The One-Hour Cup of Coffee

[babylonsister]

For all you coffee lovers, here's a mini-treat.


The One-Hour Cup of Coffee


Photo by Terrence Henry


Buenos Aires is a great coffee city. No, you won't find myriad varieties of beans here, or some great technological advance in the brewing process, but this is a city that knows the art of drinking coffee well, if not the perfect technique to brew it.

In Buenos Aires, you don't get a 20-ounce latte in a to-go cup, in fact there is nearly no coffee to-go in the city, except for a chain of coffee shops called Havanna that offer the amenity. But very few take them up on it (and those that do tend to get strange looks from passers-by).

Instead, coffee here is enjoyed slowly, at a sidewalk cafe, sitting still, in an actual mug, with no plastic lid getting in the way. Throughout the day, locals take their time with it, chatting up friends, admiring the street scenes, or reading the newspaper. Coffee here is a more measured decision, because instead of five minutes you are more likely to spend an hour with your cup.

The coffee is strong, and best enjoyed in smaller quantities--the cortado is my favorite, an espresso with just a spoonful of steamed milk on top (identical to the drink of the same name in Spain). Others prefer the inverse, the lagrima, which is a cup of steamed milk with just a spoonful of espresso (lagrima is Spanish for "teardrop"). There's also cafe con leche, cappuchino, and a wonderful take on hot chocolate called submarino (which I'm saving for a later post).

Coffee here is a more measured decision, because instead of five minutes you are more likely to spend an hour with your cup.

The best cafes in Buenos Aires are the ones that give you a gratis treat to accompany your coffee. At our favorite, De Cata (pictured above), your cortado will arrive with a small plate with a small brownie with a raspberry jelly and butter-crumb topping, along with a sugared orange peel. There's also a small shot glass of mineral water to wash it all down at the end. Other cafes will give you a few butter cookies, a small slice of pound cake, or a small, sweet croissant called a medialuna ("half-moon").

The sidewalk cafes here aren't all sunshine, however--safety concerns prevent you from using your laptop outside (purse- and laptop-snatching at cafes is sadly not that uncommon here), so while I'd like to be writing this with a cortado at my side, instead I'm at home, in the kitchen. But as soon as I'm done, it's over to De Cata for my fix. I'll see you in an hour.

[elleng]

1. OH THANK YOU, b'sister!

Such a pleasure to read travel notes with MY mocha-frap at starbucks, thinking of you similarly in Buenos Aires! You've re-kindled the travel flame that comes with the family!

FUNNY that in Italy, people stop for 5 minutes for espresso, dople frequently! (Will check the spelling of DOUBLE!) First learned this at my honeymoon 25 years ago. I'm not similarly running anymore, so I spend hours at starbucks! (WITH laptop!)

Buena!


JUST OCCURRED TO ME! Might we write a book>travel guide> something (get someone to PAY for a round the world trip) "The Great Round the World Cup." Waddya think?????

[babylonsister]

2. I wish I was in Buenos Aires! This looks good, doesn't it.

I do come across some foodie articles occasionally that are so delish I have to share! :9

:hi:

And I'm in on that book! If only! :D

[elleng]

3. AH, so where ARE you?

I'm still at Starbucks, MD, near DC.

my next stop is grocery store, and I have to watch it; my cash is LOW, but daughter called asking for recipe, we then began talking about Italy, so I'm OFFFFF!!!!!

[babylonsister]

4. I'm home in Texas and usually stop drinking coffee after my

two big morning cuppas. I've convinced myself caffeine keeps me awake. Actually, it does, but haven't tried it lately. But I like my java strong!