Barista Guru

We were walking through a busy supermarket in Brazil almost a year ago to the day. Beautiful chocolate eggs, covered in wonderful color wrap, were hung like a mosaic from a canopy. Parents, some with children, gazed at the grand show of merchandising. The display was mesmerizing. So, we grabbed more than a few eggs - and even some small ones that contained toys inside. Yes, we know the FDA doesn’t allow those here, but this was Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Other aisles in the store also contained chocolate bars, chocolate candy, and even chocolate cake. We were stocking up as the exchange rate was in our favor, and we knew plenty of kids who would love a once a year treat.

Both of us are die-hard fishetarians, so chocolate isn’t something in our diet. Right, it’s not meat, but it isn’t living, like green veggies - but that’s another discussion. Okay, coffee isn’t living either, but as chocolate, one must have their indulgences.

As we pushed our shopping cart around the next aisle, low and behold, here was a coffee maker we had not seen in years. And for a price we couldn’t afford to pass up. Forget the chocolate, this was a “find”. For here in front of us was a vacuum coffee maker for around $8.00. It was simple, but beautiful. Four or five pieces, total.

Quickly our thoughts went to how we would transport such a wonderful piece to America. Of course it would go as hand baggage, but how to pack this dual glass globe to travel half way around the real “globe”? As soon as we got to our home in Brazil, we put away the chocolate as it was now second fiddle. We unpacked the new coffee maker and everyone gathered around, commenting that they had never seen such a device.

The stove was lit and the bottom pot filled. The only coffee we had was Brazilian espresso. The filter screen for the maker was designed for a corser grind. We didn’t mind - we just wanted to see the magic.

The family and friends gathered around the stove in awe as the slowly warming water made its way up the central tube and into the grounds held above. “How does that work!!?” All eyes were on the coffee maker now with most of the water in the top chamber. Slowly the maker was removed from the flame as the last little bit of water was sucked up into the top. A few bubbles followed, the water now at boiling point. As we put the coffee maker aside to cool, everyone started talking and pointing at the bottom chamber now drawing the water back through the grounds.

What a delicious pot of java. There are some things in life that simply soothe the soul. And how easy it was to make this pot. So rich and full, very full of flavor. The vacuum seems to bring out all the nuances of the bean and roast. What a happy way to end a day.

And, even today, the vacuum coffee maker, now a year old, sits in our home in Naples, FL, used about once a week. Hmmmm.

—Dave Jackson

Dave writes from his home a few paces from the Gulf of Mexico and is a regular contributor.