That Morning Joe

I have been religiously making espresso drinks every morning since I bought an espresso machine a few weeks ago. From priming the machine, steaming milk, grinding coffee bean, warming glassware to pulling 2 shot of espresso, the whole process takes approximately 10 minutes and 32 seconds ( well, I made up the number, it is approximately 10 minutes). It is pleasurable watching the steaming wand surfing on milk and creating micro foam. The milk in the pitcher looks like fluffy snow when it is steamed and foamed. Then, grinding coffee is as simple as toggling a switch. Experts say burr grinder is the key to obtain a perfect grind. When espresso freshly extracted flow into a shot glass, the excitement in no less than a deep sea explorer found the mysterious jewel box in the ocean. The combination of espresso and the wonderful tan colored crema settle peacefully in a shot glass. The rule of thumb, “no crema, no serva”, has to be obeyed. Finally, a cup of cappuccino is prepared with proportion of 1/3 of espresso, 1/3 of steamed milk and 1/3 of frothed milk.I am the barista for myself.

The morning is so quiet that the only noise is motorboat-like sound from the espresso machine’s pump and ch-ch-ch sound from the steaming wand surfing on milk. When I dive into the espresso-making process, I can no longer hear birds chirping outside the window; I can no longer bother by my neighbor upstair stomping the floor with their dog; I stop wondering the tiny one bedroom condominium that cost a whopping $300K is good choice; I stop perplexing that the fact that I am going to be 30 in this year; I stop worrying the pollen that caused my red eyes and stuffy nose; I stop contemplating how to pay off all the toll in the path of life. For all that peace of mind, spending 10 minutes for a cup of morning Joe ain’t that extravagant luxury.