• a coffee scene

    From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to All on Mon Jan 9 11:52:00 2023
    A few short paragraphs from "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor
    Towles. Plenty of references to coffee in the novel, but this
    one seemed to describe an interesting ritual of the whole
    process of preparing and waiting for it to brew.

    "1930

    "Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov stirred at half past eight to
    the sound of rain on the eaves. With a half-opened eye, he
    pulled back his covers and climbed from bed. He donned his robe
    and slipped on his slippers. He took up the tin from the
    bureau, spooned a spoonful of beans into the Apparatus, and
    began to crank the crank.

    "Even as he turned the little handle round and round, the room
    remained under the tenuous authority of sleep. As yet
    unchallenged, somnolence continued to cast its shadow over
    sights and sensations, over forms and formulations, over what
    has been said and what must be done, lending each the
    insubstantiality of its domain. But when the Count opened the
    small wooden drawer of the grinder, the world and all it
    contained were transformed by that envy of the alchemists-the
    aroma of freshly ground coffee.

    "In that instant, darkness was separated from light, the waters
    from the lands, and the heavens from the earth. The trees bore
    fruit and the woods rustled with the movement of birds and
    beasts and all manner of creeping things. While closer at hand,
    a patient pigeon scuffed its feet on the flashing.

    "Easing the little drawer from the Apparatus, the Count poured
    its contents into the pot (which he had mindfully primed with
    water the night before). He lit the burner and shook out the
    match. As he waited for the coffee to brew, he did thirty
    squats and thirty stretches and took thirty deep breaths. From
    the little cupboard in the corner, he took a small pitcher of
    cream, a pair of English biscuits, and a piece of fruit (today
    an apple). Then having poured the coffee, he began to enjoy the
    morning's sensations to their fullest:

    "The crisp tartness of the apple . . .

    "The hot bitterness of the coffee . . .

    "The savory sweetness of the biscuit with its hint of spoiled butter . . .

    "So perfect was the combination that upon finishing, the Count
    was tempted to crank the crank, quarter the apple, dole out the
    biscuits, and enjoy his breakfast all over again.

    "But time and tide wait for no man. So, having poured the
    remnants of the coffee from its pot, the Count brushed the
    biscuit crumbs from his plate onto the window ledge for his
    feathered friend. Then he emptied the little pitcher of cream
    into a saucer and turned toward the door with the intention of
    placing it in the hall-and that was when he saw the envelope on
    the floor.

    --
    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.51
    * Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)
  • From Mick Manning@1:229/307 to Carol Shenkenberger on Mon Mar 11 20:16:47 2024
    On 11 Mar 2024, Carol Shenkenberger said the following...

    This place isn't necessarily *just* about coffee tales. It is
    primarily just a general discussion area.

    In other news.. I quit coffee a long time ago.


    In a different time and place, I started drinking coffee during my spare periods during high school. I don't think I've EVER gone a single day since 1968 with out at least 2 coffees. 2 sugar, double cream. Yes. A double-double.

    Relaxed heart rate - 74 bpm
    Blood Pressure - 115/80
    Bowel Movements - Regular/sometimes accidental

    .

    Mick Manning
    https://centralontarioremote.com
    telnet centralontarioremote.com:2300

    ... Old musicians never die. They just decompose!

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  • From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to Mick Manning on Mon Mar 11 21:46:00 2024
    Hello Mick Manning!

    ** On Monday 11.03.24 - 20:16, Mick Manning wrote to Carol Shenkenberger:


    [...] I don't think I've EVER gone a single day since 1968
    with out at least 2 coffees. 2 sugar, double cream. Yes. A
    double-double.

    I never new what a double double was until i went to a timmy's
    for the first time with some people 3/4 of a lifetime ago.
    Personally, the double dose of sugar and cream was horrendous
    to me.


    Relaxed heart rate - 74 bpm
    Blood Pressure - 115/80
    Bowel Movements - Regular/sometimes accidental

    I drank coffee on the weekdays at work, but I didn't understand
    why i developed a strange headache on the weekends.

    After maybe 35 yrs of drinking coffee to anywhere between 6-10
    cups of coffee, my body simply said no.

    --
    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.58
    * Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)
  • From Ed Vance@1:2320/105 to August Abolins on Sun Mar 10 15:22:33 2024
    August, Thanks for this Coffee story, I enjoyed it.

    I have known of this Echo but don't think I've ever posted here or even Joined it all all.

    Never was a big Coffee Drinker, I began drinking it in the Navy on a Night Watch.
    No one wanted to make it that night, someone asked Me if I could make coffee and I said I'll try.

    When opening the 72 Cup Pot I noticed it was stained from earlier days.
    I washed the pot and basket, filled water to the 72 line inside the pot, put coffee grounds in the basket up to the 72 mark, assembled it all together and plugged it in.

    Others said it was real good and I could brew coffee for the shift anytime.

    A few weeks later I began drinking coffee - with lots of Sugar and Cream.

    I didn't drink coffee much in civilian life, maybe I'd get a cup at White Castle when driving home from work around Midnight once in a while.

    I've just about quit. It was a few days before I retired when I drank coffee at work.
    That was in 1996.
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  • From August Abolins@2:221/1.58 to Ed Vance on Sun Mar 10 19:32:00 2024
    Hello Ed Vance!

    ** On Sunday 10.03.24 - 15:22, Ed Vance wrote to August Abolins:

    I have known of this Echo but don't think I've ever posted here or even Joined it all all.

    Never was a big Coffee Drinker, I began drinking it in the Navy on a
    Night Watch.
    No one wanted to make it that night, someone asked Me if I could make coffee and I said I'll try.

    This place isn't necessarily *just* about coffee tales. It is
    primarily just a general discussion area.

    In other news.. I quit coffee a long time ago.

    --
    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.58
    * Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH = https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)
  • From Carol Shenkenberger@1:275/100 to August Abolins on Mon Mar 11 15:49:33 2024
    Re: a coffee scene
    By: August Abolins to Ed Vance on Sun Mar 10 2024 07:32 pm

    Hello Ed Vance!

    ** On Sunday 10.03.24 - 15:22, Ed Vance wrote to August Abolins:

    I have known of this Echo but don't think I've ever posted here or even Joined it all all.

    Never was a big Coffee Drinker, I began drinking it in the Navy on a Night Watch.
    No one wanted to make it that night, someone asked Me if I could make coffee and I said I'll try.

    This place isn't necessarily *just* about coffee tales. It is
    primarily just a general discussion area.

    In other news.. I quit coffee a long time ago.

    --
    ../|ug


    I took to coffe on my 6th year in the Navy. Now, retired even from post Navy careers, I get it but my tastes have changed. It was always black coffe straight. (no sugar or cream). Then slowly, powdered instant Asian coffees like Thai versions replaced the normal hot tea, about every other day.

    PS: last post here may have been 25 years ago.

    xxcarol
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