each morning.

Desert Songbird said...

I can't relate. I'm a "freak" that doesn't drink coffee, except once in a blue moon. I'm a tea drinker, and I won't apologize for it.

So there.

Linda said...

I'm not a coffee addict but without a morning cup, I'm pretty useless, and Amanda seems to be following in my footsteps. It truly is the best part of waking up as far as I'm concerned!

That Teamster - what a guy!! A true hero!

The CEO said...

We'd get along fine. I use Starbucks Cafe Estima which is also bold. I make 12 cups at a time, and can drink the whole pot. My doctor wants me to go to decafe. It's not happening. One needs to have standards you know.

Marilyn said...

I drink cheap coffee out of necessity but I like my arabica beans. When we are flush we do grind our own beans. My sister doesn't drink coffee. My dad drinks only Folgers(blech!). My mom makes hers with half real and half decaff. No matter who I'm visiting I'm a zombie till well after noon. I think I'll have to start traveling with my own coffee and press. That's an excellent idea.

I can understand the coffee wars. I guess coffee is a highly personal thing.

I, Like The View said...

getting coffee right is so important! glad The Teamster has you sorted

(-:

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

I only drink espresso after a meal, so this morning coffee thing does not hit me.

I do know how to make a good cup of coffee and always make Nancy's when we are together...

Erika Henderson-Morse said...

Oh how I miss the days of saving people from your wrath with a good cup of coffee with an extra shot, of course along with pot pie or something else yummy from Kelly's. That is what we should do Monday....Kelly's for lunch. I haven't been there in ages. Anywho...now I'm totally addicted to coffee. If I don't have a cup in the morning....I'm spacing out in my office until at least noon. Unfortunately my husband stays in bed while I'm up getting ready for work...so no morning cup of coffee for me until I get into the office.

The teamster officially gets 2 thumbs up, he is keeping you well caffeinated and preventing the never ending battle with Joe over the brown water (YUCK!).

Dana said...

I have never attempted a french press, which is odd as I have been a coffee addict for over 30 years!

Mel said...

OMG.......I will NOT do 'piss water' other folks call coffee.
Ain't happenin'.
If I can see the bottom of the cup--that's a bad thing.....

And I love our French Presses (yup, plural...LOL). Himself can make an excellent cup of coffee for me--he just can't drink it. *laughing* Pity, eh? *shrugs* Nahhhh....that just means more for ME!

There's the 'piss water' folks drink at work...and there's Mel's 'Toxic Brew'.
The staff warn visitors with a sticky note by the pot, of course. I'm rather proud of those who brave it and join me in a cuppa 'Toxic Brew'....at least I'm proud of those who don't end up with the jitters 20 minutes later. *laughing*

I commend The Teamster in his problem solving skills...or was that simply about his own hide?
;-)

Travis Cody said...

I actually give up coffee during the spring and summer.

Yes, I am a real human. I like a good cup of coffee, but it isn't essential to my day to day survival.

And The Teamster rocks!

rdl said...

Funny post!
I love my french press! just switched this year - great since i'm the only coffee drinker in my house. I have a starbucks one that doesn't look as good as your Peets, but we don't have Peets here on the East Coast.