That Aroma of Coffee

This morning is cool, cooler than the past few weeks of summer mornings, and I am ready for a steaming cup of coffee. The smallest little pot is the one for this morning - a single cup of strong coffee made with espresso and hot water. Cool water is placed in the bottom of the pot and then fine, powder fine grounds of aromatic coffee grounds are pressed into the little filter container. The top is then tightly put on and I place the little pot on the stove and wait for the hissing and gurgling that will let me know my hot strong coffee is ready.

My mind wanders back to those hot summer days in Italia where espresso, two or maybe three cups during the day, were enjoyed. A cup of coffee was routine mid morning, and could be consumed as I stood at the coffee bar somewhere in the centre of town after picking up the fresh bread, the fresh mozzarella and equally fresh vegetables for the menu of the day. Once lunch was consumed and the dishes cleared up, my friend Emeddia and I pulled our chairs across the freshly swept tile floor, in the quiet of the high ceiling kitchen, feeling the breeze through the tall open doors to the veranda, watching the laundry sway in the hot summer afternoon, and we sat down to enjoy our cup of espresso and share tidbits of our day, of our lives.

Two espresso makers that came with me 10 years ago as I returned to Canada have ceased to work and new ones have taken their place. The french press style pot is a gift from my husband on our honeymoon - one like it was used to make coffee in our hotel room each morning we spent at Brentwood Bay Lodge.
My step daughter picked me up a pound of coffee last week that is just the right grind and blend to make an excellent cup of espresso or an Americano.

Our sense of smell is the most powerful memory trigger we have. The aroma of coffee continually reminds me of a part of my journey that took me to a tough ship building town in Compagnia and led me into a year of awakening, where the aroma of coffee was a part of the aroma of awaking to la passione de vita - mia vita.