Uncommon Grounds, March 3rd

I think you all know from earlier posts of mine that I’ve never had a cup of coffee in my life. Yes, I’ve tried it. Blech! How can the whole world need, coddle, obsess, line up to drink, pay out the nose for, and love such a bitter beverage? I’m dumbfounded that hot chocolate hasn’t swept the globe as the best hot drink both foreign and domestic. It’s soooo much better. Anyway, since I’m not nor have I ever been a coffee drinker (nope, not even with milk and sugar, iced, spiked, or flavored, but I admire your tenacity for asking again) I had no idea what to do when I started dating a man completely addicted to his three morning lattes.

I asked my friend Phyllis for advice and she immediately spilled the beans… If I had any chance of winning his heart, I had absolutely no choice but to invite coffee into my otherwise decaffeinated home.

So I went all in. I purchased a high-end Nespresso bundle with the side car milk frother. When the monstrosity arrived, I carefully removed it from the box like it was radioactive. I didn’t even wanna touch the thing.

But as Phyllis predicted, Michael was beyond thrilled! He immediatley ordered several sleeves of those fancy Nespresso capsules with which to drip his brown bubbling brew. Blue ones and brown ones and olive green. They had fancy names like Stormio, Intenso and Melozio. It was like inviting the Italian cavalry to live on my kitchen counter. Then came the accoutrement– large mugs and special spoons and an espresso cup and saucer. I had to completely clear out a kitchen shelf just to house his wares! Clearly I loved this man.

Not for nothing but my hot chocolate stash consists of one can from Jacques Torres (and a backup canister just in case). I can use any mug for my standard half cup and I don’t require fancy toppings or a silver spoon with which to stir it. Isn’t it funny how opposites can attract?!

I tell people that Michael and I have no overlapping skills but that our life philosophies, humor, styles, sense of adventure, and gratefulness meter are all in synch. So even with his love for coffee and my clear distain, we have found some common ground.