All About Coffee

After a not-so-hearty lunch, Sharon and I had some time to kill before our next appointment.

"That shop looks interesting. So many coffee machines and gizmos to check out," said Sharon.

She need not say more. Our coffee loving selves naturally gravitated towards Etc, the shop for coffee fans at The Curve.

It was a truly delightful shop. Indeed there were many coffee makers on display - including gold plated and handcrafted Elektras that looked like exquisite works of art. A vivacious lady soon approached us. Maggie's her name and coffee's her game. She's positively a fountain of knowledge when it comes to this oh-so-heavenly brew.

"Let me introduce you to one of the best coffee makers in town - Classic Gaggia. I think you'll love what it can do for you. Here, let me make some coffee for the two of you." Then she proceeded to fill the Gaggia's water tank, firmly press the coffee powder into the filter head, placed two paper cups below the spouts, froth the milk, poured it into the coffee and served it to us - all in a matter of moments.

Sharon gulped hers down and was immediately floating in expresso heaven. I was more hesitant. "Errrr, do you have sugar?"

Maggie acted as if she never heard of that word before. "Sugar? Why do you need sugar?"

"Yeah, why do you need sugar for?" Sharon looked at me as if I had suddenly sprouted horns.

I stated the obvious, "To mix with my coffee."

"No, you don't need sugar," Maggie said confidently. "It'll taste great."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive."

"Well, ok. Here goes nothing," I figured, it was a small cup - two gulps worth at most. It won't kill me to finish that sans sugar. And I took the plunge.

"So, how does it taste like?" Maggie asked.

"It's goooood! So so goood!" was all I could manage. The scintillating and rich taste of Coffex Coffee was swirling in my mouth. I couldn't believe it. I actually enjoyed every single gulp! Never had coffee tasted so good!

"I have this theory that sugar actually detracts from truly enjoying the coffee experience," Sharon said sagely.

If I wasn't so satisfied with the sugarless Coffex experience, I would have gamefully swatted her arm or something. Suddenly I felt like a padawan in the presence of two Coffee Yodas. The thought was rather unsettling. But the knowledge that we gained through conversing with Maggie soon brushed away that niggling thought. Padawan or no, I was all too ready to be trained in the newly discovered joys of the true taste of coffee and the gleamingly efficient Gaggia coffee makers.

From Maggie, we learned that the best coffee beans and the best coffee maker work hand in hand to produce the best coffee. Taking only 20 seconds, the Gaggia produces the best taste at the quickest time, with the minimal amount of caffeine. If the coffee beans are left to brew for longer periods of time, the caffeine content is higher and it also becomes more acidic.

And espresso is best served and consumed immediately.

Before we knew it, two hours had flown by. We thanked Maggie who succeeded in making me dream of having my third baby - Baby Gaggia. Unfortunately, with two babies on my hands already, I have no room for more as yet. But I can always dream