about bliss

Friday, October 11, 2013

coffee maker crisis!

Perhaps the apex of my morning ritual, after yoga, is drinking the first cup of coffee of the day. I steam and froth milk on the stovetop while my automatic drip pot brews two cups of magic elixir.

This morning, alas, the coffee maker lid WOULD NOT OPEN. I kept pressing on the "open" release tab to no avail. In desperation, I pried the lid open with a butter knife, added my water and coffee grounds and clicked the lid closed. As the coffee brewed, I realized that once again, the lid WOULD NOT OPEN.


After drinking said coffee and eating breakfast, I pried the lid open again to suss out the problem. One part of the interior latch was stuck in the closed position. I pressed the exterior open latch. Stuck. I pressed the interior latch and discovered, A-HA, that I could leave it in the open position.

My victory was fleeting, because now the lid wouldn't stay down and closed. I needed something to hold the lid taut. A rubber band didn't work, but the lid to my small dutch oven (enameled cast iron) worked amazingly well. I brewed another pot this afternoon with my re-engineered lid, and the coffee was hot, dark, and strong as always. Success!


My husband jokes that I should continue using this coffeemaker/heavy lid system into the foreseeable future.

I want to research coffeemakers and find a new one with a functional lid and superior brewing capabilities.

Perhaps I should hipster it and only craft pour-overs. Eschew modern technology and go french press or chemex. What about a vintage percolator? Will I have the patience to perfect a hand-crafted brew every morning? Doubtful. All I know is that there will be coffee in my kitchen tomorrow, and for that I'm grateful to my ingenuity.



2 comments:

  1. My son turned me on to the French press and left it behind when he took his Chemex to college. (Yes, he is a hipster). I love the coffee and have come to enjoy the process. It really doesn't take any longer either.

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  2. Dr. J - I fell in love with French Press coffee makers one Sunday brunch at a sweet little joint in Leelanau County called Kejara's Bridge. Although KB is no longer in existence, I reminisce about that brunch & what it brought me, almost each time I make a new pot. There was something about the slant of sunlight, sweet conversation, and delectable fare prepared lovingly by The Redheads gals that made me feel alive & made me want to find a way to revel in that feeling again & again. Pam's point is well taken - it doesn't really take any longer to make coffee - but for me, it helps remind me to slow down & enjoy the process. It also tastes deep, dark and delicious. :)

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