Coffee – The brew that sees me through #CBF16

I have so many things I cherish, that I had a tough time choosing what to write about.

Should I talk about my camera, which captures memories for me to cherish and is a great way to lift my spirits? Or the purse I’ve been using for decades, gifted to me by my Mom? The set of containers I’ve had in my kitchen for so long, I cannot remember—simply because my Mom bought them and I love them? My book collection? The coffee filter that’s been around for generations and is like a member of the family, which I’ll probably use for as long as I exist?

Yes! That was it.

Coffee!

Everything comes right back to coffee—for me, at any rate.

I love my coffee and my coffee filter. It has been in our family for so long that I am not even sure how old it is. All I know is that I’ve always seen it in its place of pride on the kitchen counter to the left of our stove, in the space seemingly reserved for it—right from the days when we used coal and wood as fuel, to kerosene stoves and now, cooking gas.

Our kitchen may have progressed over the years to keep up with the times, adding appliances and gadgets that save time and do a better job, but our coffee filter rules her domain. Some of my friends have practically threatened to gift me one of those snazzy coffee machines, but I keep assuring them that I would never consider switching over to a more modern coffee maker.

Although, I must admit that when I visited my friend a few years ago, I completely fell in love with her french press. The coffee was delicious too!

I love my morning ritual of spooning the coffee powder, made from roasting coffee beans and freshly ground, into the filter. As I pour boiling water over the coffee powder I feel excited as I anticipate the musical sound of the eagerly awaited coffee decoction percolating. I also imagine I hear my Mom’s voice, sometimes humming, sometimes talking to me.

This usually coincides with the milk coming to a boil on the stove. I pour the milk into large “tumblers” and, detaching the bottom of the coffee filter from its top, ignoring the unbearable heat on my hands, reverently let the filter drip into the milk to get just the right shade.

My husband and I then settle down with our coffee, each occupying our favorite seat, and enjoy those moments before we get started with our day.

I fondly remember how excited my husband was when he got a moka coffee pot from Italy, soon after we got married.  Of course, I used it a couple of times, but packed it off within the week, placing it within sight on one of the shelves just to say, “Hey, it is not that I don’t like you, but I prefer the old coffee filter!”

You see, coffee is more than a beverage for me.

It spells love.

Sacred cherished moments.

Best friends.

Instant mood-lifter.

A hug in a mug.

Good times.

Happy memories.

Warm conversations.

Freshly ground heaven.

The smell of possibilities.

Liquid sanity.

And sometimes, even a peacemaker, because coffee solves everything! It does!

Why, my coffee even loves me back! Look at that heart!

♥

Cherished blogfest, happening on July 29, 30 and 31, 2016, is hosted by Damyanti, Dan Antion, Peter Nena, Sharukh Bamboat, Cheryl Pennington and Kate Powell, where we talk about a cherished object and why, in about 500 words.

Curious to see what I wrote about in last year’s Cherished Blogfest? Find out here.