I am not addicted to coffee, but I do drink a cappuccino every morning. I could also quit if I wanted. Actually, I am 100% certain that coffee makes me absolutely tired. But I love the taste. The texture. The smell. The ritual. And in Italy, the cappuccino is liquid gold. Sweet, unadorned. buttery, not burned. creamy, never frothy. It's simple and it's perfect. And there is ONLY ONE SIZE. Small.
There is a law in Italy that caps the price of coffee at one euro, so long as a patron enjoys it at the bar. Coffee shops (locally referred to as bars) buzz in the mornings, and the sound of clinking ceramic cups has ignited a new reason for classical conditioning and nostalgia in me.
While some bars do accommodate a sit-down breakfast, the people you find speaking far too loudly whilst decadently seated spread-eagled in their chairs (especially in overly beautiful piazzas) are typically tourists. Poor, poor tourists who have no idea that they are about to be charged eight euros for an espresso. (true story). The one-euro law is abrogated the moment you sit you're greedy little ass down at the table.
Once in a while if I'm feeling a little self indulgent (ALWAYS), I'll have a marrocchino after lunch (or whenever I feel like it). The marrocchino is similar to the macchiato, only much more flamboyant.
or THIS!
So anyway, Yarden -my professional friend, study buddy, gym partner, roommate, and hair braider- privy to my predilection for full-fat foamed milk, bought me this:
TA-DA! It is what you think. A hand-held, battery operated, spinning, buzzing, vibrating -MILK FOAMER- . Boy do I love Yarden. And this. In fact, it became such a sensation to me that I decided to share in its delight with the rest of the world by documenting its uber functionality herein.
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| milk straight from the teet tastes best |
It is worth mentioning that my handheld milk foamer has been foaming milk beautifully since the moment it landed in my mug. And it spins very fast.
But when I turned it on this time, it looked SAD. a bit ill, a little wonky.
Desperate for my homemade, lessthanoneeuroseatedcappuccino AND a successful documentary, I proceeded to use it anyway. But what resulted was bona fide disappointment:
YUCK. a disgusting, watery, frothy, diluted "cappuccino". Terribile, as they say, and anticlimactic as ever.
Which brings me back to my usual one-euro, always standing, ceramic-clinking,
thick
ass
foam.
1 comment:
Steaming milk is a serious art. Not to be taken lightly! Let it be know that it is steamed, not whipped when in a professional coffee shop. Most americans prefer a very dry light foam for their cappuccinos, whereas the foam for europeans is denser, more akin to what most americans would consider lattes. it is really wacky. very very different drinks to different cultures. in san diego, i recommend you order your cap, wet and pulled with short or long shots depending on how bitter you prefer your coffee. short=sweeter, long=bitter. if the barista has no idea what you are talking about. frankly, leave. love you!!
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