The Emotional Cup!

I don’t remember when was the first time I drank coffee , but I well remember the surprise on
that waitress’s face in a restaurant in Greece when I ordered a cup of instant coffee with my breakfast,
I was only eight!
I certainly remember the Turkish coffee as part of our culture, although we’re not Turks, but let’s
acknowledge the fact that the ottomans invaded Egypt for almost 300 years, so having that little
cup of their coffee engraved somehow in the daily routine of some of us is justified… As a child
I’d often see my grandmother with that cup at
noon and sometimes around 5 pm, enjoying every
sip of it, not just that, but also I’d see that cup flipped upside down on it’s saucer afterwards,
some kind of fortune telling method she would explain. I couldn’t believe that someone
considers learning about their future from coffee residue traces in a cup. Welcome to the world
of superstitions, the human mind never fails to shock me !
Anyways, as a child, I was not exposed to many types of coffee, so I was fascinated by Instant coffee, at least it looked modern at the times and had no flipping rituals, which was a great relief! At that time, other kids my age enjoyed things like hot cocoa or warm milk. I was weired!
Around the age of 17, little modern coffee shops started opening around our neighborhood and
my heart would skip a beat every time I entered one of them.
The whole atmosphere amused me, people sitting talking for hours, eating a sandwiche or a piece
of cake and you would immediately observe that the coffee cup was always the one that lasted the
longest, the star always shinning on the table.
I enjoyed going there alone, well not really alone, it’s more of a Trio, Me, a book and a notebook! I’d make my order, then usually choose a table on the corner to have the best view of everyone in there, to be able to observe as much as I can in what I consider a little part of heaven, all those souls interacting around me, smiles, tears, laughs, arguments, just alive!
At that time, my order would always be a big cup of cappuccino that would last me a while, I would wait with so much anticipation until it’s put on my table, once it’s there, I would slowly pour the little packet of sugar right in the middle of the foam like a synchronized swimmer diving in the water delicately, then stir it slowly as not to mess the foam, and with
the first sip comes the first sigh followed by the first real sight of the surrounding scene, exploring the faces around me, imaging their stories through the broken words I hear here and there, and my pencil would move on that note book writing down the thoughts and emotions that would emerge unedited, uncensored and unjudged!
Somehow, your taste of coffee changes with age, it grows different and let’s say a bit more sophisticated, so from always fetching the big cups, to discovering the little shots of espresso,
and to make it a bit longer to last me a good amount of time, I add milk! And what made me fall
in love with it, is that manual device, that stove top espresso maker, the beauty, the Moka Pot,
that thing with so much character…I would call it my Avant Garde!
When I look at it, I see beauty, identity and presence, an art piece that stands out. The octagonal
shape gives it so much elegance, like a lady dressed for a gala dinner, it's silver color makes her
shine like a full moon in a starless night, the handle like her arm extended ready for a waltz and
the knob on the top like one of those little hats worn at royal weddings, a minimalist princess
might wear!
When I look at the Moka pot, I see my own reflection, is it the silver stainless steel or the
abstract idea I have about our similarities, we both seem strong and confident, we persevere
through many set ups, we like to be there for people in their various occasions, to celebrate happy moments or ease sad ones...
And that’s how I see coffee, it’s not just a drink, it’s a state of mind, actually, it can accompany
You through all states of mind, like an old friend who’s there to share happy moments, sad
moments, helps out through sleepless nights to finish assignments, keeping you company in
camping trips, or while reading a book or even accompany you to the movies, that of course if
pop corn and cotton candy don’t get offended!
I even have this hobby of collecting little coffee cups from every new city I visit, a top buy
would be one with the name of the city printed on it , something like those magnets people buy when they travel.
Well, now, I’m 42 and I took my love for coffee to a whole new level, besides drinking it, I smell it
constantly, touch it often and surrounded by it almost every day…I manage a coffee house!