Chapter 278: Espress, instant or express coffee

In Hobart all coffee (milk based or black) comes from an espresso machine. An espresso machine is a machine which forces hot water and steam under pressure through finely ground and compacted coffee. It results in denser coffee than drip or plunger coffee.  It results in a crema which is a layer of creamy foam derived from the coffee not the milk.  Espresso comes from the Italian word for press. Espresso does not derive from the word express which means quick.

 

An espresso machine delivers either a single shot of coffee or a double shot. Single shot is 30-60ml. In Hobart milk coffees will have two shots or one shot.  

 

Milk is devoid of agreement. Most cafés offer “normal” milk and skinny milk. Most also offer soy, rice milk or a vegan milk.

 

If you order a skinny cappuccino and extra cream with your cake you will give the staff something to talk about. Let them talk. Enjoy your cake.

 

Skinny milk contains about half the calories of normal milk. And dramatically less milk fat and less saturated fat.

The NHMRC recommends reduced fat milk.

 

I finish my food and drink and wait and watch grandmother finish her drink. We never finish together.

 

The topic of caffeine flows to the surface. How much caffeine in a cup? Does a cup of coffee stop sleep? Should I only drink coffee before certain hours. What hours?

 

A single shot of espresso is 30–60 ml, and contains from 60-200 mg of caffeine. 

 

Every medical study I could find tells me caffeine taken six hours before sleep affects the quality and quantity of sleep.

 

Every study I could find says the amount of caffeine in a cup varies dramatically. And the people drinking the coffee vary dramatically.

 

400mg of caffeine a day is considered safe by everybody under almost every circumstance. Which may be 2-4 shots of espresso coffee a day.

 

Caffeine has other affects on the body. I list what experts see as some of the main affects of caffeine.

 

Decrease drowsiness. Increase alertness.

Can make you anxious agitated and insomniac.

Withdrawal leads to headaches

Lower risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia

Lower risk of depression and suicide

Increases acid to stomach. Causes acid reflux

Increases urination

Decreases risk of diabetes.

Decreases risk of bowel cancer.

Increases blood pressure.

Increases irregular heart rhythms.

Decreases calcium absorption. Increases osteoporosis.

Increases muscle twitching.

Decreases risk of Parkinson’s Disease.

Increase risk of miscarriage.

 

Chapter 277: My coffee vocabulary

When I was young a cup of coffee meant a spoon of instant coffee followed by two questions. Milk? Sugar?

 

Now that I have grown old my coffee vocabulary has increased. Words on the periphery are ristretto, macchiato, chai latte, affogato, mocha, piccolo, Vienna, Irish coffee and deconstructed coffee.

 

In Hobart the basic words are cappuccino, flat white and latte. Every café uses these names and makes their coffee differently.  

 

The differences are in the amount of froth; the amount and type of milk; the amount and strength of coffee; the type of cup; the service.

 

There is no agreement on what cappuccino, flat white and latte are but one opinion is:

 

Latte: a double shot of espresso; 170-225 ml of steamed milk; 1cm of foam; served in a glass.

 

Cappuccino:  A latte with less milk and more foam.

A double shot of espresso; 150-180 ml of steamed milk; 1.5 cm of foam; served in a cup; foam dusted with chocolate.

 

Foam is the tiny bubbles created when steaming and heating the milk.  Foam should taste nice. It should be smooth and creamy.  I don’t know why adding bubbles of air to something makes it taste nicer. It doesn’t alter the flavour. I see froth as air in which will eventually become air out.

 

Flat white: A latte with less milk and no foam.

A double shot of espresso; 110 steamed milk; served in a cup. 

 

Flat white is Australia’s contribution to the global coffee culture. It originated in Australia in the early 1980s as an alternative to the frothier cappuccino.  I don’t know why the flat white originated in Australia or what is uniquely Australian about it.  In New Zealand they behave refreshingly typical.  They say the flat white began in New Zealand and you Aussies claimed it as your creation.

Chapter 276: My favourite cafe

Going by Mr Goggle everybody has a favorite café. Everybody rates their café as the best.

My cafe makes the best coffee in Hobart.  Better than others.  

 

Why do so many people tell Mr Goggle that their cafe is the best. Why tell other people to come to your café. Crowd the tables. Eat all the food. Dilute the staff’s attention. I can’t tell people to avoid my cafe but I can say nothing.

 

I return home and browse the internet. The café I have just been in has comments about its coffee. It is organic, fair traded and environmentally friendly. There is further info about different types of coffees. It rates very well.  Nothing about the cups, the tables, the menu, the service, when they serve the food, the ingredients or health of the food. 

 

The café that seems to rate highest on the internet is the one that attracts most internet uses. The café full of people on their mobile phones or typing away on their lap tops. 

 

I rate a cafe highly if it does the basics well. Provides good food and drink in a relaxed comfortable atmosphere with good service. And convenient for me.

 

I remember going to a café in the country and receiving a cup of coffee made with instant coffee. The owner was very proud of the coffee and I celebrated the last of a breed. I couldn’t help but think this man is endangered. I had better enjoy this cup. He won’t last. He will be replaced by an espresso machine and paper cups.

Chapter 275: This coffee tastes like mud

The waitress approaches our table. Grandmother places her order. That helps me decide what to order.  There is a law against both of us ordering the same thing.

 

I love to ask the staff, “What do you recommend?”

 

I love staff who are proud of and love talking about their food and love saying what they like. I love it when they have an opinion. When they are personally involved. When they say what they have for morning tea.  When I was a dentist, I loved people who asked me: What do you do? Tell me how you look after your own teeth.

 

The waitress skips away with the precious information. She will tell others what we told her.

 

We sit and I fiddle with the salt and sugar. Sugar is pourable. Not cubes.  Table has a number. On the walls are landscape pictures and photos of food and food instruments. 

 

Another difficult decision has arisen. What do we talk about? Around us the talk is continuous. Every table talks. We can’t sit quietly the way we do at home. That would create a bad impression. I have to create a good impression. The impression that I am enjoying myself. If I am talking then I am enjoying myself.

 

Why is my regular coffee an espresso? Who decided I was an espresso person? How did grandmother decide she was a skinny cappuccino? 

Where did these names come from?

I remember the day in South Africa I asked for a long black. The look I received told me not to order a short black or a long black.

 

I can’t say the old coffee joke. Grandmother has already heard it. Many times.

 

This coffee tastes like mud.

That’s because it was only just ground.

Chapter 274: Time for morning tea

Time for morning tea as we make our way down the footpath. I sidestep a sandwich board. It proudly says: Homemade cakes.

 

It is telling me: Come in for your morning tea of coffee and cake. And please don’t ask me what the phrase “homemade cakes” means.

 

We enter the café. I sneakily watch grandmother. Which table is she heading for? I don’t think she will take the one near the door. Or the one in front of the counter. I think she is going for the one the corner. I reckon she will ask the staff, “Is it okay if we sit anywhere?”

 

Our lives involve less choices if there is only one empty table in the room.

 

She takes possession of a table by standing behind a chair. I could sit opposite her or next to her. Should I face everybody else or face the wall. I can’t sit in this chair which is cramped.  Not enough room.

 

I eventually sit down and survey the room. I am standing atop a mountain admiring the view. I have to make sure I can locate everything. I can view a bain-marie.

 

I stand up to get closer to the bain-marie. In the bain-marie are cakes and slices and slices of frittata arranged on plates. Each plate has a label. One plate has the words, ‘gluten free’.  On the counter are a few muffins on a tray.

 

Maybe there is something on the menu which is not on display.    There is a pile of written menus which I take.

 

The menu tells us when breakfast finishes and lunch begins. The menu tells me the chef knows foreign words and fads such as gluten free, organic and vegan. The menu doesn’t tell me what is low in sugar and fat. What is high in fiber and healthy.

 

I look for food that is fresh, tasty, healthy and environmentally sound.  If it is also socially acceptable, easy to cook and cheap then everybody is happy.    

 

If I see blackboard and a chalk menu I assume the food is as fresh as the menu.

 

Before choosing some food I have to think daily. What else am I eating today? What exercise will I do today? How much food can I eat without feeling guilty? How high is my guilt limit today?

 

Chapter 273: I'm wearing my magic shoes

It is a pleasure to walk down the hill. Breathe the fresh air. Every garden contains different flowers and shrubs and garden beds of pride. Our local streets look pleasant. Without evils. Lacking harms and ills. Friendly sun lies behind a gentle breeze.  

Kay: I’m wearing my magic shoes. They tell me when there is dog poo on the footpath and then step over it.

Me: Is there a baddie who can put an evil spell on these shoes? The evil spell that makes you walk in dog poo.

Kay: Jeremy. He’s always naughty. He was talking in class. When you had to keep quiet. The teacher told him off.

Me: I hope those shoes keep on avoiding the dog poo. I hope they retain their magic power.

Me: I can see your magic shoes. Do you have a super power I can’t see?

Kay is bewildered and confused. I am talking about magic shoes. Not super powers.

 

Bruce: If I don’t pick my nose for two weeks will you give me $5.

Me: Is picking your nose bad or good?

Bruce: It is a bad.

Me: Then don’t do it. You will get your own reward. If you don’t do something bad you will get the benefits. You will win.

Bruce is confused. His good plan for earning money has vanished.

 

We continue walking. I am still enjoying the walk. My grandchildren are as lively and spritely as before. More confused but just as energetic and happy.

Approaching us is a big clumsy dog pulling his master. The master is carrying a small black plastic bag. No need for Kay’s magic shoes.

Chapter272: Street art Hobart

 

Chapter 271: Street art Hobart

 

Chapter 270: Street art Hobart

 

Capter 269: Street art Hobart

 

Chapter 268: Kay's face shines and sparkles

 In the supermarket between the dark, gloomy shelves overflowing with packets and cans there is one gleaming, bright light.

It is Kay’s face. Her face shines and sparkles as she dances in the aisle between cereal boxes and soup packets.

Her smile is relaxed, happy and unforced as she spins in the aisle. She raises her hands above her head and claps her hands.

I can’t resist. I spin awkwardly and raise my hands and clap clumsily. I keep on clapping as I keep on spinning. Kay’s smile does the impossible. It becomes bigger.

Behind Kay a pair of adults push a trolley around the canned tomato pyramidal sculpture and enter our aisle.  They see me dancing, stop and laugh. They then give each other a private little glance and continue laughing. I have just embarrassed myself. Time to stop dancing.

As I slow down I see Kay. She glows. She is enjoying dancing. She is having a great time.  She enjoys having other people look at her.  I keep on dancing. If I keep on dancing I can help make Kay happy and maybe make other people laugh.