Short, and not entirely disconnected true story:
A few years ago my wife bought me a top of the range Gaggia coffee machine for my birthday, which we still use at home. Shortly after this I was working in Brazil, with some very well connected people, when after dinner the conversation turned to coffee. I proudly, and naively babbled on about what excellent coffee I drank at home from my Gaggia.
A young woman opposite me who had been quietly listening to my story, said "I like my Grandfather's coffee".
Like the fool I am I fell head first in to the trap and said "Oh! Has he got a Gaggia too?"
"No", she said, "He's got a coffee plantation."
When the laughter had subsided, she explained that at certain times of year, when she visited her Grandfather on the plantation, they would walk up into the hills of the plantation just after sunrise. Then they would pick the young green beans from the plants, roast them in a frying pan over a camp fire, grind them in a small mortar and pestle, and brew a morning coffee whilst watching the rising sun clear the early mist from the plantation.
Now that sounds like a good cup of coffee!
Out and about myself, I have one of those mini espresso machines, but quantity is too small, only a tiny cup fits under the spout,. and it's difficult to sit on my stoves. So I currently use either one of the mugs with built in plunger, or a little reusable mesh filter cone thing that sits on top of the cup.
