Comments on: The Coffee Post http://www.turkishgrants.net/2009/08/30/the-coffee-post/ Letters home from Elly and Stu in Bulgaria. Wed, 07 Apr 2010 01:18:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: stuartgrant http://www.turkishgrants.net/2009/08/30/the-coffee-post/#comment-202 stuartgrant Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:31:15 +0000 http://www.turkishgrants.net/?p=526#comment-202 Hi all, #Imo - it wasn't me! I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to coffee but Aydin insisted on "having a go" of the whirring machine! #Humf - about that cow - what grass would it eat? We live on the 5th floor of a giant apartment block, remember? Maybe a goat? Or a duck? Interesting question you pose about whether the espresso here is any good. I guess it's complicated by the whole "I'm in another country" feeling. I suppose what I meant when I said that our snobbery went out the window as soon as we got here was that the whole cultural upheaval that you experience whenever you go "somewhere else" means that making value judgements - even on something as simple as coffee! - is kinda difficult. If a bunch of espresso made here was instantaneously transported to a panel of experts in Australia, I'd imagine that the results would be fairly unfavourable. Yet I still enjoy the coffee here. So it's complicated! #Mum - for some reason your comment came up twice, so I edited it. Promise it wasn't censorship! ;) Bad news, tho. Outdoor cafes close down over winter - they rightly assume that no one would visit them on a -10 degrees C day! So you'll probably miss out on Versailles. We're yet to see what's available in terms of winter cafes! Hi all,

#Imo – it wasn’t me! I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to coffee but Aydin insisted on “having a go” of the whirring machine!

#Humf – about that cow – what grass would it eat? We live on the 5th floor of a giant apartment block, remember? Maybe a goat? Or a duck?

Interesting question you pose about whether the espresso here is any good. I guess it’s complicated by the whole “I’m in another country” feeling.

I suppose what I meant when I said that our snobbery went out the window as soon as we got here was that the whole cultural upheaval that you experience whenever you go “somewhere else” means that making value judgements – even on something as simple as coffee! – is kinda difficult.

If a bunch of espresso made here was instantaneously transported to a panel of experts in Australia, I’d imagine that the results would be fairly unfavourable. Yet I still enjoy the coffee here. So it’s complicated!

#Mum – for some reason your comment came up twice, so I edited it. Promise it wasn’t censorship! ;)

Bad news, tho. Outdoor cafes close down over winter – they rightly assume that no one would visit them on a -10 degrees C day! So you’ll probably miss out on Versailles. We’re yet to see what’s available in terms of winter cafes!

]]> By: mum grant http://www.turkishgrants.net/2009/08/30/the-coffee-post/#comment-201 mum grant Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:30:46 +0000 http://www.turkishgrants.net/?p=526#comment-201 great coffee story Stu! We've just been to Bruny Island for a long weekend with friends, one couple brought along their espresso machine (that's serious dedication!)-so between that and frequent cafe visits we had some lovely coffees! We've had Turkish (mud) coffee and even Israeli coffee (very strong and with cardamom pods in it!!) Glad you're able to keep up the coffee- the cafe photo looks lovely (can't wait) and you're right about it being a social drink!! great coffee story Stu! We’ve just been to Bruny Island for a long weekend with friends, one couple brought along their espresso machine (that’s serious dedication!)-so between that and frequent cafe visits we had some lovely coffees! We’ve had Turkish (mud) coffee and even Israeli coffee (very strong and with cardamom pods in it!!) Glad you’re able to keep up the coffee- the cafe photo looks lovely (can’t wait) and you’re right about it being a social drink!!

]]> By: Humphrey http://www.turkishgrants.net/2009/08/30/the-coffee-post/#comment-200 Humphrey Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:06:11 +0000 http://www.turkishgrants.net/?p=526#comment-200 Thanks Stu. Now before we discuss this further, let's just to Arnie Pie in the Sky and get an update on the latest traffic conditions... Anyway Merhaba, Cool reportage Stu. Firstly, I just want to say how gross that curdled milk photo looks! Maybe you should look into getting a cow? not only would he keep the grass low, but he'd be a source of companionship and milk. And if he misbehaves then he can also be used as a source of meat. :-) So, you mentioned that everywhere had espresso. But is it any good? Should I be slowly weaning myself off coffee over the next 5 weeks? I'm definitely keen to check out Версай when I get there. Maybe it'll serve as a good jet-lag recovery clinic? Since there aren't any freshly roasted beans over there? Maybe if you end up there long-term then you could start up a local coffee roastery? Would be an awesome connection to the community I'm guessing? Thanks Stu. Now before we discuss this further, let’s just to Arnie Pie in the Sky and get an update on the latest traffic conditions…

Anyway Merhaba,
Cool reportage Stu. Firstly, I just want to say how gross that curdled milk photo looks! Maybe you should look into getting a cow? not only would he keep the grass low, but he’d be a source of companionship and milk. And if he misbehaves then he can also be used as a source of meat. :-)

So, you mentioned that everywhere had espresso. But is it any good? Should I be slowly weaning myself off coffee over the next 5 weeks? I’m definitely keen to check out Версай when I get there. Maybe it’ll serve as a good jet-lag recovery clinic?

Since there aren’t any freshly roasted beans over there? Maybe if you end up there long-term then you could start up a local coffee roastery? Would be an awesome connection to the community I’m guessing?

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