A few short paragraphs from "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor
Towles. Plenty of references to coffee in the novel, but this
one seemed to describe an interesting ritual of the whole
process of preparing and waiting for it to brew.
"1930
"Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov stirred at half past eight to
the sound of rain on the eaves. With a half-opened eye, he
pulled back his covers and climbed from bed. He donned his robe
and slipped on his slippers. He took up the tin from the
bureau, spooned a spoonful of beans into the Apparatus, and
began to crank the crank.
"Even as he turned the little handle round and round, the room
remained under the tenuous authority of sleep. As yet
unchallenged, somnolence continued to cast its shadow over
sights and sensations, over forms and formulations, over what
has been said and what must be done, lending each the
insubstantiality of its domain. But when the Count opened the
small wooden drawer of the grinder, the world and all it
contained were transformed by that envy of the alchemists-the
aroma of freshly ground coffee.
"In that instant, darkness was separated from light, the waters
from the lands, and the heavens from the earth. The trees bore
fruit and the woods rustled with the movement of birds and
beasts and all manner of creeping things. While closer at hand,
a patient pigeon scuffed its feet on the flashing.
"Easing the little drawer from the Apparatus, the Count poured
its contents into the pot (which he had mindfully primed with
water the night before). He lit the burner and shook out the
match. As he waited for the coffee to brew, he did thirty
squats and thirty stretches and took thirty deep breaths. From
the little cupboard in the corner, he took a small pitcher of
cream, a pair of English biscuits, and a piece of fruit (today
an apple). Then having poured the coffee, he began to enjoy the
morning's sensations to their fullest:
"The crisp tartness of the apple . . .
"The hot bitterness of the coffee . . .
"The savory sweetness of the biscuit with its hint of spoiled butter . . .
"So perfect was the combination that upon finishing, the Count
was tempted to crank the crank, quarter the apple, dole out the
biscuits, and enjoy his breakfast all over again.
"But time and tide wait for no man. So, having poured the
remnants of the coffee from its pot, the Count brushed the
biscuit crumbs from his plate onto the window ledge for his
feathered friend. Then he emptied the little pitcher of cream
into a saucer and turned toward the door with the intention of
placing it in the hall-and that was when he saw the envelope on
the floor.
--
../|ug
--- OpenXP 5.0.51
* Origin: Mobile? COFFEE_KLATSCH =
https://tinyurl.com/y56r9f2o (2:221/1.58)