I drank my first cup of coffee when I was nearly twenty four years old. I always liked the smell, but never the taste.
The thing that drove me to it in the end was a job interview with KPMG for a graduate trainee position. My interview was an all day one. To get to central London from Norwich, ready to start my interview at 9am, I had woken at 5am. I was a student, and more suited to going to bed at 5am.
At 8:45am I was standing in a board room, dressed in a suit for the first time in my life, with about 20 other candidates and a large table full of freshly brewed coffee in large jugs. It smelt amazing. I clearly remember looking at the jugs and thinking If I am going to get through this day without falling asleep I need some caffeine. And the cups of builders tea and packets of pro plus that had sustained me through University suddenly didn't seem suitable.
The thing that drove me to it in the end was a job interview with KPMG for a graduate trainee position. My interview was an all day one. To get to central London from Norwich, ready to start my interview at 9am, I had woken at 5am. I was a student, and more suited to going to bed at 5am.
At 8:45am I was standing in a board room, dressed in a suit for the first time in my life, with about 20 other candidates and a large table full of freshly brewed coffee in large jugs. It smelt amazing. I clearly remember looking at the jugs and thinking If I am going to get through this day without falling asleep I need some caffeine. And the cups of builders tea and packets of pro plus that had sustained me through University suddenly didn't seem suitable.
So I poured myself a cup of coffee, added a splash of milk, and pretended to the room that I had been drinking it all my life. I loved the coffee and got the job - it was a momentous day.
I drink coffee every day. Not loads - usually just one large cup in the middle of the morning, and occasionally another in the middle of the afternoon. But I am not very nice if I don't have it. I rarely drink anything other than filter coffee or espresso. Cappucinos and lattes don't taste enough of coffee.
I buy my beans from all sorts of places - currently from Abel & Cole, but I love Taylors of Harrogate and Starbucks beans too.
I like the coffee rituals I have built up:
- putting the coffee machine on as soon as I get home after dropping C and O at school
- calling in at Caffe Neros when I get off the tube on a work day
- choosing which flavour of beans to grind at the weekend
- packing the aluminium espresso maker when we go camping
- choosing which mug I want to drink out of
We're in a proper relationship now, me and coffee.
What a gorgeous post!
ReplyDeleteAnd chocolate too, which almost always enhances a coffee!
ReplyDeleteYes, coffee is essential. My new favourite beans are from Waitrose, Sumatra Mandeling, quite a dark roast, lovely rich flavour - I'm drinking a mug right now!
ReplyDeleteI like the last photo, coffee, chocolate and Portmeirion china, perfect.
Have a good weekend.
it's funny to remember how you started drinking coffee... i didn't remember your being a coffee drinker, and now i know why! wouldn't roanoke have been different with coffee? i think about that sometimes...
ReplyDeleteann
mmm. could do with a cup right now! can I have chocolate with mine too please xx
ReplyDeleteHi there,
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you knew I would like this, didn't you! I'm with you on the camping front - I bought a portable coffee filter before I bought sleeping bags.
ReplyDeleteI love the chocolate on the side - perfect!
ReplyDelete