This is such a lovely article / story. Every weekend, my husband gets a wonderful (his word) cup of hot coffee that I make fresh before breakfast for him. It’s a little gift I like to give him to start our weekend days off in a sweet way.
I am very happy you liked it😊. My girlfriend knows how much I love having slow mornings, sipping coffee, so now she has developed the habit of getting up and bringing us coffee in bed.😊😊
Lovely that the lessons of the fox in The Little Prince have been incorporated in your ritual! Loved both stories. I had a good laugh with this story. I often have friends ‘over for coffee’, we sit in the kitchen chatting as I prepare it, and yes, something magical always appears from my full but empty fridge! Just love how the invite for a coffee is the slippery slope into deep connection.
Hi Joan, it is a slippery slope indeed! At least in the Greek culture, the center of the household is the kitchen. Many things happen there and a lot of time is spent there.
My grandma had 2 living rooms and a dining room in her apartment. Guess which one we would use to eat? None of them😂. We would prepare food in the kitchen and then open up a table there and eat. If you then add coffee making, snacks and just fetching stuff from the kitchen, most of our day was spent there!
PS: The little prince has a special place in my heart and it makes me very happy when other people also appreciate it 😊
My home is like that too. Funny, mostly British/Irish/Newfoundland heritage. I must be invoking the Irish & Newfy genes! In my little kitchen are two comfy ‘kitchen chairs’ and a little round wooden side table to hold tea cup/coffee cup and a plate of something to munch on. And usually a cookbook of some sort with dog eared corners. And a book. I’m not allowed to leave the kitchen if there is something cooking. My own rule to save my pots. Out of sight, out of mind. 😃. So my ‘kitchen chairs’ are the most comfortable chairs in the house! All conducive to the intended outcome! I think this afternoon, I will retrieve my copy of The Little Prince, and re-read it while making soup. May your day continue to bring you much joy!
I had this discussion with an italian colleague who has saying that in most places outside italy, coffee is more to have something warm next to you, rather than enjoying a single shot and then go about your day. So it is less about the coffee itself, and more about what the coffee represents.
Nice photo! Also, I've been to Crete way back when, but I can't remember how Greek coffee was made. I like how you described coffee as the gateway drug to alcohol XD I think the Italian equivalent would be spritz and happy hour. You agree to one (one!) drink after work and then it's midnight
Greek/Turkish/Arabic coffee are exactly the same. Maybe the eastern you go, the more spices are used to give flavor to the coffee, but the process of making it is exactly the same. So if you have seen how one of them is made, you know also about the rest.
I would slightly disagree on the "drug" term😅. It is more of a "bait" in that sense. But I know what you mean 😉.
Glad you liked the photo! Now I just need to find the time to take down the tree😂
Cheers to you, wherever you are this lovely morning on the 1st of February as I drink my hotel coffee out of a paper cup that I made myself. My husband is lovely, but has not once in 15 years of marriage made me a cup of coffee. It's just not in the cards. But I enjoyed this article, as it made me realize that I love serving people.
Hahah thanks for the comment Amy, it made me smile. Maybe if you ask him nicely and told him how much it would mean to you?
I love those mugs. I had bought a couple as a housewarming gift for a friend, but I realized that I liked them so much that I need to buy also for myself. So now the one you see, plus in green are in my kitchen cupboard :)
Also, when I go to hotels that by default have paper cups in the rooms, I always ask them politely if they can give me an actual mug. Life is too short to drink coffee from paper mugs (even if they are your own creation)!
I used to joke many years ago that my two most important criteria in a partner were that she like reading and coffee. I kid you not, the best relationships I've had in my life have been with readers and coffee drinkers.
I just got divorced in November after being married for 9 years (and we were together for 13). She was not much of a reader, and she never once, in all that time, made me a cup of coffee. She never offered and not only that, she wouldn't even touch anything coffee-related - wouldn't wash any coffee-related stuff, like the cafetiere, stove-top espresso, filter pot. Most mornings it would be 'would you like a cup of tea?' and after too many days of this I exploded and said 'no, I want a fucking coffee!'
Thanks for the comment Daniel. First of all, I read about your divorce and I hope the new beginning is working out well.
You are right, there is something off in what you describe. Not of course because your ex-wife was not a coffee drinker, but because she would not offer to treat you once in a while. The funny thing is that, out of all the things we do for our partners, making coffee (or tea or whatever else) requires the smallest effort, but also has the greatest impact -at least in my humble opinion. Seeing my girlfriend coming with a cup of coffee, just brings a smile to my face. And it would be the same smile even if the coffee was terrible.
I wish you find someone that you will both happily want to make coffee to each other.
Substack is great. Once or twice I casually mentioned (even kind of joked) about this coffee thing and people jumped in and came to my defence and offered support. One woman in particular was incensed and I think she wanted to hunt down my ex- and tell her to her face how she felt! It's sweet to be cared about.
It's so touching the way you describe it - the smallest effort, sure, but the greatest impact. Lovely.
For now I'm happy with the way it's worked out. I have almost no interest in meeting anyone else. My 6 year old little girl has already promised to make me coffee when she can, and she loves helping grind the beans, so we're off to a good start. As long as I've got her around, I'll be fine!
Awww that is so nice to hear. You are absolutely right, as long as you have her, all is good. Then the only thing I can wish, is that she keeps her promise!
PS: I expect updates on the quality of the coffee!
Like with any casual consumables (coffee, tea, wine, cigarettes) it’s the act of preparing, arranging the situation and being together, that is most important - far more than the content. An Italian female friend who called me together told me of an interesting encounter of the day, and the story started with this phrase: “Mi sono fermato al supermercato per farmi una sigaretta” (before entering the supermarket I stopped to make me a beautiful rolled-up cigarette)
Very true. The moments of preparing a coffee are precious. I like that Greek coffee takes 5 minutes to prepare, because you need a small break from everything to make it.
Loved reading this... while I take my afternoon coffee. :) The way you describe the ritual and the meaning, it's like a balm, and it makes me think it's very similar to the Romanian culture.
Although I've lived almost 20 years abroad, to this day I make my coffee like we used to make it back home, and called it "Turkish coffee". No capsules, no coffee machine, not even the Italian moka express... the original way of making it, which I'm sure it's similar to your Greek way.
Yes, Turkish, Arabic and Greek coffee are practically the same! And I am pretty sure you can also find it elsewhere in the Balkans. I think in Arabic coffee they use more spices, so you might be surprised by the flavor, if you do not expect it.
I also love the mug! I had bought a couple as a housewarming gift to a friend, but I decided to buy a couple for myself as well🙃.
Funny enough, I just posted a Note with this short video about how Greek coffee is made:
This is such a lovely article / story. Every weekend, my husband gets a wonderful (his word) cup of hot coffee that I make fresh before breakfast for him. It’s a little gift I like to give him to start our weekend days off in a sweet way.
I am very happy you liked it😊. My girlfriend knows how much I love having slow mornings, sipping coffee, so now she has developed the habit of getting up and bringing us coffee in bed.😊😊
Her parents have a similar "ritual".
Lovely that the lessons of the fox in The Little Prince have been incorporated in your ritual! Loved both stories. I had a good laugh with this story. I often have friends ‘over for coffee’, we sit in the kitchen chatting as I prepare it, and yes, something magical always appears from my full but empty fridge! Just love how the invite for a coffee is the slippery slope into deep connection.
Hi Joan, it is a slippery slope indeed! At least in the Greek culture, the center of the household is the kitchen. Many things happen there and a lot of time is spent there.
My grandma had 2 living rooms and a dining room in her apartment. Guess which one we would use to eat? None of them😂. We would prepare food in the kitchen and then open up a table there and eat. If you then add coffee making, snacks and just fetching stuff from the kitchen, most of our day was spent there!
PS: The little prince has a special place in my heart and it makes me very happy when other people also appreciate it 😊
My home is like that too. Funny, mostly British/Irish/Newfoundland heritage. I must be invoking the Irish & Newfy genes! In my little kitchen are two comfy ‘kitchen chairs’ and a little round wooden side table to hold tea cup/coffee cup and a plate of something to munch on. And usually a cookbook of some sort with dog eared corners. And a book. I’m not allowed to leave the kitchen if there is something cooking. My own rule to save my pots. Out of sight, out of mind. 😃. So my ‘kitchen chairs’ are the most comfortable chairs in the house! All conducive to the intended outcome! I think this afternoon, I will retrieve my copy of The Little Prince, and re-read it while making soup. May your day continue to bring you much joy!
You too!
PS: It is also fun to re-read it in different languages 😉
Coffee is a must for me to start my day and punctuate my procrastination pauses!
Ah procrastination. My favorite sport. Combine it with my favorite beverage (a.k.a. coffee) and productivity goes out the window😅
Coffee is both my procrastination partner and productivity partner! I start typing furiously when the caffeine kicks in!
Actually you are right; coffee is always there.
I had this discussion with an italian colleague who has saying that in most places outside italy, coffee is more to have something warm next to you, rather than enjoying a single shot and then go about your day. So it is less about the coffee itself, and more about what the coffee represents.
Nice photo! Also, I've been to Crete way back when, but I can't remember how Greek coffee was made. I like how you described coffee as the gateway drug to alcohol XD I think the Italian equivalent would be spritz and happy hour. You agree to one (one!) drink after work and then it's midnight
Greek/Turkish/Arabic coffee are exactly the same. Maybe the eastern you go, the more spices are used to give flavor to the coffee, but the process of making it is exactly the same. So if you have seen how one of them is made, you know also about the rest.
I would slightly disagree on the "drug" term😅. It is more of a "bait" in that sense. But I know what you mean 😉.
Glad you liked the photo! Now I just need to find the time to take down the tree😂
Haha yeah true you did not use the word drug ;) I'd say leave the tree there
I will take it down next weekend. I just don't want to do it alone, so I have been procrastinating until I can get some help.
That's fair !
Cheers to you, wherever you are this lovely morning on the 1st of February as I drink my hotel coffee out of a paper cup that I made myself. My husband is lovely, but has not once in 15 years of marriage made me a cup of coffee. It's just not in the cards. But I enjoyed this article, as it made me realize that I love serving people.
PS.. I love your little Greek coffee cup too!
Hahah thanks for the comment Amy, it made me smile. Maybe if you ask him nicely and told him how much it would mean to you?
I love those mugs. I had bought a couple as a housewarming gift for a friend, but I realized that I liked them so much that I need to buy also for myself. So now the one you see, plus in green are in my kitchen cupboard :)
Also, when I go to hotels that by default have paper cups in the rooms, I always ask them politely if they can give me an actual mug. Life is too short to drink coffee from paper mugs (even if they are your own creation)!
I used to joke many years ago that my two most important criteria in a partner were that she like reading and coffee. I kid you not, the best relationships I've had in my life have been with readers and coffee drinkers.
I just got divorced in November after being married for 9 years (and we were together for 13). She was not much of a reader, and she never once, in all that time, made me a cup of coffee. She never offered and not only that, she wouldn't even touch anything coffee-related - wouldn't wash any coffee-related stuff, like the cafetiere, stove-top espresso, filter pot. Most mornings it would be 'would you like a cup of tea?' and after too many days of this I exploded and said 'no, I want a fucking coffee!'
But she never made me a coffee.
We were doomed from the start.
Thanks for the comment Daniel. First of all, I read about your divorce and I hope the new beginning is working out well.
You are right, there is something off in what you describe. Not of course because your ex-wife was not a coffee drinker, but because she would not offer to treat you once in a while. The funny thing is that, out of all the things we do for our partners, making coffee (or tea or whatever else) requires the smallest effort, but also has the greatest impact -at least in my humble opinion. Seeing my girlfriend coming with a cup of coffee, just brings a smile to my face. And it would be the same smile even if the coffee was terrible.
I wish you find someone that you will both happily want to make coffee to each other.
Substack is great. Once or twice I casually mentioned (even kind of joked) about this coffee thing and people jumped in and came to my defence and offered support. One woman in particular was incensed and I think she wanted to hunt down my ex- and tell her to her face how she felt! It's sweet to be cared about.
It's so touching the way you describe it - the smallest effort, sure, but the greatest impact. Lovely.
For now I'm happy with the way it's worked out. I have almost no interest in meeting anyone else. My 6 year old little girl has already promised to make me coffee when she can, and she loves helping grind the beans, so we're off to a good start. As long as I've got her around, I'll be fine!
Awww that is so nice to hear. You are absolutely right, as long as you have her, all is good. Then the only thing I can wish, is that she keeps her promise!
PS: I expect updates on the quality of the coffee!
Like with any casual consumables (coffee, tea, wine, cigarettes) it’s the act of preparing, arranging the situation and being together, that is most important - far more than the content. An Italian female friend who called me together told me of an interesting encounter of the day, and the story started with this phrase: “Mi sono fermato al supermercato per farmi una sigaretta” (before entering the supermarket I stopped to make me a beautiful rolled-up cigarette)
Very true. The moments of preparing a coffee are precious. I like that Greek coffee takes 5 minutes to prepare, because you need a small break from everything to make it.
Loved reading this... while I take my afternoon coffee. :) The way you describe the ritual and the meaning, it's like a balm, and it makes me think it's very similar to the Romanian culture.
Although I've lived almost 20 years abroad, to this day I make my coffee like we used to make it back home, and called it "Turkish coffee". No capsules, no coffee machine, not even the Italian moka express... the original way of making it, which I'm sure it's similar to your Greek way.
Love that mug, by the way!
Yes, Turkish, Arabic and Greek coffee are practically the same! And I am pretty sure you can also find it elsewhere in the Balkans. I think in Arabic coffee they use more spices, so you might be surprised by the flavor, if you do not expect it.
I also love the mug! I had bought a couple as a housewarming gift to a friend, but I decided to buy a couple for myself as well🙃.
Funny enough, I just posted a Note with this short video about how Greek coffee is made:
https://substack.com/@thenaiveignorant/note/c-89038880