Coffee Connoisseurs

Coffee At It's Finest

Shot of espresso topped with steamed milk.

A few years ago we visited friends in the country, a leisurely 20 minute drive outside of town. As good southern hosts will always do, they offered a drink before we had wiped our feet on the mat leading into the back door of their quaint farmhouse. "Special coffee?" my friend asked. Absolutely. That offer rocked my world. My friend had an Italian machine:  fully automatic, bean to cup, purveyor of delicious espresso. Revolutionary. Life-altering. Liquid awesome. 

Coffee Will Never Be The Same

Until then, we had frequented Five-bucks for strong coffee. As avid campers, we were no strangers to the percolator or french press. We were daily coffee drinkers who could not get our minds off that Italian machine. After a little research, we were disappointed to discover how expensive they were! We looked forward to each and every visit to the country - for we knew there'd be waiting for us a cute little cup topped with foam and caramel.

Thrill of a Bargain Meets Our Love for Coffee

One day, my husband and I waited in line outside an estate sale. What would we find? The rumor was the kitchen was packed - right up my alley! I rounded the corner into the kitchen and gasped as if to suck all the air right out of the room! There it sat, motionless, on the pantry shelf next to other small kitchen appliances: the Italian machine of my dreams, much like that owned by my friend in the country. I could not motion for my husband fast enough, to divert his attention which had been drawn immediately to another room in the house. You would think we had found the missing crown jewels. Needless to say, it came home with is that day. It has not sat motionless a day since.