The Perfect Coffee

Every once in a while, I get completely off the subject of what I usually write, and write about coffee. I love a superbly made cup of coffee. It could be a latte or cappuccino or simply a cup of black coffee with non-fat milk and raw sugar.

It’s such a disappointment to enter any Starbucks these days. There is no fragrance of coffee, and lattes are weak and flavorless because they forgot to purge water from the steamer before heating the milk.

There was one cappuccino that I was served at a tiny restaurant in Umbria that was so beautifully made that I took a photo of it. It tasted yummy and memorable. Yes, I know, it’s odd that a cappuccino would be memorable. Go figure. By the way, that’s the photo, on the right.

My favorite brand of coffee for more than 20 years has been Lavazza. It is perhaps the most popular coffee in Europe, strong in flavor but mild to the taste. When you open a vacuum sealed bag a Lavazza, it releases a wonderful natural aroma of fresh coffee. Most Lavazza coffee is sold in one grind – espresso – which is just fine to use even in a drip machine.

For years, when I used a Rancilio espresso machine, one Lavazza latte was enough to satisfy my desire for coffee all day. Our daughter, Anna, now has the machine because it’s a little large for our kitchen counter. She makes a latte than is fantastic.

My wife Kit makes coffee today through a blend – 40 percent Lavazza Il Perfecto and 60 percent Starbucks Italian Roast, espresso grind. She came up with that mixture, and it makes a great cup of morning coffee.

Filed Under: Featured • Personal notes

Tags: Coffee • Lavazza