Monday, January 28, 2008

New Moka life


One of the additional nice things about going to Devon for a little mini break is that it gave me the chance to pick up my Christmas presents that I had to leave behind. I couldn't take them with me before because I was a homeless bum and homeless bums aren't going to get much of a chance to use a lovely, beautiful moka pot.

I must say that previously I found people who fell in love with objects a bit strange. I've got friends who have named cars, bikes and even clothes. Yes, they are all male. I had that opinion simply because I just hadn't met the right object. Which is a round-about way of saying I don't just like my new moka pot, I adore it.

Of course I can't tell it that because I've got to play it cool.

It's so beautiful, I mean it's really stunning. The polished metal and sharp yet perfectly measured angles make it look faintly reminiscent of a woman or perhaps that is just my frame of mind at the moment.

It doesn't just look lovely, it brews amazingly strong coffee in the most thrilling way. The liquid that comes out of it is fiercely potent so that you should really only have one serving of it, and that should be in the morning when you have a whole day to ride out the effects. It's proper coffee, bitter with subtle tones that race around the pallette and that makes your whole body tingle. It also reminds me of my time in Italy when I nearly died and as a result reinvented myself. The way it makes the coffee is very exciting too, but that has to be witnessed to be understood.

My little brother gave me two lovely cups to use with the moka pot, they are tiny espresso cups in classic off-white. They even have saucers, I don't think I've owned saucers before, they give me a lot to live up to. Oscar Wilde had the same thing about his best crockery and once said

"I find it harder and harder every day to live up to my blue china."

Even if I can't quite live up to my coffee making equipment it is perfect if I should have a guest staying over and I want to impress her with the perfect cup of coffee in the morning.

Not that I'm having guests over at the moment, I don't want that sort of antic at right now. I thought I did but guests can turn into regular guests and regular guests can turn into relationships and I really don't want one of those.

After all I'm already seriously involved with someone - my moka pot.

12 comments:

Gorilla Bananas said...

What a beauty! Does she produce an agreeably cool sensation on your bare skin? How about calling her "Metallica"?

Louche said...

I've not thought of naming her yet, she is just my beloved.

Clair said...

I bought one of those in Barcelona, but its insides have been lost, after, I think, a rather over-emotional and boozy lunch. Mind it doesn't end in tears.

Everything Stops for Tea said...

oh yes, stick to beverage making implements and crockery, much safer and often infinitely more stylish.

Louche said...

Clair - I will try and be responsible and only use it when sound of mind.

Sarah - It's amazing how just looking at it makes me smile, much better than any girlfriend.

rach said...

I agree with Clair. Mine is currently resting after I failed to put any water in it (hangover having impeded judgement), and then put it on the stove to heat up...needless to say the rubber ring melted, and is stuck to most of the insides. I'm gutted...

Louche said...

Rach get a new one. They are so beautiful it pains me to hear stories of them not being used.

Amanda Castleman said...

I have a moka somewhere. But I was seduced by an espresso maker. And then a beau gave me this drip-coffee uber-brewer that grinds the beans and tells the weather (it might floss my teeth if I linger in the kitchen too long. I'm slightly scared of it).

One French press is at the parents', the other at my best friend's.

Oh man. I am the town bike of the espresso world.

Louche, stay true to your heart.

Louche said...

Amanda, I would say bike. I'd say you live in a time of free love of coffee.

rach said...

Harmony is restored. New filter, new rubber seals, new woman.

Louche said...

Rach - Great news, have you had your first cup of a brave new world yet?

rach said...

Oh yes. Still buzzing...you can't beat Lavazza for waking you up on a morning. I know you're supposed to be all fairtrade about it, but you shouldn't mess with the Italians - they know what they're doing.