Coffee

Currently Reading: The Jane Austen Book Club, by Karen Joy Fowler
Quote Love: “The first time her laughter unfurled its wings in the wind, we knew that the world would never be the same." - Brian Andreas

Yesterday we went to the home Wanjiru, of one my parents’ students, about four hours on traffic-y, bumpy roads out of Nairobi. Wanjiru’s father is 94 years old, and welcomed us graciously. The family grows coffee, so after tea to revive us from the trip (tea in the British sense, meaning food as well – in this case, we had mandazis, hard-boiled eggs, mango, papaya and bananas), we tramped through the coffee bushes to see how it’s grown:

The beans grow inside the red berries. You kind of have to bite the berry to get them out. 

(I mean, that’s how we were doing it. It might not be how professional coffee-pickers do it.)

They produce about 20,000 kilos of coffee a year…all handpicked.

And speaking of coffee, I have had two Malindi Macchiatos in the past 24 hours so I am feeling quite good about life. They really are delicious. 

I seriously think some Java House employee needs to come to America and infiltrate the upper levels of Starbucks until Malindi Macchiatos have taken the nation by storm. Or, we could start at the bottom and work our way up, introducing them to the local coffee shops first? It could start in Charlottesville, and from there, who knows. Maybe a revolution. (Yes, they are that good.)


[source for last image]

Sometimes It's Necessary.

Currently Listening To: Thing About Us, Steve Moakler

Six Days Til: my birthday!

 

I'm about to go buy coffee simply because it is rainy outside and I have homework to do. What do you think -- justified?

[image via Pinterest]

In Quest of The Perfect Dirty Chai

Currently Listening To: Nothing But The Beat, David Guetta

I believe I've told y'all before that my very favorite hot beverage of all time is a Malindi Macchiato from Java House in Nairobi, Kenya. (That was back when the blog was a baby and had a readership of about two, so no worries if you missed that part...) But really. I try and have like eighteen Malindi Macchiatos everytime I'm in the country because, well, they are just that good, all delicately spiced and coffeeish and delicious. I'm long lamented the fact that I can't get a Malindi Macchiato on this contient.

Recently, though, I had an epiphany. I'd been hearing about this drink called a dirty chai and seriously wanted to try it but had always been hesitant to order one in case 1) the barista had no idea what I was talking about and 2) I sounded creepy (because, really, just think about asking a barista who has no idea what you're talking about for a dirty chai. Especially paired with a good eyebrow raise.) But then, about two weeks ago, I realized that a dirty chai - a chai latte with an espresso shot - probably is exactly what a Malindi Macchiato is! In America! So I went for it. 

And the first one I tried was not all I had hoped and dreamed it would be. Which was a minor setback in my excitement. But, I figured, Americans don't know chai like Kenyans know chai, and even though this particular one was a little gritty and intense, I decided it had potential. And not all coffee shops are alike, so maybe - just maybe - if I started trying chai lattes everywhere, I'd find the one. 

So everybody, I've started my quest. So far I've been to Mudhouse, Starbucks and my fave local coffee shop, Para Coffee. And the latter two were successes. But if there's one thing that abounds in Charlottesville it is coffee shops (as well as art galleries and vineyards. I really lead a difficult life.) and I plan on trying them all. And I'll be sure to let you know when I find it.

[image via We Heart It]